Not Just Another Show
A couple weeks back Jesse Hayward came by for a studio visit which I discussed herein. His style of curating is about setting some basic perameters, and then leaving the artist to their own devices, virtually an extension of our studio practice, and how it fits, surefire, into the concept of the greater aesthetic good. After his visit I drew three ideas in my notebook. Then I had a dream about a piece, got outta bed to jot it down. Right now it’s a funny lil’ picture on an orange post-it on my laptop. It deals in the edgy triteness/misconceptions of contemporary cultural politics surrounding sexual orientation, and how we too often use, and take symbolism for granted. As I rip tracks from Deee-lite into my database, I’m thinking about how to fashion this tiny square into something this side of reality. Bringing ‘bright ideas’ into the here and now can be weighty on my frontal lobe, but I can take the heat. I basically know the requirements, and have a few months to make it real, so it’s on the net to research lab supplies…..
While talking with Brenda yesterday, discussing ?s of appropriation and the relevance of escaping into the four walls of the studio. [Note to Self: I hope she remembers those articles from Harper's she referenced!] It just feels freeing to be ‘contained’ for a while. The whole show-after-show thing can be tiring and overexposing, and doesn’t always chart your continuum as an artist. This postures the reality of just saying ‘no’ to any random offer to present new (ala underdeveloped) ideas. The practice is about focus, rather than keeping to the flight of strict task-orientation. And since my work is only half studio-based, the other half escaping with my camera into the mostly industrial urban streets (see above image) it seems like a fair trade practice. This will hardly be just another show for me.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
The practice is “about” focus is (I think) a misconception.
The practice is a process “towards” focus.
Conceptually, the process is as valid as the result (focus).
Do you not think that the process by which you arrived at the result does not have equal validity?
Are “sketch books”,”abstract thoughts”,”any thoughts”,”meanderings”,”ideas”,”dreams” and “so on” (process) not as completely relevant as the “result”?
My feelngs are…..
Do not discount the “nuts and bolts”.
If you were asked to show your ideas in exhibition would you do it?
Studio practice is about physically being there.
You have already established that the core process is 24/7.
The whole is relevant.
I would love to own a De Kooning scribble from 1953.
I hope this makes sense.
Chris Brown.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
It only partly makes sense, and only part of that applies to my personal practice. So it’s 1/4 relevant to me, which is much more than the usual day-to-day $.02 - so for that I thank you, even though I don’t know you. I saw a DeKooing show last year that was a bunch of scribble drivel in my opinion, it was at Matthew Marks in NY. Honestly, it was one of the worst presentations of a master I have ever seen. Like the dregs of thought, it was mere scraps of 1/2 thoughts, torn from the consciousness of complete thoughts, and excerpted generously. And, yes, I would, and DO present partial ideas in every exhibition I’ve done. Concepts, ideas, the nuts and bolts, they are there. I never underestimate, or discount, the process. To coin an overused phrase: a penny for your thoughts (with interest).