Ep 11. State Of The Art

Arturo, Wade, Rembrandt, and Quinn slide into a world where art reigns supreme over all other commodities, including money. The Sliders find themselves in a heavily gated community in which the wealthiest citizens show off their impressive collections. The gang soon realizes that creating innovative and new artwork is what drives the economy and society as a whole. While Quinn quickly becomes enamored with the world of art, Rembrandt and Wade become equally concerned with the idea that art has replaced all other forms of currency.

The group is soon introduced to Liana, a painter who invites them to view her prodigious collection of paintings, which she stored in a museum. She takes them to an underground art show where artists are creating new types of art that blend sight, sound, and even smell. The Sliders soon learn that the artists are paid handsomely for their originality and groundbreaking creations. However, the group soon discovers that Mayor Charles Balducci, who is responsible for regulating all forms of art, is corrupt. Balducci is interested in exploiting all of the valuable pieces of existing art for his own profit.

As the Sliders continue to navigate this new world, Arturo realizes that he may have a hidden talent for creating art, and soon becomes a rising star in the art community. Both Arturo and Quinn believe that they have found a new world in art where they can thrive, but Rembrandt and Wade are worried about the future of society. They become increasingly concerned that art is becoming the only commodity in the world, and that this society is heading towards destruction. Eventually, Rembrandt and Wade turn to Liana to help them understand how art became so valuable.

Quinn and Arturo become disillusioned with the art world when they discover that many artists are creating pieces that Balducci deems acceptable simply to make money. Balducci is only interested in making money through selling art, and is not invested in the creative process itself. Quinn becomes convinced that Liana knows how to stop Balducci, and approaches her to ask for her help, while Wade and Rembrandt try to locate a piece of art that could be used as a bargaining chip. Their mission is to convince Balducci to reform the art market.

As the episode progresses, the Sliders begin to realize that art is no longer serving its original purpose of expression. In fact, the art world has become corrupt and monetary gains have taken over creative integrity. Quinn and the others must navigate this new world by making alliances with those who still have true passion for art.

Overall, State of the Art deals with the idea of art and creativity, and how this could be exploited if it became the most valuable commodity. The episode also stresses the importance of recognizing the true value of art itself, and how the appreciation of art should not be reduced to just a monetary value.