What is with the Art World gatekeepers and controllers? My guess is most can’t draw a line, but they make all the decisions for art. At least they try too, like they do in magical arts. The same happens in Magic. Non magicians control the industry, making themselves rise above the artists. Some are good for the art, but I notice most have moral issues, and sometimes even criminality. Thank you Michael for another great article. You always increase my knowledge about art and the world surrounding it!
Thank you for commenting Charlotte. I appreciate that you relate to it. I actually have no problem with artist doing anything crazy that they want to do. It’s just that I draw the line at convert and overt government funding. Though I don’t see how to get around public art like the magnificent memorial World War I by Sabin Howard, it inevitably involves some government agencies. Regardless, I hope I help a couple of artists hold fast to their visions and just create what they love. That’s my motive for all of this.
The government it seems will have its nose into everything, including and maybe especially the arts. Crime doesn’t seem to matter and also seems to be a motive for their operations.
Famous mob leader Meyer Lansky who presumably had a lot of people killed, went to jail only once for some small tax infraction. The CIA and FBI used him as a consultant.
Yep. Unfortunately it is darker than most people can imagine. The good news, is that it is all self-defeating: “Evil is not able to create anything new …” -J.R.R. Tolkien.
Thank you! I feel lucky and blessed. My mom used to call me the stubbornest child in the universe. But I feel tremendous sadness for artists that get lost along the way, the propaganda barrage is insane. : (
Thank you Michael for your artistry and for the article on the CIA involvement. I never knew!
I ran into this issue of the “gatekeeper”when my 9 year old daughter needed her first serious full size violin. Teachers and other parents were plucking down upwards of $20k for a violin for their child and bragging about it. My untrained ear could not tell the difference and I found a hippie in the woods who played fiddle and repaired old violins who had a beautiful sounding German violin which he was somewhat embarrassed to tell me was $900. I bought it for her and she loved it playing in symphonies and touring around the country in a indie rock band with it and still has it.
I don’t doubt the differences in timbre and tone of some very expensive pieces but the price is not the first indicator of quality. Appreciation of art should grow with ability. You can’t shortcut that with a hefty price tag in art or music
I really appreciate your independent spirit, knowledge of how the game works, and your dedication to furthering the arts. And you have the insane talent and sharp intellect to back it all up.
On a positive note, we do live in an era where there are a lot of options for artists to stay truly independent - things like Patreon, Go Fund Me, Buy Me a Coffee allow artists to find ways to receive small donations and tips online from fans of their work. Unfortunately, the creative world is highly saturated and it is still very difficult to eake out a living for most artists regardless of talent or drive. Cultivating 1000 'true fans' is much more difficult than it sounds.
I admire your commitment to staying independent and thus maintaining total creative control over your work. I have tried to live by this rule myself and it is never easy. In the end, most artists have to face the harsh reality that they will need to work a 'normy' job in order to pay the bills. The time and effort required to earn that money will significantly impact their ability to do their art.
But I say it is a better compromise than selling your soul to the highest bidder and having your art suffer the mutilations of a committee based approach to your aesthetic vision. At least when you get a few hours to work on your art, you have the freedom to go where the heart takes you.
Very well stated and thorough. A mirror to that is that I had one teacher that I loved in college, Edgar Ewing, an American modernist. My first class with him was when I was 17. He was about 65 and had a sparkling, good-natured wit that was very noticeable through his eyes. His advice to us young artists was the observation that art was like making love and that we should do something else for money so that we can paint what we love.
lol, ha, I had to think about that. I had some deepstate connections before I knew what DS was, at a dinner party I discussed a painting I was making, the host was the model. One of the guests offered to buy it sight unseen for 45 grand. I was puzzled and confused why would anyone spend a small fortune on an artwork unseen? My nonelated response pissed him off as he thought I should be thrilled, but I could not get past the absurdity of it. So yes if I sold it to him under those conditions that would definitely be hoeing.
What is with the Art World gatekeepers and controllers? My guess is most can’t draw a line, but they make all the decisions for art. At least they try too, like they do in magical arts. The same happens in Magic. Non magicians control the industry, making themselves rise above the artists. Some are good for the art, but I notice most have moral issues, and sometimes even criminality. Thank you Michael for another great article. You always increase my knowledge about art and the world surrounding it!
