I think it was an interesting and visually intriguing piece of television that may achieve what great art, white walls and art history books do not: presenting the personal in thinking and talking about art. While I felt an obvious path was being followed toward a directed and well edited end, I enjoyed watching and relating to the hope, the excitement, the vulnerability, the creativity and the questioning of the contestants as well as the comments and input of the judges. So much of it was like seeing an accelerated art school experience that had me feeling both nostalgic for my four years at art school, along side of feeling relief and pride that twenty years later, I am still creating art and do so for a living.

If we want reality about art in the film medium, we may go to some of the many amazing documentaries about visual artists, yet even they are manipulated by the directors, writers, producers and even the artists themselves. If you want reality in the art world, visit a visual artist’s studio when they are suffering the food and sleep deprivation mentioned briefly in the article, leading up to a solo exhibition deadline, or post solo show where not one piece of art was sold and the rent is due tomorrow. Or, eavesdrop on a conversation between a curator and an artist two weeks before a show is scheduled to be open! But that is another show…

Thankfully, one program cannot do it all, so if you have fun and learn something then the time is not wasted. In my mind, if a simple reality TV program can bring awareness to, and perhaps even help to validate the centuries old tradition of making art, then bring it on!

Cheers, Siobhan

Greg: Sorry for slow response. On your last point, about Abdi’s enthusiasm, yes it’s my opinion that it played a part in his being chosen as winner. Though I have been told emphatically that the judges made their own choices throughout, I don’t believe it…and there is a small print disclaimer at the end of the shows that says the producers were involved. But it’s just like how the judges swear that they didn’t overtly plan their crits. I realize the editing created their sound bites, but I am also convinced that they spent hours preparing their strategy and tactics to lead to a conclusion. I won’t go so far as calling it scripted. We were/are all under very strict-sounding contracts and you won’t find anyone telling you they were influenced or even knew what they were going to say…but whereas the contestants really are standing in front of the camera’s without a clue, the judges come to the crit with an agenda.

As for the advantage of the younger contestants because they are closer to the academic assignment way of working, I think that’s probably true. Of course I thought I had the advantage of breadth of practices and experience, and I also thought I’d be able to think fast. One hurdle for me was working in an unfamiliar environment, without my own tools and organization..not having any walls…and having camera’s watching me think. But everyone was pretty much in trial and error mode and running around anxious and confused at some point. Except Miles of course!

It is so much fun to look at the web site portfolios of Judith and other
artists to see WHEN their art really moved from the academic to “art.”

Hi Judith:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and impressions of the show. I realize that you have developed more approaches than simply the abstract hand paintings, and you used one as inspiration in the portrait challenge, for example. However, I think the show suggested it was difficult for artists like you, Ryan and also Jaclyn, who have very distinctive styles. Since you quoted my review directly, I’m not sure if the particular wording was part of what bothered you, but it wasn’t intended as a criticism (an engrained style can be in fact an asset), and I can understand (as an artist myself) your feeling the need to defend the breadth of your work.

The challenges/assignments aspect is one part that I have a lot of questions of authenticity about– most artists spend a lifetime developing a particular style, mode of working or exploring of a subject matter. It makes us highly specialized in a way not unlike an art historian or critic in often a very narrow area of subject matter. Which is also why I wonder if the shifting of assignments may have been easier by artists earlier in their development because it’s a little more familiar of a situation– i.e. like being in an undergrad studio class again.

What I am curious about is to what extent if at all the producers influenced the judge’s decisions of which artists were eliminated and when? You mentioned you think you were eliminated in part because of your lack of enthusiasm, which I find curious because I have a sense that Abdi won in part because of his overenthusiastic , if a bit naive, personality. What do you think?

Greg Lindquist

It was pretty popular in Kansas City. Two of the three finalists were from “between the coasts” – Kansas City and Minneapolis. Both cities have thriving artist communities. With a local artist making it to the final week, that lead to lots of local coverage on radio and in the newspaper here in KC.

Well, the show has served a purpose by bringing fine art to the masses…
It offered a starting point for many discussions/questions of examination long overdue among a wider audience about the art world.

I “made” everyone I know aware of the show. There is no doubt that it is
drawing people who are “out of the art loop” into the art loop….and creating interest in original art.

In these difficult economic times, there is a lot an artist or gallery can do to grab these people now…and I am pushing forward, doing that now with
a gallery in Arizona, where I am living for the next few months. We have
hooked our energies together and already are planning a few events that will benefit everyone while giving birth to new collectors.

Honestly, the “dead art” that people buy from the “big box stores” is just that……dead. New collectors would be better served buying art from new
artists or the bargain art bin! They just need to be encouraged and shown how to hang quirky pieces. For sure, their peers will regard them as
“more interesting.” Our culture is something else today…..everyone has the same furniture, etc….why not define ourselves through art and have
a grand conversation?? There are millions of homes that could use a dose of this.

What I am saying is that a h-u-g-e opportunity is here for ALL artists.

I am as “at the bottom of the art world” as one can be…but I bet I start climbing! So can others. Very exciting!

Gotta go…someone is coming to get a free piece before I take my duds to the bargain art bin!! :>)

Melany

PS The website: http://www.judithannbraun.com

@Peter: In your opinion, what approach would have made the show more original?

@Sasha: re: “the premise of making art more accessible to everyone”– How exactly should everyone have access to art? Not to be total Marxist, but is it necessary to own art to experience it? And relatedly, do we genuinely experience art by viewing it through the lens of television?

@Susan: How would have one “taken on the judges?”

@Melany: What kind of opportunities might you think come for artist out of this show?

In general, reflecting on the whole season, I was surprised by the winner but also not surprised why Abdi won– his work was most universally accessible and took him out of the thematic insularity and limitations of the art world. I was also impressed by the solidarity and supportiveness amongst most of the contestants, who, although competing amongst themselves, seemed to be also truly caring about the other contestants, which is really the way the art world works amongst artists.

Also, I’m glad the final show was not given limitations and that the artists were given solitude to work. That’s the other thing about the first nine episodes, most artists work alone, not amongst their peers or, in this case, competitors. What if the next season’s contestants were given private studios? How would that change the dynamics?

–Greg Lindquist

Peter….I also wonder how this program/format will change/evolve. I had to read the sleep/food deprivation twice!

I’m just happy that like it or not, the world of Fine Art is joining the
mainstream…..and feel that more opportunities will come to artists.

Melany