Luminous Landscape Forum
Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: NancyP on June 12, 2013, 05:51:44 pm
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Alain Briot's most recent article (part 3) emphasizes the importance of a formal artist's statement. How many people here have actually written such a statement in the past? I expect that the people who sell photographs at juried craft fairs have such statements, just as part of the process of applying for the limited booth space. Event and studio photographers have an obvious rationale for their photographs (client fees). Most fine-arts professionals need to have an "about" page on their web site. Amateurs out there, have you written an artist's statement, and why?
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I have written a few artist statements, basically for two reasons:
1. When asked for such a statement by some place (juried exhibit, magazine) that specifically asks for one, or
2. For solo shows on a theme, where a page of explanation seems appropriate.
On the whole, though, I'd rather drink Dektol!
Eric M.
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On the whole, though, I'd rather drink Dektol!
Eric M.
Agreed, Eric. I'd drink Photo-flo instead, if it meant that I didn't have to have an Artist's Statement. A brief bio, sure. But no "statements".
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I started writing an artist's statement after reading Briot's book on marketing fine art photography. I have struggled with it through a couple of iterations and have not finished. Companies are still willing to write me checks for shooting pictures so I haven't worked very hard at print sales yet.
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Is that so difficult? http://www.artybollocks.com/
(dives for cover)
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Is that so difficult? http://www.artybollocks.com/
(dives for cover)
Niko,
Bravo, Very funny ;D
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This is closest I have come. I didn't write it. enjoy
Hugh Sakols first started exploring Yosemite on a backpacking trip when he was seventeen years old. He started seriously photographing the Park after working as a Yosemite Institute instructor teaching environmental education. Today he continues to explore the Park, whether it be summer or winter. He now lives in El Portal,CA where he is an elementary school teacher. Hugh’s photographs have been used by the National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy.
Hugh Sakols has had a long and intimate connection to Yosemite and the Sierra. It began with a backpacking trip at age 17 and progressed through stints as a camp counselor and as an instructor with the Yosemite Institute. By 2001, Hugh landed a coveted position as the 4/5/6 grade teacher at the El Portal Elementary School. Fondly known as “Doctor Sakols” to the locals, Hugh is well known for sharing his enthusiasm for environmentalism and for science in general. He is also much appreciated for contributions to the intellectural life of the community, for example as being one of the founding fathers of the viral hit “The Yosemite Marching Band.” Hugh uses his expertise in photography to document daily life in the school and community. He also contributes his art to various local fundraisers and for programs supported by the National Park Service, the Yosemite Association, and the Yosemite Institute. He is currently working on a project to document local color in the El Portal community. Plus, his wife is hot and is really good at finding lost things.
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As a physician, if you feel that you HAVE to drink something, I ask that you avoid Dektol, likely toxic. Photo Flo might taste nasty, but it is basically detergent and thus not toxic in small quantities. (No MSDS data available at Kodak site). ;) . My recommendation for the beverage of choice is Your Favorite Beer, Ale, Stout/Bitters.
Arty Bollocks - very funny.
Hugh, did your wife write that statement? I noticed the last line: "his wife is hot"...
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As a physician, . . .
I had a good friend, now gone, who was a retired physician and an excellent amateur photographer. He would donate photography services to a number of institutions. I told him that when I retired I was going to be an amateur physician. He didn't think it was as funny as I did.
Oh, and my wife is hot too.
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writing an artist statement is like having asked Picasso to explain his reasons to create art. Never mind what he would have written, but be assured the next great piece of art would be completely out of line with that statement. That is what a true artist is about, being creative without knowing the outcome in advance. No matter what the statement says.
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Good photography, at least the important aspects of it, is all right-brain stuff. Writing a statement is left-brain stuff. Two different universes.
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Arty Bollocks - LoL :D
and Peter +1 to that sentiment about left/right brain
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Good photography, at least the important aspects of it, is all right-brain stuff. Writing a statement is left-brain stuff. Two different universes.
Couldn't disagree more, Peter.
I'd have no problem at all writing such a statement had I any wish so to do, and it's my experience in general that people with a creative nature can do several different creative things rather well, writing being one such. Especially true, I think, the relationship between the visual arts, music and writing, in the sense that 'writing' is but an extension of speech.
To find an illustration for this, go no further than the king Stones: both Jagger and Richards can give the stage impression of being boorish, dumb, tongue-tied morons that got lucky. When you actually listen to them speak during interviews, explain their points of view, you realise that the musical jive talk front is just that: a front. They are both rather articulate and well-spoken when the occassion suits.
There are many places on the Internet where you can find famous photographers speaking about life and themselves; I don't fnd many of them articulating in grunts.
Rob C
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Artist statements are little more than narcissistic, navel-gazing, overwrought, angst-ridden, claptrap that are an insult to intelligence. That certain people consider it of vital importance is unsurprising. ::)
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To find an illustration for this, go no further than the king Stones: both Jagger and Richards can give the stage impression of being boorish, dumb, tongue-tied morons that got lucky. When you actually listen to them speak during interviews, explain their points of view, you realise that the musical jive talk front is just that: a front. They are both rather articulate and well-spoken when the occassion suits.
Rob C
Jagger also has a degree in business from a good school and has managed all of the Stones business deals etc. since day one. They are certainly successful.....
Alan
P.S. Love the artybollocks.....
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I read through the Artist Statement on Alain Briot's site. I actually found it pretty interesting.
Terry.
