The result: it’s hard to see any art for all the art.
I have some trouble with art democracy. For most of my adult life, my job has been to judge the work of artists – either to sell or critique for publication. I’ve spoken out against the wasted opportunity for excellence in places such as the Gallery at High Falls where no exhibitor is ever turned.
But I’ve also written recently about art elitism – particularly the Memorial Art Gallery Biennial where, from hundreds of artists’ entries, under fifty make it to the wall with an exhibition meant to showcase regional art talent.
I’m not alone in the philosophical mush of uncertainty. RoCo claims that this is a totally unjudged show but is sponsoring a public “vote for your favorite” contest – by any definition, a “Best In Show.” Several individual prizes are awarded as well. Sounds a little hypocritical to me.
So is there such a thing as a successful, truly democratic art show? YES THERE IS! And it’s RoCo again. The 6x6 fund raising exhibit equalizes size, price (every art piece is sold for $20.) and total anonymity between buyer and artist. It’s such fun that good artists are happy to submit work even knowing that it may hang alongside that of an 8 year old from an elementary school art class. It's not even a close contest between the quality of the two RoCo shows: the 6X6 wins hands down.
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I lie awake these nights mentally sorting through rooms of furniture, rugs and art work. Some will stay in Rochester to live wherever it is we end up and the rest will land at our new house in North Carolina. I feel like I’m sending half my children off to a foster home – or worse, breaking up twins or dragging babies away from mom.
As excited as I am about setting up a new place “from scratch”, I also realize that many of my art treasures are rooted in Rochester/Upstate New York soil and they give me….what exactly? Credentials? Snob appeal? OH, NO! I AM ABOUT TO BECOME ANONYMOUS.
Well, that’s part of “reinvention” isn’t it? You roll the dice and you accept the challenges.
1 comment:
Dear Artlaw, it seems that often your writing is systemic in its focus. By that I mean that, like a complex pool shot, the ricochet effect is as crucial as the final ball falling in the pocket.
The RoCo members show is surely part of a system too. For so many years it has been a pillar of the programming at RoCo / Pyramid (then an artist driven space in a more direct manner). So the system has history and also popularity too (that damn democracy again). Beyond that America has a powerful love / hate thing with experts be they intellectuals, consultants or curators. Un-juried shows are the yin to the highly structured yang of most art houses.
Drilling down into the “system” of this particular event I admit to having a small but earnest “hand” in the process. Barbara and I choose a favorite from the show each to receive special recognition and a small financial prize. Our intent is to “nudge” the system by encouraging artists to submit stuff they are most invested in; to turn up the excitement for all levels of participants.
Artlaw, you are fond of the “E” word. Excellence is such an elusive, squiggly, greased-up word when used together with art. I have friends who will rail against the mere existence of the two words in the same sentence, paragraph, neigh even the same decade! But, putting that aside for another day (Scotch will be required), why do certain social conventions thrive in certain sub-cultures? Football in Florida and Texas? Writing in Iowa? Music in Nashville? In part it must be because of the sheer numbers that, like excited molecules in a reaction, push on each other to produce something “more”. The exhibitions at High Falls and even more at RoCo are an important catalyst to nurture the energy and thoughtfulness of our burg. Our entire burg. All our communities in our burg.
And now for the ball falling in the pocket: walking the members show, peering into each image, reminding one’s self about the values we as viewers uniquely bring to the moment is nothing but rich and exciting and rewarding and pays respect to all who dive into their studio, work their skills then dare to allow the world to look and wonder.
Tom
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