Human Beings, The Art Machines.
What is the role of the present day artist?
Do the traditional roles of the artist continue to evolve and break through boundaries? What existing evidence have you discovered that proves this? What is art becoming? What is no longer art? Who gets to decide anyway?
Do we need to be interdependent on others to make our own assumptions and judgments about art and artists? If we are stable in our own opinions and perceptions, then why should we have to depend on institutions like museums, universities and galleries to help? (I get asked this question by my students all the time). Is it for contrast, resources and support, obviously? I’m not doubting those “things” as important or significant, but what is your personal relationship to this age long question?
What is art, and who gets to decide? When is the last time you thought about that word “Art” and what it means to you?
If it matters to you, then you will want to define it regularly, and also re-define it from time to time. Especially as you evolve in who you say that you are. Is the question itself outdated? Perhaps, rather than asking, What is Art? We may ask, what is my relationship to this work of art, or art experience I am having? Is it time for you to live that definition? You may have experienced that some people have bought into the idea that art is only something that a very select group of “talented human beings can do.” If you do not have the “gift or talent” (and indeed, how vague) that was discovered when you were 4 years old, then you should most likely not attempt to make any art and or generate anything creative that may fall into the category of art. As a result one may give up on art as they perceive it usually after the 6th or 7th grade. Leaving the art making to the “special kids” who seem to get favored with attention and encouragement by their art teachers. At the time, they will be exposed to the art of Michelangelo and Leonardo and perhaps even compare themselves and their project to the old masters…how strange, Why do some do this? Ah, the human ego arrives. Such pressure to aspire to. Ask yourself again; What is art in 2017? Who is an artist in 2017? What is your relationship to those objects, things, experiences and so forth? If you comply and write out your answers, I predict that you may discover several changes in your assumptions. Are some of them outdated still operating on automated emotions you unconsciously programmed many, many years ago?
Perhaps you may also find a connection or resonance with these ideas? No longer will art only thrive in the traditional appearance of tangible objects and things isolated to specific spaces. Spaces like museums, galleries and even non-traditional spaces that we still reserve for art, but evolve into something greater and more personalized than you could have thought. Personalized indeed. The complete personalization revolution of oneʼs multi-sensory world has begun, years ago in fact. You are already doing this with your mobile devices and social media software platforms. Do you notice how we are synced up to everything and everyone we interact with online. Complete control. We seem to really like that, and we do like to share that as well.
I for-see art events evolving into personalized ongoing situational realities. (Insert your own interpretation of this statement, but be careful, its a trap!)
Does this make us all curators with in a context? Oh, I see people cringing at this idea.. Specifically curated content crowd sourced snowballing, a growing energy through the personalization of individual and collective ideas. The artist is the art. The art is the artist. The energy becomes the brand. This is not a new idea, but then again, when it was introduced back in the late 1950’s did people understand this on an experiential level? Or was the concept just a theory or intellectualized with out the experiential feelings? Are we open enough to absorb a complete synthesis of such new ideas? I’m a working artist. I work in many traditional and unconventional art mediums; However, my greatest asset and medium is my consciousness and my awareness. The overall awareness to question the changing world as I experience it and define it. Awareness of one’s consciousness is both a physical and non-physical space. With in that space we have access to our imagination. Your imagination is the mental tool that forms images in your mind’s eye. This is the tool that begins to put your ideas, feelings, and desires into motion. It helps us construct a formula. How is your imagination an asset in your life? In my research of asking this question to adults between the ages of 25- 45, most will answer, when they think of their “imagination” they think of it as a thing of their youth. That only children day-dream and imagine about things while they are playing with toys and invisible worlds of make-believe… On the contrary your imagination is your navigator and creator. It never leaves you…
So, What is Art, and who are you becoming?
