This week I opened my first curatorial exhibition... pocket change. It is a rewarding experience in many ways.. particularly getting an inside look in 6 artists processes. It also brought up questions about what is a great exhibition.... how do you lead a viewer through an exhibition space.. and how to discuss art with the public. A number of people attended the opening whom have rare contact with the art world... how do we verbally engage the self-conciouse laymen? Should we participate in teaching them that their experience is just as valid as an elite art educated person? How and what else can be discussed about this topic? It seems to connect well with the artist practicing in public. What do you think?
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Christina
aka. wanderwoman
What Christina's comment brings up for me is the conflict between bringing 'the public' (which I think we could replace with 'a public' or 'publics' because I think this idea needs to be divided) into a sanctioned art world space versus making art outside of such a space. What are the positives and negatives of each? For example, a piece created in someone's neighborhood could easily be more esoteric and less available to her than a piece located far away within a museum...and vice versus. Any thoughts? In more direct response to Christina's comment, I love talking about art in a gallery/museum with non-artists. Also, one of the army guys asked me today about what we're up to and seemed to be interested in either a collaboration (perhaps wishful thinking on my part) or (more likely) someone to paint something 'artistic' for them. I was in a rush but hopefully one of us will run into this person again (I think he was one of the teachers/leaders).
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm... I like the point you bring up about how a person may need to make a journey to a "place of art" for the work to be more available to them.
ReplyDeleteI like speaking to non artists who are curious... but... i find myself turned off with the minority who exclaim "I don't get Art.(period)"
I don't feel my role as an artists is intentionally convert the non-believers. Im much more likely to turn the other direction and continue on my own path.