 |
| lilies 40"x40 |
I went to a panel discussion hosted by a progressive hotel entitled, ‘entry points,’ a provocative name to a ragtag band of artists, all in search of a sliver of access to the ‘audience,’ a mythical population, and at this point still largely imaginary. It could have instead been called, ‘cascade of credentials,’ with an extensive listing for each panelist in the form of a handy brochure. Of the four panelists, the two artists presented radically, indeed polar forms. The first was theatrical in myopic and rigid black and white, while the other artist said nothing at all, and instead ran a rather lengthy video of free-form visual gibberish, with the disclaimer, ‘if flashing lights make you feel ill, look away.’ The other two were curators, who didn’t really have much to add. I didn’t detect a single point of entry for the creatively under-appreciated, no website, no email address, no secret door, but, to be fair, when the questions began I slipped away. The refreshments were grand and the coffee was excellent, thanks.
We here at ‘owning art’ have never had much sympathy for artists, dreamy freeloaders who think other people should value their precious expressions. The independent ones are art’s prospectors, rough and antisocial, with pick and shovel and beans for supper, they could’ve had a day job, and the dayroom directors over at the university have already schemed out their retirement. It’s the audience that’s due concern, that needs to be aroused, and it’s they who could use more information. It would be more productive to address that sleeping beast with one eye only half open, potential art consumers, nodding listlessly on the empty calories of common culture, all the while longing for something worthy and enduring they can hold on to. In its most condensed and portable form, that’s going to be art. Art is what this society lacks, and while competing ideologies thrash around, and seeds of discord sprout even in an innocent art forum, some notion of social cohesion and solidarity should also be planted.
I’m all for a campaign called, ‘entry points,’ but not for those craven opportunists who listen to music in their studios all afternoon, or on weekends, of whenever they find time to work. They’ll show up if you whistle. This progressive hotel should definitely be hosting ‘entry points’ events, but for business executives, for professional forums and associations, and for anyone in the local population who feels intimidated and discouraged by the condescending and fetishistic art they’ve been presenting, so far, in their galleries.
A program called ‘entry points’ could be designed for the local population, aimed toward developing an audience who might one day begin buying and living with art, and supporting area artists. Along with panels of local artists, their galleries could begin featuring worthy art produced in the area. These exhibits would draw more foot traffic from the community, achieving an integration with area awareness, while establishing a regional identity for a traveling public. With their acknowledgement, many artists’ careers might become self-sustaining, as the community gains the confidence to make aesthetic choices. If the home-office of this corporation, well-intentioned and commendable, can unravel its own mission statement, it might consider curating from another point of view, and redirecting their interesting and possibly branded concept, ‘entry points.’