Thank you for commenting Charlotte. I appreciate that you relate to it. I actually have no problem with artist doing anything crazy that they want to do. It’s just that I draw the line at convert and overt government funding. Though I don’t see how to get around public art like the magnificent memorial World War I by Sabin Howard, it inevitably involves some government agencies. Regardless, I hope I help a couple of artists hold fast to their visions and just create what they love. That’s my motive for all of this.
The government it seems will have its nose into everything, including and maybe especially the arts. Crime doesn’t seem to matter and also seems to be a motive for their operations.
Famous mob leader Meyer Lansky who presumably had a lot of people killed, went to jail only once for some small tax infraction. The CIA and FBI used him as a consultant.
Yep. Unfortunately it is darker than most people can imagine. The good news, is that it is all self-defeating: “Evil is not able to create anything new …” -J.R.R. Tolkien.
As long as there are those willing to be led around by the ring through their nose, there will be the ring-pullers.
If people took personal responsibility for forming their own opinions, the manipulators would be out of a job.
Kudos to you forging your own path and having the fortitude to maintain your independence.
‘Sides, your art is beautiful! Not just coloured vomit splashes like is being touted.
Thank you! I feel lucky and blessed. My mom used to call me the stubbornest child in the universe. But I feel tremendous sadness for artists that get lost along the way, the propaganda barrage is insane. : (
Yay for stubbornness! You probably got it from your mom. 😉
Thank you Michael for your artistry and for the article on the CIA involvement. I never knew!
I ran into this issue of the “gatekeeper”when my 9 year old daughter needed her first serious full size violin. Teachers and other parents were plucking down upwards of $20k for a violin for their child and bragging about it. My untrained ear could not tell the difference and I found a hippie in the woods who played fiddle and repaired old violins who had a beautiful sounding German violin which he was somewhat embarrassed to tell me was $900. I bought it for her and she loved it playing in symphonies and touring around the country in a indie rock band with it and still has it.
I don’t doubt the differences in timbre and tone of some very expensive pieces but the price is not the first indicator of quality. Appreciation of art should grow with ability. You can’t shortcut that with a hefty price tag in art or music
Thank you Tim. Love your story about the violin that could!
Thank you for restacking @Victory Palace ! : )
Excellent article, thank you for shedding light on a very dark world of political Artcraft
Thank you Lauren!
So that's the origin of "shrewd"...
Ha, I remember pausing when writing "shrewd" in the essay for that reason. : )
I really appreciate your independent spirit, knowledge of how the game works, and your dedication to furthering the arts. And you have the insane talent and sharp intellect to back it all up.
Blushing a bit, thank you!
You are quite welcome!
On a positive note, we do live in an era where there are a lot of options for artists to stay truly independent - things like Patreon, Go Fund Me, Buy Me a Coffee allow artists to find ways to receive small donations and tips online from fans of their work. Unfortunately, the creative world is highly saturated and it is still very difficult to eake out a living for most artists regardless of talent or drive. Cultivating 1000 'true fans' is much more difficult than it sounds.
I admire your commitment to staying independent and thus maintaining total creative control over your work. I have tried to live by this rule myself and it is never easy. In the end, most artists have to face the harsh reality that they will need to work a 'normy' job in order to pay the bills. The time and effort required to earn that money will significantly impact their ability to do their art.
But I say it is a better compromise than selling your soul to the highest bidder and having your art suffer the mutilations of a committee based approach to your aesthetic vision. At least when you get a few hours to work on your art, you have the freedom to go where the heart takes you.
Very well stated and thorough. A mirror to that is that I had one teacher that I loved in college, Edgar Ewing, an American modernist. My first class with him was when I was 17. He was about 65 and had a sparkling, good-natured wit that was very noticeable through his eyes. His advice to us young artists was the observation that art was like making love and that we should do something else for money so that we can paint what we love.
So if you get paid for your art, you’re kind of a whore? Lol.
All kidding aside, that is a beautiful way to look at it.
lol, ha, I had to think about that. I had some deepstate connections before I knew what DS was, at a dinner party I discussed a painting I was making, the host was the model. One of the guests offered to buy it sight unseen for 45 grand. I was puzzled and confused why would anyone spend a small fortune on an artwork unseen? My nonelated response pissed him off as he thought I should be thrilled, but I could not get past the absurdity of it. So yes if I sold it to him under those conditions that would definitely be hoeing.