neotericart

WTF is a periodic rant about an ill of the art world, one of humankind’s most screwed-up endeavors.

I have a problem with performance art* that relies on doing something outrageous in public. This stuff isn’t any different than stupid radio, game show or reality show stunts. High art…it ain’t. No matter how much philosophical, psychological or sociological bullshit Continue reading »

The following are definitions of “Career Levels” taken from the CAAP grant application here in Chicago. These definitions are also used throughout the art world.

New
Those at early stages of development defined as having received no or very small grants, awards, or funding from any source. Although the applicant may have little Continue reading »

WTF is a periodic rant about an ill of the art world, one of humankind’s most screwed-up endeavors.

One way to prop up shit is to put it in the same context as good work. If garbage is associated with excellence, the quality rubs off on the junk. For some reason, it doesn’t work Continue reading »

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 Continue reading »

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 Continue reading »

WTF is a periodic rant about an ill of the art world, one of humankind’s most screwed-up endeavors.

It seems that everywhere I turn the art world is discussed in negative terms.

• The gallery system is outdated.
• The art scene in (insert your city here) is too small.
• Artists don’t follow the proper procedures to obtain representation.
• Art fairs are too commercial. Continue reading »

WTF is a periodic rant about an ill of the art world, one of humankind’s most screwed-up endeavors.

I recently found myself in a discussion about painting and specifically why good interesting work that can stand on its own rarely gets the attention that Neo-Conceptual work, even when poorly executed, receives.

Since academics have taken over art, the purpose of it is to teach Continue reading »