As an artist, it is very nerve racking to think that it is someone else will determine what goes out and how it's shown. Though, I am sure there is always some type of accordance between the dealer and the artist I think the dealer always has the last word; unless the artist is super super famous. "Dealers are editors and conspirators. We help determine what gets shown and how it gets shown, and we help put art in production." Jeff Poe
"He is always angry," she [one of Murakami's workers] explained with a shrug. "The atmosphere is usually intense." This is a dreadful dream of mine. When I think of being an artist assistance sometimes lines like this pop into my head. However, I guess the experience is what matters the most? Even if it is a terrible one, I guess..
Also, and I think this is very important, if one works for an artist this should be expected. When Thornton "asked Sato if there was any room for creativity in the work, she [Murakami's worker] replied, 'None at all.' However, she is one of the seven artist represented by Kaikai Kiki and would be showing her own art in a group show in Spain." One always has to draw a line when working for an artist, I think. You can never express your creativity in their work, especially if it someone as famous as Murakami. However, working for someone like him opens many doors for your own work, like meeting other famous artist. There are many ups and downs.
More on Murakami and his workers "We'd applied layer upon later of paint, but for the general public I'm sure it looked like it had just arrived on the canvas." Sometimes when a work looks easy, it may be that it was the complete opposite for the artist, or his/her assistants.
"He offered me green tea and apologized for his English, admitting that even in Japanese, he had 'no power to communicate in words. That is why I twist to the painting.'" Sometimes I feel like Murakami. Sometimes I feel that I cannot say how I feel and in order to express myself I make art. I believe this is something every artist feels.
Another point I have to agree with Murakami, I can never stay focused in one project for a long period of time. I plan, I shoot, then I move on to a new thing, or sometimes is two projects at one time. When I stay for too long in a project I tend to feel less passionate about it and sometimes even wreck it completely. "My weak point- I cannot focus on one thing. I have to set up many things. If just looking at one project, then immediately get the feeling it boring."
11/11/2009
11/07/2009
The Fair (chap.3)
What surprises me the most in this chapter is the intensity in which collectors buy the art work. As I read the chapter I could not help but imagine the way a lioness stalks its prey. They go swiftly from room to room analyzing, discarding and adding to their list the works they wold like to acquire.
For exaple the Rubells:
When Throton asked if she could hang with the Rubells to observe their buying Mera Rubell responde "Absolutely not.. that is like asking to come into our bedroom"
Steve Rubell explained that a "Collection is a personal vision. No one can steal your vision" This, I agree, is the way many collectors feel about their work.
There is also seems to be a different types of collectors. There are the "hurry-hurry collectors who go to the hurry-hurry-galleries to buy the hurry-hurry artist" as Nicholas Logsdail claimed, and then there are the those who, like himself, like artist "who are on a slow burn, very good, very serious, not in the fast track, but pursuing their own artistic interest with tenacity, quirkiness, and confidence."
Then there is the artist at the art fair. Something I learned from this chapter is that one thing is to have the artist attending the fair, and another is to have the artist's artwork at the fair. Very two different things.
I thought these two went hand in hand, but as said in the book "an art fair is no place for an artist...artist tend to view art fairs with a mixture of horror, alienation, and amusement. They feel uneasy when all the hard work of the studio is reduced to supplying the voracious demand..." Like Baldessari, an artist himself, said when asked if he had been in the art fair he responded "Are you kidding? I wouldn't set food in the fair anytime before lunch. I'd be trampled, I'd be an innocent to the slaughter."
I cannot find who said this in the book, but there was a passage where Thorton was conversing with someone about artist and how important was it to have the artist present at the art fair. This person she was to responded something along these lines; the presence of the artist next to his/her piece could destroy the artwork and not sell or it could do exactly the contrary, but the galleries rather not have the artist there if they want to be successful.
Something I found very interesting was that after a piece is sold to a collector the artist reputation alters. "Unlike other industries, where buyers are anonymous and interchangeable, here artists' reputations are enhanced or contaminated by the people who own their work" as said by Scott Wright.
In response to this an artist like Baldessari would say " You buy my art, not me. I don't want to be at your dinners."
Some interesting quotes:
"If artist are seen to be creating art simply to cater to the market, it compromises their integrity and the market loses confidence in their art work"
A quote I should learn from "I'm an atheist, but I believe in art, I go to galleries like my mother went to church. It helps me understand the way I live."
