Things that make you go hmmmmmm……. an artist’s statement

 

Mike’s opening at a local art gallery was last weekend and just when I think about the monsters I have to deal with, I think about his art monsters and silently thank God.  Most people have no idea how competitive the art world is and my darling has lots of little Hitler’s to contend with.  He always says that he knows that some of the people he has to deal with are little Hitler’s but notes that they are HIS Hitler’s and others should leave them alone.

To begin with I need to say that my little town is about as clueless as they come when considering how to treat people.   The show was with two other artists and to be fair, he was invited to it. Both of the others in the show are town people who are connected to the venue. Not originally from the town, because we know how Lockport treats “strangers” – but the “ruling class” has adopted them and they are officially “towners” now.  Mike is an outsider because he was raised clear across the county in Youngstown, he will not sell many paintings in this venue because he is an outsider.

I know in my heart of hearts that Lockport is no different than any other typical small town but really it becomes very cliché. It is very provincial in nature and what amazed me is that while they are generally not accepting of strangers and treat them rather coldly, when they deem it fit you are in like flint. The other two artists have some nice pieces; however one is on the amateur side – I can say that because I can – art is in the eye of the beholder and while some appreciate primitive and amateur, when in a “professional “ show I can say what doesn’t fit.

The opening was to say the least a chore, as the venue that was supposed to be completely refurbished was a dust bowl. The stair way that leads to the upstairs was not carpeted and there was painting tape and paint canvas all over the place. I spent the first 25 minutes that we were there dusting each and every picture off – 76 to be exact and do you know who thanked me- one person –  Mike.  Neither of the two other inconsiderate artists thanked me for making sure the public could see their “work”.

So the ladies and gentlemen who volunteer for the private not for profit gallery busied themselves getting the more than generous snacking stuff set up in the mansion dining room and one artist’s family who seem to have the county’s major cluster of gays positioned themselves around the food and proceeded to gnosh , gnosh , gnosh all afternoon. The reason I know that they were associated with that artist is because this particular artist felt that it would be cute to have each of her extended, famished family sport a pin that said “I’m with………” and of course she had a pin that read “I’m……..”. And as for knowing about their sexual orientation, well,  with the amount of swishing and hand flapping going on you would hard pressed not to assume. The over dressed, tight panted short suit jacketed, sneaker wearing,  theatrical family would stand in front of the art to eat and “chat” and people who had come to see the art had to excuse themselves to look at the paintings.

So, it was an interesting three hours to say the least, Mike  had some of his fans and some students come and a couple of teachers too and he was pleased with that very much. He wanted to leave the minute he got there so it was like dealing with a three year old to get him to stay for the whole event.  The other problem was that the gallery did not have his artist statement that he supplied in the event program book. There was an artist statement but it was not his, it was an amalgam of a statement he made for another show he had there last year and something that was in the newspaper.

What’s the big deal right? Unfortunately, the statement said that he is a native of Michigan, which he is not and did not have his education listed nor did it mention his mentors which his statement was specific about.  So he did not say anything at the opening even though he could have raised a ruckus.

He did call Sunday night and left a voice message about it and they called him on Monday and he corrected them.  When he went to the gallery on last Friday he found that not only had they not corrected where he is from, they got the names of the art schools and his mentor wrong in the write up.  How much more unprofessional can you get? The other artist statements were what they wrote and he called a board member and complained about it. He is very disappointed because he thought that this was a class organization and he has found otherwise – by a long shot. It’s Lockport so I had some hopes but am always realistic.

Then there is his affiliation with a local art group who had a meeting last week at which he wanted to gnaw his arm off to get away from the trap.  Artists are as you would assume sensitive, they are like walking tendrils of nerves on which any brush sets off into a quivering overreaction. They are also very jealous, catty and competitive and if any one of them tells you differently they are also a liar. How could you not be when your esteem is tied up in what you produce for others to judge and hopefully to enjoy and own. Mike has pockets of this but is generally happy when others win awards and sell big – however it causes him to question himself mostly not criticize others, which does make him different.  We have many other artists besides Mike’s work hanging in our home this is something I don’t see other artists doing. Not that I am privy to many other artists homes, but the ones that I have been in are all about them.

And while I’m on the subject of art and the people who make art.  If I hear one more artist say that they are “self taught, not “educated”,  I will throw up.  I guess it’s the same old bias that people with no positive educational experiences throw down when they feel inferior. Think about it please, is it that you feel that art is not pure unless untrained?  Really, I mean really!!!!!   Well, why bother studying the masters then at all.  So that means that when you learn about something it makes you what?   When an artist says to Mike,  “ well,  no wonder your good, you were taught, I  didn’t have any education- I’m self taught”, I want to scream.

Just to clarify things – Mike works in realistic transparent watercolor – which is not taught in art colleges as it is not considered a permanent medium. He was actually taught color, design and technique in oil and acrylics.  He does not ever say he is self taught and always attributes what he knows to the people he has taken lessons from in transparent watercolor. What he creates comes from inspiration, loving the way the world around him unfolds and wanting others to see his perspective and hopefully appreciate the beauty.   He sees the physical world differently from non artists – but all could really benefit from that perspective. When he teaches he shares that with his students and many have said to him that they don’t look at the physical world in the same way anymore because of his education of them.  Just because he has training in how to bring what he sees to others representationally,  does not diminish his art.

In the same vein, I am a trained social worker – I have a masters degree –  does that somehow diminish my compassion, my ability to observe and connect. Does my education make me less of a change agent?  No, not at all it makes what I want to do to help others more effective. Would you prefer your doctor to be untrained because that would somehow undermine their desire to be of service to humanity?   How about your banker or lawyer, or the person who grows your food, do you think that education somehow diminishes their core and passion?  I guess this “self taught” thing really sticks in my craw ,because being inspired and seeking information is much different than this ego driven “self taught” crap.   Just so that you know, having experiences educationally and worldly is never “self taught”.  Perhaps people would prefer to live in the happy world where all things come from “happy accidents”, however, it is not the world you would suspect it would be.

I know that there are many out there who say that the world is full over educated egg heads in a huddle that screw things up.  Educated people are somehow “out of touch” with the real world.  Let me be clear, there are those individuals don’t use their education appropriately,  they posture behind it – this is true sometimes.  If you cannot use education to elevate you as a person and make a difference for the good in the world around you then perhaps it is more about you than the education. Please don’t confuse the two. If you feel that you have to look down your nose at those who have taken the time and put forth the effort to receive an education, you need to consider why you feel the need to do that.  Jealous?  Afraid? Ignorant? Close –minded?

Writers are artist too and of course fraught with the same ego considerations that’s what makes the whole process of presenting for critique difficult. It’s so easy to get caught up in the milieu and edit not critique. We know that it is difficult because we all know how fragile we are and how jealous and afraid we can be.  The only thing that helps is that hopefully we can express ourselves more appropriately in a safe, kind environment.

Ok, glad I got some of that out.

This week at work has been so depressing that I need time to process it before I can write about it, but when I do……………..

Until then  Peace from the wearyempath.