Is Art Magic?
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I met with Laura and Frieda for lunch yesterday, only the second time we have seen each other in the entire month of April. We chatted about birthdays and our recent gigs and discovered that we all had come across a similar 'expectation' from a few of our students.
The expectation of the participant was that we could somehow teach them how to be an artist. In a week, or three days or even one day.
Of course we never hear these exact words from the persons, but the inference is strong and no matter what we show them it doesn't seem to satisfy.
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We think that they want THE MAGIC KEY. As if there is one.
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I can relate. Before I went to art school I thought I would learn how to be an artist for real, not just in my imagination. But my undergraduate courses didn't teach me that. So I went to graduate school, and still I felt that something was missing. Later I took a few workshops on specific techniques and while I did grasp them, I still didn't see how one got to be an artist.
So I gave up and just went back to the room I sewed in and continued to make stuff. Years later I am still making stuff. And I am teaching how to make stuff.
When did it all change into ART?
I do consider myself an artist, and what I make is the art, but the way I got here...can it be taught?
Did the diploma make it happen? Or did the work do the trick? I say it is the work. Teachers can give encouragement and applause and sometimes steer the student in direction that will be beneficial, but in the end it is only going to happen for the person in the studio.
As much as I would like to have that Magic Key, I really don't think it exists.
32 comments:
okay, i will not use your comment section to go off on what i think accounts for this mind set...but in short it comes from being removed from "process" (and i know that word gets used a lot but we still relate to "process" as a noun instead of a verb)...we've been conditioned into materialism and quick solutions.
peace.
Some people can "make art" but they still aren't an artist. I don't know how you draw the line to distinguish the two, but maybe that is really all your students are looking for--how to "make art..."?
This would be a good place to quote Michael James:
"DO THE WORK
DO IT FOR PRACTICE
JUST DO IT
IF ONLY TO TRAIN
UNEVENTFUL EVENTS
REPEATED
AGAIN AND AGAIN.
DO THE WORK
DO IT TO PARDON
JUST DO IT
AND NEVER COMPLAIN.
TRANSCENDING THE FEAR
OF BLAME
AND REJECTION AND PAIN.
DO THE WORK
DO IT WITH PAITIENCE
JUST DO IT
BUT WITHOUT DISDAIN.
SHARING THE SECRECT
AND KNOWING
IT'S NEVER IN VAIN.
DO THE WORK
DO IT WITH PLEASURE
JUST DO IT
TO KEEP YOURSELF SANE.
TICKLING THE FANCY
AND LETTING
LAUGHTER REMAIN.
DO THE WORK
DO IT WITH PASSION
JUST DO IT.
NEVER, EVER FEIGN
AWAY WITH THOSE DOUBTS.
HAVE FAITH AND
YOU ALWAYS WILL GAIN.
I have posted this on my design board. Now, to back to the work.
Dear Anonymous,
If a person is making art, that is what I call being an artist. If we make cake we are a baker, if we plant a seed we are a gardener, if we write a letter we are an author. It is all a matter of degrees. But if we make our life's work, or a great deal of our time is spent making art, no one can dispute that we are artists. I am not about to characterize the art as a qualifier of the intent of the producer.
Maybe your students just wanna be like you by osmosis, and when they realize they can't without doing the hard work, they get frustrated. Truman Capote said soemthing like this (and I paraphrase): when God handed out the talent he also handed out a whip. I tell myself this when I don't really "feel" like working in the studio.
I used to be a professional ballet dancer in my youth, so I know something about this subject.
I learned that lesson in high school art class. The head of the art department was a rather unique gentleman named Robert Wheat. Mr. Wheat was a rather stern, harsh taskmaster who never seemed to be at all pleased with what I did.
I stayed after school one day to work in the ceramics lab. We only had two pottery wheels, and they were always in high demand. There was another classmate in there with me who was experiencing the same frustrations. As I was pulling up the sides of my vase, yet again they came off in my hands leaving the base flapping around on the wheel. In my frustration, I picked up the mass of gooey, wet clay and flung it at the newly painted white walls. It made a rather nteresting "splat". My classmate then picked up his pot and did the same. Next thing we knew, we were flinging wet blobs of clay at the walls, forming (what we thought) were rather pleasing design elements, giggling all the while.
