Brian Sherwin: Art writer to be feared? Thoughts on public funded art exhibits…
It has come to my attention that certain individuals within the professional mainstream art world are wary of my opinions concerning the state of the art world today-- mainly my suggestion that public funded art exhibit spaces should have to explore a number of opposing social and political themes in order to continue receiving public funding. I'm not going to make a name-dropping game out of this-- these people know who they are and how to reach me if they want to pursue a direct debate on the issue. That said, I do wish to explore the matter and defend my opinion.
My suggestion is very liberal at heart-- in that I think the public would be best served by being introduced to a number of viewpoints in a visual manner based on common themes from both sides of the social and political fence as reflected in the core of national debates on key issues. To me that is balance-- and I fail to see why anyone who truly supports art would oppose my position unless their own social and political view comes before art in general and are already being served by the state of public funded art exhibits today.
Showing posts with label art world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art world. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Art World Prejudice: Sex, Race, Age…
Art World Prejudice: Sex, Race, Age…
In the recent past it was not uncommon to see only two solo shows by artists who happened to be female for every dozen solo shows to open in New York. Women exploring painting as the focus of their artwork stood even less of a chance of receiving a solo show compared to men. I doubt the situation has changed that much over the years. It troubles me that in the mainstream art world-- often noted for being liberal in thought-- such clear prejudice based on gender continues to dominate. This veiled prejudice fosters the idea that art is a man’s game-- and shoves that mode of thought into the psyche of the viewing public.
This form of prejudice based on gender within the art world can be observed in mainstream gallery artist rosters, magazine and blog lists of the art worlds “most powerful”, and in the media as a whole. It leaves one asking why in 2010 artists who happen to be female often are stamped as ‘female artist’, ’female painter’, and other gender-specific descriptions that are never used when describing male artists. It is almost as if the people who describe artists who happen to be female in this way are giving them a pat on the back for their attempts. It is insulting.
In the recent past it was not uncommon to see only two solo shows by artists who happened to be female for every dozen solo shows to open in New York. Women exploring painting as the focus of their artwork stood even less of a chance of receiving a solo show compared to men. I doubt the situation has changed that much over the years. It troubles me that in the mainstream art world-- often noted for being liberal in thought-- such clear prejudice based on gender continues to dominate. This veiled prejudice fosters the idea that art is a man’s game-- and shoves that mode of thought into the psyche of the viewing public.
This form of prejudice based on gender within the art world can be observed in mainstream gallery artist rosters, magazine and blog lists of the art worlds “most powerful”, and in the media as a whole. It leaves one asking why in 2010 artists who happen to be female often are stamped as ‘female artist’, ’female painter’, and other gender-specific descriptions that are never used when describing male artists. It is almost as if the people who describe artists who happen to be female in this way are giving them a pat on the back for their attempts. It is insulting.
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