Comments for Chekhov was scared of aphorisms.

Comment on Performance Art, no wait, Video Art by aimee

aimee — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:24:10 +0000

Word. See: Guy Ben-Ner (who has a major show at Mass MoCA). Hours worth of painful (and sloppy) video documentation of performances. His concept drawings for the pieces: FANTASTIC-funny, sad, poignant, and speak volumes just with little scribbles. It’s almost as though video is the easiest, most obvious way to document performance works and so artists stop there. Artists like Calle and Starling (and Erwin Wurm!) stand out because, as you said, they dig deeper and document using processes and media that become extensions of the work itself. I wish more artists would find documentations that better suit their work conceptually and aesthetically. Often so much brilliance is lost in video…

Comment on Artists I Like vol. III: Claes Oldenburg (…duh…) by Julia Wagner

Julia Wagner — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:34:34 +0000

YESSSSS!!!

Comment on Nashian Art by aimee

aimee — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:32:20 +0000

Let’s do it!

Comment on Old Weird America at the Decordova by aimee

aimee — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:13:41 +0000

Also, would it be possible to hyperlink artists’ names if they have websites? That would be awesome.

Comment on Old Weird America at the Decordova by aimee

aimee — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:13:07 +0000

I wanna go. Eric Beltz is my new favorite!

Comment on Bravo’s horrible, no good, very bad idea. by ajacobso

ajacobso — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:09:16 +0000

Good luck with the application process.

Comment on Bravo’s horrible, no good, very bad idea. by nameless

nameless — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:26:58 +0000

I went to the casting of the show, and have been pushed to the second round. I too have the same reservations you two do. I hope that if I make it on the show, I am able to express similar sentiments about what art really is, without those statements winding up on the editing room floor. And if I don’t make it, but serious legitimate artists do, I hope they express any ambivalence they feel as well. I hope that this show can be as edifying as PR, SYTYCD, and other shows that are based on creativity. Because they are, and because art is so misunderstood, I think this show will very likely be well worth watching.

In the end art making is an experiment as is choosing the lifestyle and career of the artist. This show is an experiment as well. I have no illusions about being the next Koons or some such, but to be sure, there is an opportunity in this. And frankly I’ve been working hard for 20 years and I can use all the help I can get.

I should also mention that the panel that reviewed my portfolio and accepted me to the next level of the casting process, were important individuals in the art community. (I’m not allowed to go into detail)

Comment on Bravo’s horrible, no good, very bad idea. by ajacobso

ajacobso — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:46:16 +0000

I will wait and see as well. I will wait to see what kind of judgement can be had in a bubble of bright lights and big-boobed hosts. And against what contexts these judgements will be placed.

I see this show as merely furthering this idea that art is about entertainment and spectacle, marketability and commodification, and that quiet understatement or intelligent quirkyness has no place in our world any longer.

I’d like to believe, nay–I know, that there are ways out or at least alternative pathways through the great forest.

You make a good point that any attempt to enlighten the public’s consciousness (aside from cereal boxes and diamond encrusted skulls) is worthwhile; we can only hope.

Comment on Bravo’s horrible, no good, very bad idea. by biglittlewolf

biglittlewolf — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:40:33 +0000

I have seen the application, but thank you for the opportunity to see it again.

Look – of COURSE they want entertainment. That’s what Bravo does. That’s what commercial television does. And it’s clear from the application that they are looking for opinions or traits that they can exploit to their advantage, for purposes of “entertainment.”

But they’re also looking at work, professional background, connections to the mainstream art world, and so on.

You are much more likely to be correct than I am (it isn’t about that). Do they give a shit about art? Of course not – no more than I would assume they give a shit about fashion or cooking or any of the other “reality” fields of endeavor, but SOME of the participants (as judges, for example) do have reputations they care about – ongoing commercial establishments (as the art world has ongoing commercial establishments) – and so some amount of legitimacy seems reasonable to expect.

Will the art be any “good?”
Who knows.
Will the contestants be put in awkward scenarios?
Most likely.
Will it hurt them or help them, as individuals, as artists?
I still think that depends on who they are, how smart they art, and the format of the show.

Is the art world like these other creative fields? It may have some elements, but I agree – if we’re talking (visual) fine art (not commercial art) – it’s not the same animal at all.

Nonetheless, this country does so little to make anyone aware of anything other than Grant Wood (on a Wheaties box, was it?) or possibly (thanks to the media) the latest Damian Hirst “production.”

If there’s even a slim chance that something positive could come out of this, I’m willing to adopt a wait-and-see.

Comment on Bravo’s horrible, no good, very bad idea. by ajacobso

ajacobso — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:45:45 +0000

while I understand the opportunity for this show to expand the scope of contemporary art to a larger audience, what I am afraid they will see is a simplified, homogenized, tv-ready art that simply isn’t a representation of the greater community in general.

furthermore, the idea that art fits into the Top Chef/Project Runway mold is insane. Art is not suited to immunity challenges and immediate feedback by a panel of strangers. I want to know with what criteria are these people to be judged? I am afraid that an inevitably simplistic view of art and art criticism will permeate the show and set a horrible example for future, budding artists.

Bravo is looking for good TV (see personalities). They don’t give a shit about the quality of the art, just like fox news doesn’t give a shit about the accuracy of their “journalism”

p.s. for a better perspective, read the entire application:
http://www.bravotv.com/media/UNTITLED%20ART%20PROJECT%20APPLICATION.pdf
this is ridiculous.