"AHEM". Both of us heard Mr. Wheat at the same time.
He glared at us, strode over to the wheel, picked up a blob and flung it at the wall. He then turned and looked at me and said "Now, THAT'S art!"
The next piece I built was a sculpture called "Pinch Pots and Toilet Tubes" - a free form, FUN piece of work that reflected what I had in me that day.
It won at the District art competition.
It won at the State art competition.
It didn't place at Nationals - but HEY - I made NATIONALS!
I still have that sculpture on my mantel.
Every time I hit a road block, I go and contemplate that work of art.
Art reflects the artist. When we learn to "let go" is when we become artists.
Denise
Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone could teach you to be the artist you are instead of the artist you think you want to be.
The biggest challenge finding the MAGIC KEY is that it is different for everyone - for some it could be some form of validation, for others a sense of accomplishment. Part of the journey of being an artist in whatever media used is finding that personal magic key. Maybe it's a bit of a reality shift - instead of providing the MAGIC KEY, helping the student to recognize their own MAGIC KEY.
The secret is...there is no secret. There is only work. Lots of it. Every day. How hard can it be???
Oh, wow, good question. I really believe that doing the work is so important. You must have some innate talent or eye for good design, etc.
But, doing the work, churning it out, is the key to becoming an artist. If you don't enjoy that, then you don't have it in you to be an artist.
It matters not the duration of the activity - if you create art you're an artist. You can create one piece a year and you're still an artist. As long as you engage in an activity considered an art you're an artist.
How True what was said succintly by Juanita:
Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone could teach you to be the artist you are instead of the artist you think you want to be.
I think maybe Juanita hit on something. I do not consider myself an artist - I want to, but I know that I haven't done the work to become one. However, I do know that deep inside me is an artist struggling to be heard. It would be so nice if the Art Fairy could sprinkle pixie dust on me that would release that part of me to do the work I know is there and is meant to be done. But, I also know that - WE hold the key to our artistic capabilities. WE have to do the work, release ourselves to be open to what is our inner voice is telling us. This means going beyond taking a workshop from an artist. We have to take the knowledge gained from the workshop and use that as a steeping stone to OUR OWN artistic path. Art is hard work and not an easy path, but it may be the only path to our authentic selves. I will put my soap box away now.
Perhaps I view this as too simple. I grew up with an Artist mom who fostered our creative side. As a child I thought I was an artist. simple. It is, in my view, more a life choice or put in another way a compulsion. It is at its very base level a matter of subjectivity. You are an artist if you do the work, think the work, follow the muse...
What an interesting discussion... so glad I came late to the party. Reminds me of the book I am reading...Eat Pray Love. Great book... great discussion.
Wow! Thanks gals (and guys?) for the art lesson for the day. some days, I too wonder if I'm an artist. In my mind, if I'm passionate about creating and am truly enjoying PLAYING in my studio, then I'm an artist making art. Just because someone else may not agree does not make it less true.
What a great discussion, I just had to put in my two cents.
I always considered myself "artistic," but would never tell people I was an artist; that would be embarrassing. How could I claim to be an artist, but have no work to show for it?
But ever since I gave myself the challenge of making a quilt a week (which I accomplished for a while), I really felt like my right to claim that title was more appropriate. Now I have so much work to show for it, some good, some less than good, that I have run out of walls to hang quilts on.
But there's still something missing: some form of acceptance or recognition. I can hear you all groaning at that comment, but I still feel a little funny admitting I'm an artist to people I meet. I think I will finally feel validated when I sell my first piece.
I agree that work is fundamental, just as one definition of genius is '1% inspiration and 99% perspiration', the same is so true of art.
BUT - I think that many of the folks who want the Magic Key are the ones who ask "Where do you get your ideas?" I believe an artist is someone who not only makes art, but who responds to life with art, is unable to help themselves: thinks, talks, sees, dreams, breaths as well as working hard and long even with very little prospect of commercial reward to make art.
