WTF — “Community Art” by Norbert Marszalek
WTF is a periodic rant about an ill of the art world, one of humankind’s most screwed-up endeavors.
Artist communities don’t attract good artists. Having a “community” of artists seems like a good idea but if you look deeper into any “community” invariably you’ll find a lack of talent, a hobbyist mentality, more social than serious.
Some artists find out that playing with the big guys or getting into a “real” gallery is too difficult so they join a “community”. Has any artist ever become a “rock star” while climbing through the ranks of a community art group? In Chicago we have Around the Coyote, the CAC, the Ravenswood Art Walk District and the Pilsen Art District to name a few.
There are usually two kinds of artists. Look at their résumés. On the one side you’ll find respectable galleries, serious curated shows, museums, residencies, grants and on the other side you’ll see store front and frame shop galleries, restaurant and bar shows, Co-ops, vanity galleries and a lot of community art stuff.
Embrace the path that best makes you happy. Just be clear that each path will take you on a different journey.
Category: WTF 6 comments »
August 26th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Unfortunately, the art scene in Chicago is very small, yet the community/CAC/ATC/suburban art guild/ETC. is what’s left, so it’s very easy to plod along that path. It can be OK if an artist embraces serving the middle. There is nothing wrong with it. It’s similar to a musician being in a wedding band or playing at open mic nights. It’s just not going to get an artist anything bigger.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
True, all, but these places are also a good place to simply start showing. Great place to hone your pitches (and, by extension, your ideas) and make some good friendships. By my count, at least two of the artists you’ve profiled are friends of mine from ATC who are in the process of climbing up from said depths. I’d like to think of my times at fairs as at least slightly more rewarding than the open mic at potbellys, but I can see where you’re coming from on that.
I’ve also heard those horrifying tales about jurors saying “the work is sure nice, but he just shows at art fairs all the time… must not be serious.” If so, yikes. Comes a time, I suppose.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
“these places are also a good place to simply start showing”
Russ, I guess that could be true but I would advise a young artist to set their sights higher and never look back.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Well met, mon frere.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I’d advise all artists to set their sights high. There are, however, three kinds of artists — the third never puts their work out there to be viewed and talked about. One has to find a way to start and then a way not to get stuck.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I would advise a young artist to move to New York before she or he puts down too many roots in Chicago.