Due Diligence, Do Diligenty, Do What You LOVE

I'm not sure if you ascertained this yet, but I am an artist. Although everyone goes about it differently, most artists want the same thing... NOTORIETY. Of course, the true path of an artist is just having that creativity flowing out of you uncontrollably, and the work of an artist is that needful expression. BUT, it doesn't pay the bills unless you sell your work too, and you have to be known to sell your work (short of the arts/crafts fair circuit.) To really make it, you have to be famous. That is all.

I am an 'emerging artist' on this 'path to greatness.' This path is not just ever bestowed, (with the exception of a lucky few that are born into fame.) It is a path of many struggles. It is working hard on your work and getting it out there. It it constant communication, ass-kissing and schmoozing, going without meals due to strict deadlines, working side jobs to pay the bills, all-the-while putting yourself out there for the world to discriminate. Oy!

Many believe that artists have to starve for what they do. I refuse to believe that, yet I am hungry. I am hungry for something more than food and that is to become that which I desire in my heart of hearts... I work to get to the point where I am an artist that is doing just my art alone to survive. I do not see myself working, setting up someone else's show, knowing my work belongs in the show. I am going to be one of those working in my studio, while others toil for days doing what they love) to create the perfect space for my art.

My art is out there. My ideas are abundant. My craftsmanship is improved. My chakras are newly flowing, and I must trudge on. I have ended a many-year-long spritual journey and now my energy shifts to creating the future. My root chakra is well rooted now and sacral energy flows like a river through me. I yearn to create endlessly and push myself beyond limitations. With diligence and this attitude, I know I have what it takes. Now I just need your support.

Our work is love!

Da-Da go Bye-Bye (Part Deux)

Wildly roaming about the hallowed grounds of various galleries and museums during this here Art Basel season in Miami, one thing is quite clear... The amount of art is overwhelming. Perhaps that is why the Bakehouse Art Complex (BAC) came up with the idea to do a show entitled "Sensory Overload." In this show, artists were asked to do conceptual art dealing with the five senses in any medium, so long as it was of installation size (large.)

As I had written before, I had an aversion to conceptual art, because there really is no concept that has not been explored and it just wasn't for me. However, I contradicted myself and collaboratively created a space that is so conceptual, it is apart from art all together.

The motive, for most of us artists, is to put their shit out there and let it be noticed, allowing the artists to get noticed. We decided to put a piece of art out there that only few will notice, if any at all...

What you see when you walk into the main gallery at the BAC is lots of color, explosion of imagery, large textile pieces hanging about, shock art photos of medical instruments, petri dishes with shocking pastel colored candy and what you hear is fast music and noise from video installations. All of these pieces scream to get noticed and do it well, amidst the tens of thousands of other art pieces all across the city...

Yet, tucked away in the corner of this gallery, with little marking but a 4" x 4" title card, is this dark, closed off space that very few people noticed, and that was the point. When one walks up to it, it looks like an ordinary wall that was strewn together to block off a space. The wall has these intentional spaces in between the panels that one can peak through and view what appears to be a shadow of a woman walking about the space as if it was an ordinary day... reading a book, painting a painting, drinking tea, etc.. Only the truly inquisitivewill peak in and find it. Very few will get it. That is pretty conceptual isn't it?

For information on the show, Sensory Overload and the Bakehouse, go to: http://www.Bacfl.org

Da-Da go Bye-Bye

My partner and I are working on a very thought-provoking project for Art Basel this year. We were asked to do an installation that deals with the five senses and to be conceptual about it. Our art is typically figurative and biomorphic in nature and not usually conceptual, so my brain actually is hurting while thinking of what to do.

My idea of conceptualism rests with the Dadaists in the 1910 and 20's, which sparked the postmodern movement that began in the 50-60's. It gave birth to the 70's & 80's pop-art and punk-rock movements and fizzled from there. It all had to do with the political movements and anti-art/anti-everything way of thinking. It had real meaning then, in a time of world wars and political heat.

