Friday, May 15, 2015

The professional artist

Our culture makes it easy for us to recognize professionals like doctors, lawyers, athletes and police,  and tradesmen like plumbers and electricians as necessary to the effective functioning of society. They are visible, we know what they do and why they are valued.

But our culture does not do the same for visual artists. Performers like musicians, actors and dancers become present to us simply by performing in front of audiences and media. The visual artists remains to a large degree invisible in a world that is increasingly visual. The visual artist, by tradition or ignorance or default, remains wrapped in the myths of poverty, suffering, weirdness, life on the fringe.

The general public is still too distracted by sunsets, flowers and general prettiness to even know where to look for contemporary art and artists. Schools, colleges, media and the artists themselves provide little help in understanding contemporary visual art, understanding which is essential for appreciation.

I believe something should be done to deal with this issue. I just wish I knew what.

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