My Two Cents

20 Sep My Two Cents

Posted at 10:33h in Musings by

In regards to Jerry Saltz’s annual Babylon article that everybody has commented on…here’s my two.

1. The market is trying to solidify its place, the only struggle currently is the power struggle. The art fair vetting practice is the new high school popularity contest. Establishing your fair next to the popular kids isn’t the answer, because even the unpopular kids are vetting now. Truly bleeding edge will never see the inside of an art fair. It is up to the artists, the alternative spaces and some paradigm out there that we don’t even know about yet to shake things up. (bitterness disclosure: I was told artLA invites have gone out several of weeks ago and we still haven’t received one. I guess we don’t measure up to the "anonymous" vetting committee, must have been something I said….jeez, and we paid full price last year).

2. Please don’t start dropping F-Bombs in your press releases just because Jerry said its cool.

3. Flesh eating zombies, Vampires, regardless of the shenanigans that go on in the art world….they’re still very amateur compared to my experience in the corporate world.

4. I had an artist tell me that he was concerned because he was getting away from the "series" mentality. He is just making images. Artists, please don’t be afraid to fight commodity pressures. The market wants you in a box.

5. The art world doesn’t need anymore attitude. You better have attitude if the art you show sucks.

6. After all is said and done the status quo will prevail, fear is a powerful thing and the have-nots (artists, galleries, etc.) are suffering from it bigtime. Be brave folks, the art world is really just an old man behind a curtain trying to scare you into submission.

7. I still believe in art. It’s what keeps me going.

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5 Comments
  • mark dutcher
    Posted at 18:02h, 20 September

    hey chris, the art world is a beter place with you in it speaking the truth. i think what you are doing is important. i still believe in art, too. in fact, i love painting; it saved my life.

  • sherie'
    Posted at 21:28h, 20 September

    Yeah, series schmeeries,go for broke I say! And F that box mentality. You’re johnny on the spot, Chris (as if you didn’t know). And Mark, I’m with you, I think painting is everything.
    Sherie’

  • Edward
    Posted at 07:58h, 21 September

    righteous!
    je suis d’accord!
    e

  • Jeff
    Posted at 16:21h, 21 September

    nice work… its true the art world has nothing on the professional world and in many ways I do intent those two to be on opposite poles. The art world is pretty feudal.

  • la.dauphine
    Posted at 11:30h, 26 September

    You’re so right – there’s too much useless “attitude” running about in the art world already. Personality and individualism, okay. But no more attitude.
    As for art fairs – I am a proponent of them for galleries in remote areas that have more of a chance of selling some ‘edgier’ work in the big city rather than being forced to sell that which their own town is already buying (I’m in Atlanta – so that would mean selling decor).