This blog/podcast site suddenly started sending me announcements of their show to an old electronic mail account. I was suspicious at first, but must say that the discussions about art and specifically the definition of a "Chicago Art Scene" are thoughtful and relevant to a large variety of contexts both inside and outside that city.
Would it not be great if all SPAM was about art dialogue instead of trying to sell you Viagra and sketchy real estate financing?
This episode, which is an interview with the Chicago painter Wesley Kilmer was my introduction to the site. He goes on a bitterly aggressive rant about the state of affairs in Chicago regarding art that borders on heroic. He not only cites nearly every criticism that led to me abandoning Chicago but also name drops artists that through personal interaction were very positive influences for me such as Kerry James Marshall and Susan Doremus.
The interview starts out a bit slow and unfocused, but when it gets going biting judgements are clearly articulated surrounding different aspects of the wobbly art scene in Chicago such as:
The role of art dealers.
The mediocre work that tends to dominate the galleries.
The rise and fall of the ArtChicago trade fair.
Lacklustre arts education.
Attempts at challenging these dilemna through art community collective action is discussed briefly as well, both physical and virtual.
Link.
Would it not be great if all SPAM was about art dialogue instead of trying to sell you Viagra and sketchy real estate financing?
This episode, which is an interview with the Chicago painter Wesley Kilmer was my introduction to the site. He goes on a bitterly aggressive rant about the state of affairs in Chicago regarding art that borders on heroic. He not only cites nearly every criticism that led to me abandoning Chicago but also name drops artists that through personal interaction were very positive influences for me such as Kerry James Marshall and Susan Doremus.
The interview starts out a bit slow and unfocused, but when it gets going biting judgements are clearly articulated surrounding different aspects of the wobbly art scene in Chicago such as:
The role of art dealers.
The mediocre work that tends to dominate the galleries.
The rise and fall of the ArtChicago trade fair.
Lacklustre arts education.
Attempts at challenging these dilemna through art community collective action is discussed briefly as well, both physical and virtual.
Link.
3 comments:
Just listened to this... it's great.
I agree with all of this man's assessments about the grad school based flavour-of-the-week system, but I think he's far-off from a remedy.
The best advice he gives mirrors the core advice in Dave Sim's (of Cerebus) treatise of DIY comic books, which is, "your work is your work, and everything else is everything else". That is, the scope of your work is completely under your control, and you don't have to be a capital-A artist 24-7.
Also, I don't think the Ab-Ex's were as pure as he suggests.
Indeed. He is simply putting forth pointed criticisms that appear to be part of a professional attack strategy. He identifies exactly what institutions and personalities in his local scene that are currently dragging it down and then goes after them vehemently.
I agree that near the end of the interview when they press him for positive solutions to replace the dinosaurs, he seems a bit at a loss. Particularly when one of the interviewers asks him who is going to scrub the toilets (among many other logistical tasks) at his proposed replacement for ArtChicago, and if he really would be just replacing one established subjectivity with another.
Regardless, it is rare to hear these kinds issues addressed so directly and I appreciate that this guy is not afraid to offend delicate sensibilities while doing it.
*a bit smashed*
One sub-set of the conversation that is noticably absent is any discussion of who comprises the art buying public, and what their concerns are. Are Chicagoan Gold Coasters willing to invest in the next wave of... whatever this guy has in mind?
Or is he perhaps counting on the fauxhemian rebeliousness of the Wicker Park crowd?
I think what comprises success and validation are too muddily presented in this interview for it to serve for more than a rallying cry. That leads me to the conclusion that many of the remarks are made out of envy.
As an aside, I still think that this was a very refreshing bit, these are just reflections a few days later.
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