Sketchbook, Art, Art projects.

The post for this week is a sort of promotion. I have entered a project that exhibits artist sketchbooks on a permanent basis in the Art Library of Brooklyn. The full project has been developed by the Art Hose Coop, a not-for-profit arts organization. I have participated in some of their projects in the past, and they are a pretty good organization. If you would like to find out more, or participate yourself, the information can be found here.

There are several themes available to the artist participating. The theme selected is up to the artist, however participants can also ask to be randomly assigned. I selected the dirigible and submersible theme. I'm not sure how I will fill an entire sketchbook addressing this idea, but it should be fun coming up with something. What are your thoughts? Which theme would you have selected?

Mark Bradford

The post for this week is about the artist Mark Bradford. He was a recent recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award. An interview from The Art Newspaper was conducted, and can be read here.

Bradford's work is interesting in that he assembles media found on the street into layered imagery. The result is meant to explore issues of community, street culture, and society. Bradford is the one of the few contemporary artists that shares my view on art, how it can be used for communication and how it can be used to build community. I am not a fan of installation art, but Bradford has recently been involved in a series of installations that reflect and interact with the communities in which he is presenting. The above article explains more specifically what he is doing. What are your thoughts? See you next time.

Book Review

This book, edited by Steven madoff looked at where art schools have been, and what type of art and artists were produced as a result. Madoff also explored how an education in art could be changed to meet the diverse needs of the 21st Century. If you would like to read a copy of this book, it can be purchased here. The nearest library with a copy can also be found by entering the title here.

The author described how the majority of those who studied art (particularly those who earned M.F.A. degrees),later became instructors or teachers of art. His argument was centered around the idea that if artists were to become teachers, they should be more prepared and adept to the many resources and tools available to communicate the lessons of art. He added that this was not happening, and as a result art works have become lackluster in quality.

Madoff was succinct in his writing, and it was not difficult to follow his thoughts. His observations on what happened to students when they left art school were particularly interesting. I agree that the majority become educators and I would add that as educators, these artist/teachers have perpetuated a flatness that has affected the art world in recent decades.

Art has long been a descriptor for the societies that produced it. If art in this century is to maintain a significance, change in how artists learn and think should be considered. Please leave your comments,and I'll see you next time.