Today, whilst we are still at war, the movement has little meaning anymore as we are not confined with the societal restrictions of early 20th century. Yet, most every gallery in town plasters their walls with art that still speaks of prior thought; surreal, messy paintings done with gobs of colors and objects, some devoid of hue, video installations flashing non-sensical imagery and sounds, and performance art that no longer stretches the imagination. I am not moved by it.

It is not that we have seen it all, folks. It is simply that conceptual art has lost it's "wow!" factor. When Duchamp put his urinal out and called it a "Fountain", and Stravinsky played his first "Rite of Spring" it surprised people. It pissed people off. It said something to the masses. It was a big F**k you to art and society. It shouted a great statement then, thus the history books concurred. Even when Warhol painted soup cans and new icons, and Basquiat had all eyes on graffiti, there was something to be said. Of late, there is much being said, but little taking notice.

Artists today have to compete with the commercialism of conceptual art. To make money we must fight up the ranks with the likes of Britto and Chihuly. These artists don't even touch their work. Performing artists have to commercialize themselves to eat as well. Conceptualism doesn't play a part anymore. It is about getting REAL... Anti-anti-art!

A deconstruction is again taking place behind the scenes, where all the good art seems to crawl. The system is swelling from the underground, but it is not conceptual. It is real; real thoughts, real ideas, recognizable forms. That is what I want to put out there and will, (with a little thinking, so concept still plays a tiny role...darn!) New movements need new thinking. There will be real thought coming out, pouring through crevices, taking down commercialists, one by one. It is mathematical, scientific, philosophic and philanthropic. From the underground, we will unite and take back reality. I may remain obscure, but at least I do not have to B.S. my way through it. So why not put out the concept of reality?

*("Artifice" Video installation to be installed at the Bakehouse Art Complex December 2009)

Lots to learn

Listed here are a few seminars that I have attended or will attend that will help me on my journey to getting noticed. I highly recommend them all as the tips they provided have helped me greatly to perfect my standing in the community and online...You can too! (Now, if only the attention I get for my work with League of Paranormal Investigators would rub off!)

The Importance of Being Earnest

(Name borrowed from Oscar Wilde's play about societal obligations and deception)

Steering away from repeating the history of the deceptive and silly toils of vain, avant-guarde artists in the world of Wilde's Victorian era, I cannot help but compare it to today's version of the same game. The art world of today has that competitive, vain and deceptive quality to it. Many artists put on a face, forcing themselves to shamelessly self-promote, pretending to be more than they are and aggrandize their work. As much as that sounds like it sucks, it really is integral for success.

The deception being played in the art world is all about marketing your work to be more important than it really is. One Artist may sell his work for tens of thousands of dollars while another artist sells the same type of work for only hundreds. Neither one is more intricate, more beautiful or more expensive to make. The difference in their work is nothing more than hype and the value that society puts on it.

That hype is determined by a few vain, but important factors; an artist has to have the proper representation, marketing, and collectors whose names are well-known. When an Art Rep. sells work, they have to employ duplicity to arouse the collector. When one is marketing themselves, their work has to displayed in a fashionable way that makes it seem larger than life and something everyone wants... All of this, although a ploy and seemingly wrong, is necessary for my success. I must learn how to be earnest, while remaining humble... But how?

So, I rise to the occasion of improving my status and learn, learn, learn. As I sign up for many seminars and courses, surround myself with successful people, and search for the perfect Art Representative, my journey will likely be one of self-discovery more than anything. I ask for any and all help in this and encourage you all to criticize me to the fullest extent, so I remain humble, yet earnest.

Shameless Self Promotion

Being an artist in Miami, or anywhere in the US during this supposed "recession" is a very challenging role. It is a role that I fulfill proudly, however it takes a huge toll on me! Aaurgh!

To better my position in the art/rat race, I need to improve (don't we all?) and am actively seeking ANYONE's advice while doing it! I am in an educational process now, learning to promote myself, improve my website and get noticed. I wish to share what I learn and share my follies, in exchange for advice or examples. Join me in my quest to not blend in!

Check in on me while working on projects and get some easy how-to's. ( Fine examples: "How to avoid follies while holding a welding torch" and "Dealing with selling your art to the corporate world and remaining diplomatic!") Cheers!