PAINTING IS NOT ART

From time to time I hear the term "Art" used in the title of exhibitions, books and universtiy courses.

While attending art school I attended a course titled Canadian Art and Modernism or something along these lines. The course never made a mention of Art beyond painting. Nothing but paintings.

I have been involved in the running of an artist run centre for the last year and a half. From time to time I have sat the gallery and have spoken with people coming in to view the current exhibitions. We have exhibited, video, the installation/construction of a house within the gallery, collections of readymade objects and experimental projects. Often people come in our doors, look around a little confused and then comment "Oh, I thought there was some art showing here!?" Then quickly turn around to leave. Those that have hesitated more than an instant or that are looking for a response to their comment, I have tried to help explain that what you are experiencing in our gallery is art and you should experience it. It is about an experience and hopefully more than 1 vantage point.

I was perusing a used book store and came across the book Everything you need to make Art.
It was a book of materials with a short description of how to use it. It showed pencils, pens, inks, brushes,oils, watercolours, acrylics, thinner, canvas, gesso, pastels, charcoal, erasers and endless 2D tools.

Recently a panel of art people (amazingly they were not painters) commented on an exhibit about Art and Society organised by the National Gallery, and I was once again reminded that the show only focussed on Canadian paintings and Society.

I share these experiences to note that what is refered to as art is often thought of as only paintings. People looking for art for their new place of residence often search for paintings. Please look beyond paintings in references to art.
I have been told that sculpture is what you back into when looking at paintings. Paintings those 2D objects which only have one vantage point.

Little known fact
Galleries only hang paintings to cover the wall marks made from the installation of previous exhibitions. Have a look behind a Group of 7 sometime and you will see gouged drywall and chipped paint.

The truth is

PAINTING IS NOT ART

You have been duped into thinking it is. It does not belong in your home and should not match your drapes or make the room. I will not enter into the argument whether or not painting is dead again or where painting is going. PAINTING IS NOT ART. There are other things that are not art as well, Degas' bronze 14 year old Ballet Dancer, found around the world. Rodin's Burghers of Calais, though authorised and encouraged for reproduction by the artist himself ceases to be art. A museum is the cause of this, as Rodin encouraged reproductions of his work for all, but the museum set limits to the run as others were making copies and could take away from the musee's 'authentic' market. See Manifesto on this page for more.

So I hope everyone learned something today, most importantly

PAINTING IS NOT ART

What An Ass

He has such a cute little ass.

Can be seen at ARENA the art of hockey at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia beginning April 2008

Dark Day in Hockey

For those that do not remember this epitomizes everything that has gone wrong under Gary Bettman's reign in the National Hockey Leugue.

Brett Hull's 1999 Stanley Cup winning No Goal.

To be seen at ARENA the Art of Hockey at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia beginning April.

Single Momorial

This is a memorial dedicated to single moms in Kamloops, BC. It is found outside the Kamloops Art Gallery, library, and Municipality offices. I think it really gives perspective on what a single mom goes through. The figures left to right are Grandpa of single mom (seated), Single mom and child, Mom of single mom and Dad of single mom.

Mom

Hand to her head thinking, what has my daughter done? Where did I go wrong? How do we deal with this?

Dad

On the phone to the father of the baby and telling him to buck up and be responsible and nobody does that to my daughter and walks away!

Grandpa

Not sure why he is sitting on a 5 gallon bucket, but he does look thoughtful. Maybe referencing The Thinker?

Kids these days... irresponsible and wild, what has this world come to? But, yet grandpa is sure that his grand daughter can deal with this and in the end she'll be okay.

Single Mom and child

Well, here I go. Our single mom stands with her child ready to face a new challenge in life. Suitcase by her side she is moving on. Possibly, she is moving back home from being out on her own. Maybe the father of her child has left and she cannot afford to live in their apartment anymore. Possibly, her husband was killed fighting a forest fire to save their home. Regardless, she is continuing, and although her parents are in turmoil and her grandfather hasn't said much they still stand beside her in support.

Manifesto

1. 2D is inferior. 2D is trickery and deception. There is no consideration beyond simple function. Not that it's not worth doing, but inferior. 3D arts are deeper.

2. Public art sucks. Well, most of it anyway. Most is ill thought out and mis placed. Most public art is better left unmade. Updates to come on bad public art.

3. Work reproduced, recast, reformed, changed in material without the artists intent is no longer art. Degas bronze dancer's are no longer objects of art. Most of the Rodin's of the world cease to be objects of art.

4.....still in progress, your input is welcome

Grad 04 Alumni twoonie project

For those of you that missed the grad 04 ceremonies there were some very rousing and some might say inspirational speeches given by our valedictorians and Richard Serra the honourary degree recipient.

There was also an Alumni speech to our grad class. I do not know how this person gets picked, but I've heard a lot better. He was no longer practicing in the arts and he reminded everyone how so few of us would continue in the arts. Though it may be true, not the most uplifting of words.

He congratulated as the newest alumni and as the semester had just been completed a few days prior. Then he told us that we'd soon receive the alumni newsletter and of course we should give them money right away. We didn't have to wait years to contribute back to our school. To his credit he did only ask for a twoonie and said everyone could do this. I think this was a little early to be begging for money especially as most have a mountain of loan debt at graduation. I was quite put off with the comments and took it up with the president, who assured me it was no decision of his.

I've been out of the country the last couple years, so I have not seen the Alumni letters, but next time they come calling I plan to donate a photocopied Twoonie. I made mine a signed limited edition, so it may fit into their collection and maybe even be worth more than the paper it's copied on some day. So join in, if you haven't given already.

NSCADU 9 intro

In the year end grad show when I graduated art school, I submitted a piece titled How to Hit a Knuckleball. It was a response to a piece I worked on during my final year titled How to Throw a Knuckleball. It was a simple readymade of stickball equipment (broom handle, spaldeen ball, hockey tape to wrap the handle). My name wasn't on the title block, but instead the artist was posted as NSCADU 9. I believe there are still some limited edition T-Shirts floating around out there.

This was a play on famous Canadian art collectives (Group of 7, Regina 5, know any others?) and the Mudville 9 from the Casey at Bat poem.
This also come from the brief stickball games played in the Granville mall between classes.

Mainly it was a response to the President's attempt at rebranding the art school. Essentially saying that the grads and their works are products of the institution.
So if we are the brand coming out of the institution, then we should be taking advantage. I've heard there are benefits to being a part of the NSCAD Mafia and maybe the acronym is looked at in good light on a CV. So........

I feel that the name of the institution can be used freely by grads and current students as we see fit. Not sure entirely where I am going with this, but I hope to see future collaborations beneath this name and at least exchange some ideas.
If anyone has ideas or input or just need to bounce ideas around let me know.