I loved what Brooke said-just this morning in the gym someone asked me what I do-I am still afraid to say the words and if I do find my courage I feel the need to explain-as if what I do isn't enough for the universe to accept me as a complete person
Art is in the eye of the beholder. What is art to me may not be art to someone else. My younger son and I do not agree on what is art- he is strictly literal, I am abstract and representational. It should be this way because wouldn't it be boring if art were too narrowly defined??
teri
One more thought. In our small town (about 45,000), we have a local non-profit art association. I have become very involved and show work in their exhibits along with painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers, etc. Therefore, I am an artist. (Actually, I've been president for 5 years, too.)
I urge all of you to get involved in local art groups, NOT just quilt groups. We need to continue the crusade to get fiber art accepted in the world of "fine" art. In addition, you'll meet and work with many fantastically creative people. That relationship will feed your creativity. Plus, you'll be helping your community by furthering the arts. Now, I'll get off my soapbox.
Great discussion! The only good thing I got out of art school was my husband! ;) I don't really care if I'm considered an artist or not - I just make things with fibre, yarn, threads, beads, cloth etc. Often functional, sometimes not. Mostly they please me but sometimes they don't. Sometimes they please other people too. Or not. If you have to sell your work to be an artist then I'm not one because I don't make things for sale. I sell my expertise instead. I teach occasionally and write occasionally for publication. But mostly I just keep making stuff and hoping to get what's in my mind's eye out into the real world. (It would help maybe if I stuck with one type of thing but I just can't!) Ultimately you choose your own label because other people might not pick the right one for you and they shouldn't be responsible for how you see yourself anyhow. Of course if you're trying to have a career and make actual money with your work, then the label becomes more important.
Sheesh! Am I making any sense here? Must be the Flu-That-Never-Ends affecting my brain cells...
Louisa, you make perfect sense to me...and said it better than I ever could. Ditto on everything (except writing and teaching).
I'm tagging you.
The rules start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself. People who are tagged have to write their 7 things on their blog. Then choose another 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment to tell them they have been tagged and to read your blog.
Melody, When I took a class with you I felt that you had sprinkled Magic Dust...I walked away inspired, encouraged, more knowledgeable about colors, fabrics and mostly with a feeling that I can DO!
Sallianne
I do think there is a magic key :-)
Or its' more like this: I found one when a friend pointed me to your blog.
I agree on what is said about the hard work, - one of the keys I got, opened the door to work/ think/ be with my work every day. Another key opened the door to trust, - I have to believe in me, that I can do the work, that I'm allowed to play, to fool around, to be one with what I'm doing.
But what we cannot get in a class with a well-known artist, is a key to fame and fortune. A magic key that will open the doors to makeing art that will bring money into the account and articles in the newspaper overnight.
No, that will not happend.
Guess I have to get back into playtime, eh...working routine.
I know what you mean by people wanting the 'magic key' I think it is about doing the work in the studio as during that process eventually you identify as an artist - in other words in making art you are also creating a sense of who you are as an artist
Of course, a non-artist workshop attendee such as myself cannot expect to be transformed in the course of an afternoon. Everyone should know that art takes work and time and talent. But as teachers, what do you think an attendee can reasonably expect?
Many workshops have left me with information that I take home and mull over and find myself incorporating somewhere down the road. When that happens, I feel the "aha!" moment - that I got what I wanted from the workshop, although sometimes it's in retrospect because I feel frustrated during the class. (That's not to say that frustration is a bad thing. It's what shakes you up, and that promotes growth.)
However, I have taken classes where teachers choose the most advanced, or fastest, student to work with - never me - and another where the teacher sat in the corner and knit, only getting up when asked to do so.
So, given that your students will most likely be a diverse group in terms of talent, the point to which that talent has been developed at the time of the workshop, and basic skills, what do you think that we can reasonably be entitled to expect from you and your friends as teachers?
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