Art, a Confusing Description

To skip the description and apply directly to the show e-mail senddogememes@gmail.com

There was some confusion over the parameters of the “What Do You Meme” art show portion of Dogecon’s closing ceremony/tiki bar party/rap collaboration. I take complete responsibility and seek to clarify things here*

*This may not provide clarification

Just do some art! Any art. But what even is art?

To answer this question I’ll need to use a metaphor.

Let’s say there’s a New York beat cop named Alex Murphy, a typical lawful-type with a wife and children to add some depth to his character. Murphy gets brutally murdered while trying to take down a sadistic crime lord. Having been a model cop and great physical specimen he is unwillingly opted in to a new cop-upgrade which involves using his brain and parts of his body to provide the core to a cybernetic organism. A Robocop, if you will.

Now, Robocop still has some of Alex Murpyh’s memories but for the most part his mind has been wiped and remains almost fully programmable. He is completely integrated into the computer system but elements of his humanity occasionally shine through. Now, is Alex Murphy a human or is he a robot? If he is a human, is he still Alex Murphy? Or did Alex Murphy die only to have some parts transplanted into a new body? If I receive a heart transplant from a murderer, I don’t become a murderer by default — or do I?

Now for the larger question: is Robocop art?

Before that question was first asked, maybe not. But now, it kinda is.
Art is like “the Game” in that as soon as you call something art, you immediately lose. A 1.5” wood screw isn’t art….oh except now it totally is. Something that was merely functional in nature is suddenly open to all sorts of criticism about shape, style, environmental impact, social commentary, and ad hominem attacks against the maker. Congratulations wood-screw designer — you are an artist.

Any and all things exist in a quantum state of non-arthood until their artness is examined. Now we get to the question: What makes good art?

And that entirely depends on context. If you were to paint lady justice with the scales tilted and her blindfold slightly askew for my wood-screw only art exhibit then it would be considered bad. It’s not a wood-screw, it doesn’t fit the context at all, why did you even submit that?

If you were to submit that same painting to my law-themed art show then it would still be bad because stop painting cliches.

The moral is: people are going to shit all over you no matter what you do. Probably, if not especially, me.

The best thing you can do is try — if you’re not being commissioned to paint something specific then that means someone wants to see your vision, your ideas around a subject.

On the other hand maybe someone thinks you have cool art and they want you to show it off.

In conclusion, just send in art. If it doesn’t fit the criteria I’ll tell you. Just between you and me: right now I don’t have enough time to verbally tear apart anyone’s creative motivations — so you’re completely safe.*

*not guaranteed

Here are some examples anyway:

Inspirational poetry or other written content is welcome.

“Corn Man Eating Corn, Man” by J.D. Renaud. Made using cut-up posters and tape on canvas.

Vero Dalo (shown above) will be doing an interpretive dance about block chain. Photography by Piego Leflue.

Sculpture is especially wanted.

Even this sculpture, a generous loan from Karl Simmons

Interesting interactive exhibits are definitely in. This will be part of a display done by Tom Balog who says “ My project is a bit different, I’m doing some what of a live meme piece. Essentially it’s a large satire piece that revolves around the fictional futuristic technology that merges mindfulness and meditation. I’ve created the helmet, which I’ll attach a picture of, and people can take photos with the helmet on in front of a painted back drop.”

Something like this.

You have nothing to lose since there’s no submission fee. Artists who are accepted will be given a free pass to the conference.

Check out the event at www.dogecon.party for more inspiration.

Submit your art and ideas to senddogememes@gmail.com