“Young Artist of today need no longer say “I am a painter” or “a poet” or “a dancer”. They are simply “artists”. All of life will open to them...” Allan Kaprow
It would be hard for one to learn about Art and its history without hearing about the role the institution has played since the beginning. The institution has “graciously” provided artists and the public with guidelines as to what qualified as art. For without its approval artists could not truly make it in the market without first being recognized through the institution. What exactly qualified the institution to make such decisions over those making the art themselves? One does not know exactly. Moreover history has been filled and continues to be filled with artists and artist groups challenging the eminent role of the institution. It may be feasible to say that the institution has a prominent position because so much of the public is not informed about art and its history. Perchance if the public became educated they could have a say in what qualified as art, this is the aim of Simply Artists.
Art and its history have so much to offer the public, it is enriching in multiple facets of life. One cannot understand contemporary art without knowing its past. That is why the magazine is broken down into six sections which will cover the traditional mediums of painting, photography and sculpture in addition to dance and music. First is History, which is a section on the history and current updates about art movements, along with this section will be an art term of the week. This is where one will learn about art of the past to help understand what is presently going on. Second is Artist which is an artist of the week section to introduce artists. Next is a section of Art Reviews followed by Shows, which will provide a list of exhibitions, concerts and shows being held in venues around the United States. The preceding two sections aspire to give information to those unfamiliar with the art scene and provide them with opportunity to visit exhibitions attend concerts and shows, as well as hear what others are saying about them through the reviews. In this way the two sections serve as a method of learning how to make one’s own critiques on different types of works. The last two sections are World Art and Reader Questions respectively. Art has grown to be a network where artists are responding or building off of each other’s works, consequently it is important to engage the rest of the world in Simply Artists. Feedback is the best way to improve, which is why a section has been allocated for reader questions. These six content categories fit together to educate and inform and connect the past as well as the present, as the two are interrelated.
With his new album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King coming out June 2nd my favorite band, Dave Matthews will be appearing as Artist of the Week. Dave has also kicked off his 2009 summer tour, dates and locations are listed under Shows. In addition to DMB this first issue will also for its History be looking back on Glenn Ligon and his contributions to painting and the issue of racism, as well as what he has in the works for the near future.
Art is not something to be approached with a closed mind; those in our world today most willing to expand their horizons and have a mature intellect are young adults. This magazine is for you. Just like a school course this magazine aims to give one the information necessary to proceed into the world with the knowledge to make educated decision in ones career as well as life, specifically with regards to art. Now more than ever young adults are over programmed with school and other activities, thus Simply Artists will be a monthly magazine producing 12 issues a year. Many young adults tend to enroll in college consequently distribution of the 250,000 copies would primarily take place on campuses. As to not be exclusive copies will be distributed in bookstores and movie theatres where young adults are also found. To engage the young adult population the writers will consist primarily of young adult artists as well as guest writers and art critics who are well established in the art world, hence giving a range of views but still staying relatable to the readers. This is what Simply Artists is about engaging young adults to the world of art around them.
-Jessica Palo
Making art and ideas accessible sounds like a great idea, though it is difficult. To passively make available ideas within contemporary art could give the impression that it is for those with a simple taste for it and assumes a (potentially offensive to artists) low view of art in general. To demand attention and be aggressive with your ideas is a good way to get people to ignore you. How will you find a balance?
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of providing a historical context for current works; a sort of mirroring of cause and effect so that people better understand movements, change, and past inspirations. I was wondering if you thought about including political historical contexts? It seems like you might be talking only about art historical events, but maybe informing about past political, social movements' roles would be helpful as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the question answer section, who is going to be writing the answers? are you going to mix between the official art critic and the young artist? Who is the resounding "correct opinion" for your magazine?
Which is more important--the historical events surrounding the art or the personal history of the artist? History has an effect on art and I support sharing history with the audience, but the choice must be made on which history to focus on. If personal history did not have an effect on art, than all art of a time period and region will look the same. However if historical periods did not have an effect on art, than there would be no similarities between art of a certain time period. I think a better approach would be to focus on an individual work and introduce biographical histories of the artist within the time period they grew up. Combinations of these mini-profiles will give the reader a better view of the time period surrounding such artists and how it affected their lives and thusly their work.
ReplyDelete