Seven Days in the Art World-Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Seven days in the Art World

“…tyring to imagine how great artists get made in this airless institutional space.” Although the author is referring to Cal Arts, this phrase can be directly applied to my experience here at Mason Gross. The environment Thornton describes is very similar to that of MSGA.

Thornton refers to how every student sets up camp for their critique. The first image that comes to my mind is the sophomore and junior reviews when every student fights for the one place they are going to display their work. Once they have claimed their spot, it is theirs until the tireless critique is complete.

The most interesting and debatable issue about this entire chapter is whether or not the critique is at all useful. “Crits can also be painful rituals that resemble cross examinations in which artist are forced to rationalize their work and defend themselves from a flurry of half-baked opinions that leave them feeling torn apart.” This statement could not be truer. I feel as though every critique I have been involved with is just an excuse for students to bullshit their way through school. Does anyone really say anything useful during a crit?

However, I do believe that sometimes as an artists you don’t know WHAT or WHY you actually created something, so to have other people rationalize your work without knowing one bit about it, helps you as the artist understand your own work.

“Dogs are allowed in crit class as long as they are quiet.” I actually had a professor bring her dog into my critique, and the whole time it tried to hump my leg. I guess the dog met the requirements for a crit, I mean…it was quiet.

“Falling apart in a critique is not as shameful as one might expect.” How can you fall apart in a critique when almost all of what you are saying is fabricated? You must be a bad bullshitter.

“Many people believe that artists shouldn’t be obliged to explain their work.”

Mary Kelly says, “Never go to a wall text. Never ask the artist. Learn to read the work.” Many artists don’t know why they created the work. Just accept the work for what it is.

I do agree with Jones and think that as an artist you should grow a thicker skin and don’t take criticism as a personal attack.

“Perhaps creativity is not on the agenda at art school because being creative us tacitly considered the unteachable core of being an artist.” I think craftsmanship and skill should be taught at art school before creativity.