"Out of everyone in the art world, collectors are the least professional. All they have to do is write a check." - I would love to be able to do that...
the end..
For exaple the Rubells:
When Throton asked if she could hang with the Rubells to observe their buying Mera Rubell responde "Absolutely not.. that is like asking to come into our bedroom"
Steve Rubell explained that a "Collection is a personal vision. No one can steal your vision" This, I agree, is the way many collectors feel about their work.
There is also seems to be a different types of collectors. There are the "hurry-hurry collectors who go to the hurry-hurry-galleries to buy the hurry-hurry artist" as Nicholas Logsdail claimed, and then there are the those who, like himself, like artist "who are on a slow burn, very good, very serious, not in the fast track, but pursuing their own artistic interest with tenacity, quirkiness, and confidence."
Then there is the artist at the art fair. Something I learned from this chapter is that one thing is to have the artist attending the fair, and another is to have the artist's artwork at the fair. Very two different things.
I thought these two went hand in hand, but as said in the book "an art fair is no place for an artist...artist tend to view art fairs with a mixture of horror, alienation, and amusement. They feel uneasy when all the hard work of the studio is reduced to supplying the voracious demand..." Like Baldessari, an artist himself, said when asked if he had been in the art fair he responded "Are you kidding? I wouldn't set food in the fair anytime before lunch. I'd be trampled, I'd be an innocent to the slaughter."
I cannot find who said this in the book, but there was a passage where Thorton was conversing with someone about artist and how important was it to have the artist present at the art fair. This person she was to responded something along these lines; the presence of the artist next to his/her piece could destroy the artwork and not sell or it could do exactly the contrary, but the galleries rather not have the artist there if they want to be successful.
Something I found very interesting was that after a piece is sold to a collector the artist reputation alters. "Unlike other industries, where buyers are anonymous and interchangeable, here artists' reputations are enhanced or contaminated by the people who own their work" as said by Scott Wright.
In response to this an artist like Baldessari would say " You buy my art, not me. I don't want to be at your dinners."
Some interesting quotes:
"If artist are seen to be creating art simply to cater to the market, it compromises their integrity and the market loses confidence in their art work"
A quote I should learn from "I'm an atheist, but I believe in art, I go to galleries like my mother went to church. It helps me understand the way I live."
"Out of everyone in the art world, collectors are the least professional. All they have to do is write a check." - I would love to be able to do that...
the end..
10/20/2009
Alex Bag Video
I'm sure we have all seen this at our own school, the cigarette, coffee and the way some people express themselves to imitate an air of importance and wisdom in the arts. Sadly, that is how everyone else that is not an art students sees us like. Some parts are quite funny but overall the movie was so prolonged it became a bit boring.
Chapter 2
Interesting quotes:
- "Crits can also be painful rituals that resemble cross-examinations in which artist are forced to rationalized their work and defend themselves from a flurry of half-baked opinions that leave them feeling town apart." pg 47
- "The work you do as an artist is really play, but it is a play in the most serious sense...You are materializing-taking something from the inside and putting it out into the world so you can be relieved of it." pg 52
- Different views on group crits:
"Hickey says 'If you are not sick, don't call the doctor'- Many believe that artist shouldn't be obliged to explain their work!" pg 54
- "When artist are put on the spot, Jones feels, it helps them 'develop thick skins and come to see criticism as rhetoric rather than personal attack." pg 55
- "Never go to the wall text. Never ask the artist. Learn to read the work" pg 54-55
Funny quotes:
- "He certainly gives you enough rope to hang yourself" pg 57
Interesting quotes:
- "Crits can also be painful rituals that resemble cross-examinations in which artist are forced to rationalized their work and defend themselves from a flurry of half-baked opinions that leave them feeling town apart." pg 47
- "The work you do as an artist is really play, but it is a play in the most serious sense...You are materializing-taking something from the inside and putting it out into the world so you can be relieved of it." pg 52
- Different views on group crits:
"Hickey says 'If you are not sick, don't call the doctor'- Many believe that artist shouldn't be obliged to explain their work!" pg 54
- "When artist are put on the spot, Jones feels, it helps them 'develop thick skins and come to see criticism as rhetoric rather than personal attack." pg 55
- "Never go to the wall text. Never ask the artist. Learn to read the work" pg 54-55
Funny quotes:
- "He certainly gives you enough rope to hang yourself" pg 57
- "MFA stands for yet another Mother-Fucking Artist."
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