Fans of Art or ...'Farts'?

...I have been an avid watcher of Bravo's reality show 'Work of Art' where 14 artists from various disciplines vie to be the winner (and for some reason, it's slightly reminiscing of 'The Breakfast Club').

I love this show. L O V E! At this moment, when I have SO many questions and NOT many answers, this show was Heaven sent.

At last, some bearings, a point to begin noodle-ling through the art world, from movers and shakers, to important curators and galleries, and current, viable artists and their artworks. [Well, I have been asking the Universe for a mentor AND we are a television generation...]

Regardless of what ever editing was done, I enjoyed the process the artists went through. Often, I'd imagine myself in their weekly challenges, creating my own art pieces, alongside theirs. Boy, when they say art is subjective, that art should make you ‘pause’ and think...this show makes primo example of it. The judges critiques and estimation would change from week to week with cat-ish finicky-ness. I often wondered about the judges (or anyone in general): What makes them....art-judgy?

Just this last Tuesday, my friend (whom I shall call Russ) was recounting an experienced he had which completely left him dumbfounded and somewhat jaded. He had recently just finished an art show. During a deathly, boring hour, several artists came by and critiqued his works. They remarked that his 'realistic' works were too 'old fashion' looking, though his abstracts held promise, particularly one piece. They were quite smitten with this particular piece and gushed, describing each intricate colors and shapes with fevered reverence, pointing out, with self-indulgent observations and prideful glee, the reasons behind such bold strokes. What no onew knew was that, Russ had not wanted to waste his left-over paints, some still mixed over on his palette. So, he decided to just 'splat' the unused portions onto a canvas in different squared shapes, with no special or significant intent.

Curiously remarkable? Or pleasantly ironical?

Either way, I whispered to him that perhaps he might consider omitting the last bit from the story when recounting it in outside circles...

So, back to my original question, what makes judges or even anyone in general, art-judgy? I haven't figured it out quite yet. But, there is a fine line between pompous regurgitation and thoughtful, provoking reflections.

Fans of art or 'farts'? You too can be art-judgy.

T

Blockage! Blockade! Blockhead!...

...recent frustrations in figuring out the 'how to' and the 'what next' in my artistic pursuits, has led to art blockage. Even meditating in the park with my toes squishing in the green-grass last week did not help calm my mind. What is going on?

Further reflections and a dose of 'LA Ink' Wednesday night had me realize that certain elements were missing in my life right now. In LA Ink, the tattoo artists would sketch on their down time, practicing and perfecting their craft. It reminded me that there was a time in my life where I was always drawing in my sketch pad. Everything to anything.

[What other things have I stopped doing, possibly PG Rated, which I could mention here without embarrassing my mum?]

I am a fanatical reader. I read profusely - from fiction to non fiction. I can't remember the last time I strolled in a book store and browse until a book called and beckoned me. The last book purchased was Karen Armstrong's 'The History Of God', (I think I bought it six months ago). A really fascinating read. No. Really! The book suggests that the idea of 'religion' was created during a time of great economic strides and the fore-fathers feared their people would be 'spoilt' and get carried away by their wealth, and so installed certain beliefs to curb negative tendencies....alright, I got carried away myself, back to the present.

So....maybe, my blockage somehow, may be tied to not reading or drawing, that these elements might be the connecting 'in/out' cables to my creative source. Who knew...

So back to the drawing board...or pad...and possibly a visit to my local bookstore. I need to get back to *tabula-rasa.

It is weird that I feel relief? Man, I do.

T

*Merriam Webster Dictionary defines TABULA-RASA as something existing in its original pristine state.