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Part 3 was well written, it introduced a new aspect and explained how it related to the topic. A good read.
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Right now, my artist's statement is: Try New Stuff. :D
I am too green to have a "style", and I am enjoying the learning process. I will develop a style only by getting enough of a skill set to make conscious (or unconscious) choices, and apply those choices to a topic of interest.
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fwiw
"... an Artist Statement is a self-evaluation of your work as it stands in the here and now. If anything, it is looking back at the process and the work and evaluating your progress, effort and results. More than anything it implies that you understand what you have done."
page 91 PHOTO-EDITING and PRESENTATION (http://books.google.com/books?id=b7NaAAAAYAAJ)
"When you present your work it is most likely you will be asked to accompany it with some sort of contextualizing statement. ... Sometimes this statement is referred to as a Statement of Intention. That is extremely problematic terminology as it implies that it is necessary to make the case that what you have done is exactly what you intended to do. Seldom does this occur, and when and if it does it can be more a liability than a success. ... a Statement of Intention is forward looking while an Artist Statement is a self-evaluation of your work as it stands in the here and now."
page 51 STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY: A Survival Guide (http://books.google.com/books?id=fw9xRAAACAAJ)
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Right now, my artist's statement is: Try New Stuff. :D
I am too green to have a "style", and I am enjoying the learning process. I will develop a style only by getting enough of a skill set to make conscious (or unconscious) choices, and apply those choices to a topic of interest.
I would suggest that developing a style that works is essentially nothing more than an unconscious manifestation of self. Otherwise, I think it becomes parody without the humour, and though that can (and does) work in a commercial sense, I don't see that it can do anything for the artist's development of him/herself.
You can never be anyone other than yourself, and it's hard enough to know who that is at any given time.
Rob C
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Well I've been forced to write artists statements, and if I'd had artybollocks http://www.artybollocks.com/ (http://www.artybollocks.com/) I would have used that instead. And I swear by Zeus I will the next time someone asks me to submit some bollocks about what I do. Although I think it's absolutely essential to reflect upon what you are about as an artist, it's bollocks to put that into a formal "statement"---at least one that you show anyone. If you think differently, I'd ask you to point me to some art that you found dull, tedious and uninspired until you read the Artists Statement. I've read a ton of the things at openings and on websites (I read the backs of cereal boxes too ;)) and I have yet to see one---including ones by artists I respect---that changed my opinion about the art being described. And most are just complete bollocks (such a great word, thank you Brits).
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It seems to me that it's the art that should be making the statement.
An "artist's statement" is by definition, redundant.
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I admire a lot of Alain's photography and many of his essays on this site. However, the ones about the artist's statement makes me very happy to be an amateur rather than an artist.
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It seems to me that it's the art that should be making the statement.
Could not agree more!
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It seems to me that it's the art that should be making the statement.
If you're smart enough to do so, then you're generally also smart enough to write a statement.
It may be that people experience difficulty explicating their art, style, genre, drive, and intention (at a certain moment in their progression as an artist), but that hardly qualifies as a good reason to dismiss the entire artist statement as bollocks. In fact, it may well be an indication that the artist hasn't formed a full idea about art in general and his/her own art in particular and where it fits the larger context.
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If you're smart enough to do so, then you're generally also smart enough to write a statement.
And smart enough not to do so
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And smart enough not to do so
Fine: smart enough to be able to do so.
Whether you like to do so or find it relevant to do so, is obviously up to personal judgement.
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Whether you like to do so or find it relevant to do so, is obviously up to personal judgement.
Obviously.
If you are going to write one, make sure it's good and doesn't make you look illiterate or expose you to some other kind of ridicule.
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Obviously.
If you are going to write one, make sure it's good and doesn't make you look illiterate or expose you to some other kind of ridicule.
Looking illiterate or exposing to ridicule would encompass about 99.99% of artist statements.
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Artist Statement
I take photographs to amuse myself as well as the occasional spectator. Exhibiting photographs for mutual pleasure is similar to a comedian telling jokes to an appreciative audience, where the comedy is more serious than the photography.
Viewers who see more in my photographs than I do probably have better vision, and I welcome their compliments. Those who see less than I do may be right, and I remain partially open to their criticism.
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I have but then I thought:
Anyone who likes what I do should be compelled to explain why they do.
Lets call it "a viewer's statement"
That way I'd get more out of it and they would have to do some of the work as well.
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Artist Statement
I take photographs to amuse myself as well as the occasional spectator. Exhibiting photographs for mutual pleasure is similar to a comedian telling jokes to an appreciative audience, where the comedy is more serious than the photography.
Viewers who see more in my photographs than I do probably have better vision, and I welcome their compliments. Those who see less than I do may be right, and I remain partially open to their criticism.
A post that I can agree with. :)
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Could not find the article referenced in this June 2013 post. Is it different from the one just posted, in August 2016? subject seems to be the same.
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Could not find the article referenced in this June 2013 post. Is it different from the one just posted, in August 2016? subject seems to be the same.
Probably this one....
https://luminous-landscape.com/vision-part-3-vision-and-artist-statement/
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if I'd had artybollocks http://www.artybollocks.com/ (http://www.artybollocks.com/) I would have used that instead
Thank you!
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Here's mine:
http://www.roma57.com/notice.html
Rob
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With photography, I'd rather "do" than "talk about" (like with sex ;D). But, I have been required to write a statement for many exhibition and contest applications, and it has turned out to be useful in forcing me to think about the common threads that run through my more successful images.