WTF — “Craft” by William Dolan
WTF is a periodic rant about an ill of the art world, one of humankind’s most screwed-up endeavors.
It can be interesting, inspiring and enriching to see the sketches, trials and, the mock-ups of an artist. The rough and awkward sketches on kraft or scrap paper can tell a lot of how an artist came to painting that finished masterpiece. Automobile designer Dick Teague sketched the Pacer on a barf bag while on a business flight. Many great things start out as an idea sketched or outlined on a bar napkin. I love looking at rough stages of anything.
Unfortunately, too much art stops here. Today, paintings are rough (and sometimes crappy) sketches on construction paper, wrinkled from the paper that unevenly shrinks as the paint dries. They are then push-pinned to the gallery wall as a finished piece. Installations are made of unfinished scrap wood, slapped together. Sculpture is cut out of cardboard boxes and taped together with duct tape. A lot of art ends up looking like some sort of day camp project. The “bar napkin” has become the finished piece.
For some reason, the art world really responds to work that seems to be slapped together as opposed to fully executed…something that looks polished. Though a piece that is quickly put-together shows an immediate connection to the idea, it just doesn’t seem finished…something is missing.
The word “craft” has connotations of “arts and craft”…hobbyists in a park district field house making pots. If you ask me, dashed off quick sketches on torn construction paper makes me think of “craft.” Would it be so bad to take those drawings to the next level? Probably, because today it would be received as out-dated and old fashioned. I think it’s time for a new trend.
Category: WTF | Tags: art, craft, finish, junk, polish, quality, trend 12 comments »
August 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
“Would it be so bad to take those drawings to the next level? Probably, because today it would be received as out-dated and old fashioned.” – - I don’t think anyone knows what the next level is anymore!
We’ve discussed this topic from different vantage points. One problem and probably the biggest problem is that art schools are spitting out 3rd rate philosophers instead of actual artists and these artists are creating shitty drawings, paintings, installations, etc. Then all trickles down to create 3rd rate curators, 3rd rate gallerists, etc.
I recently saw the show “they will not ruin us through the things that we like” at Western Exhibitions and could not believe that all those shit drawings were actually hanging on a gallery wall – -
August 9th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I can’t think of another human endeavor where their stuff is thrown together so poorly, then explained to death why it is important. I just read someone rave on about how a certain artist has successfully bridged figurative and abstract painting. Upon examination, the work looks like high-contrast photos printed out on inkjet paper then some paint slapped on the printouts.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:25 am
I think part of the problem is that curators now are simply too young with little experience. Etsy, the online retailer for all things ‘handmade’, brought in a curator from a major NYC museum, and her choices insulted most of the more informed working artists there.
There are painters in the boondocks, who aren’t exhibiting regularly – who put more thought into their work than most of Chelsea.
The other problem is that no one wants to break the trend of promoting a certain style of art that everyone has convinced themselves is valid.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:49 am
Good points Victoria.
“The other problem is that no one wants to break the trend of promoting a certain style of art that everyone has convinced themselves is valid.” – - the art world needs a few more curators and reviewers to step up and denounce this shitty art making…
August 24th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I agree that no one wants to break the trend of, as Mark Staff Brandl calls it, “feeblism.”
I have a theory that this has something to do with filling the student bodies of art schools. By denouncing craft as being valid, the playing field is leveled between those that have ability and those that don’t. This opens the door for people that don’t want to commit to a more rigorous educational path or, perhaps want some level of fame, yet may not have any talent.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
It’s interesting to note, that this feeblism hasn’t really found its way into printmaking. Maybe that since the the printmaking process requires skill, the image making is done with care as well? Is printmaking considered somewhat of an anachronism, like skilled painting?
August 28th, 2009 at 12:05 am
this stuff is so f****ing bad:
http://www.artnet.com/artist/424031196/michael-scoggins.html
January 14th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
I’m sorry I keep posting on old topics, I just discovered this site. About printmaking – I think part of why it’s been fairly immune is pretty complicated, and its history is a part of it. But the greatest reason for me is the fact that it forces artists to plan and at the same time take advantage of of its unique qualities (whether it’s etching, or anything else that requires more than one step). If the art is only about punchlines, the medium is fairly replaceable. Luckily for most printmaking, trivial philosophies lend themselves well to shoddy execution.
January 15th, 2010 at 8:10 am
I agree with you Adrian…and no reason to say “you’re sorry”….post away!
January 15th, 2010 at 8:45 am
I agree that by its nature, printmaking is immune to the deskilling that has gone on in painting. It’s kind of strange that shitty painting and drawing can exist along side of printmaking in the art world.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
after re-thinking this issue…I think it’s time for shitty printmaking…
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:01 pm
lest we forget why bad artwork is marketed, it is very cheap to acquire and therefore higher profit taking