Explaining Away Stupidity

"And in the post modern world, even more than the modern world, control and administration (pseudo-mastery, one might say) are all, indeed, seem to have become the be - all and end - all of life"
                                                                                                           Donald Kuspit "The End Of Art"

"Decapitating Beauty"
Digital/Photoshop Print
2005
(c) Abe Samuel Quilling

I would say that one of the most frequent responses that I get after telling people I am an artist or showing them my studio is this: "I have to confess I really know nothing about art."  It is a disclaimer ending the conversation before it begins.  It says: "Look, I am only here to be polite and satisfy my curiosity.  So please don't ask any thing more of me." At my best I will work into the conversation some educational tips on art or the fact that indeed, who ever it happened to be, did know something about art wether they new it or not.  At my worst I just ignore the comment and try to get rid of these Philistines as quickly as possible.


Knowledge 


 The biggest appreciators of my work, thus far, seem to be my uneducated, back woods, rednecked, tobacco chewing, and Bud Light drinking friends who spend most of their time hunting and fishing.  Because of the low gallery or museum numbers in our area most of them have never even set foot in such a place, never mind having any idea about what has taken place in the art world over the last seventy years or so.  They see something they like and they say so.  So we start a diologe that continues into a good conversation were both parties benifit from the exchange.  Then in contrast, and in general, there are my PH. D., M.F.A., ect., ect. friends and acquaintances.  These, in general again, seem to be the ones least interested in my work and least friendly to draw into a conversation about art.  When they make the statement "I know nothing about art." it is not an invitation for dialogue but a barricaded door.  The know nothing and don't want to know anything.  I at first blamed this attitude on the educational system/American culture leaving out or undermining, the important fact, that art has always been one of the most important aspects of showing why we aren't animals and shouldn't act like animals.  But alas, I was wrong........


Non-Art as Art 


Maybe it is time I handed the educational system it's due respect for actually teaching art, in general, and that it isn't the fault of not teaching art but TEACHING it...........  What we are told to except as the "HIGH ART" or "FINE ART" of today (meaning what is being made in your life time) is repulsive. Maybe entertaining for a while, but not something you want to bring home with you.  Not only that but this new "CONTEMPORARY POST MODERNISM" is exclusive to the extreme.  It seems to say that if you aren't in the IN crowd and in the KNOW, then to bad. Oh ya, and you are stupid.  Not only that but most of the past postmodern art that has been displayed or come in contact with the non-artist has been so surrounded by nonsensical dialogue and explanation that one can't help feel that this is just stupidity being explained and rectified.  No wonder so many run when confronted with art or the artist; not only do they not want to feel stupid but who wants to have to put up with stupidity parading itself as intelligence?  As my sculptor friend Garrith Curtis puts it "Most work of this age is more about what is written about it than what it is."  I tend to agree.  The art critics and gallery owners are the true creators at this point, they are creating something out of very little so that they have a job.  They aren't artists though, they are illusionists.


Postmortem  Examination 


I am not saying that I hate all Post Modern, Modern, or Contemporary FINE ART.  Or that it is all stupid or banal.  Some is fitting for our time and place and mirrors Contemporary society quite well.  Yet I don't think any one will argue that it will be marked down in the pages of history with less than a brief mention before moving on.  Something to the effect of "After two devastating world wars, the use of science for mass murder, the deconstruction of religion, and love into function, mankind went mad and started displaying fecal matter as original art work."  The mention will end with a huge sigh of relief and "We sure are glad we moved on from there!" 


Alternatives 


Here is a call for artists to take back the power of being artists.  Take back discipline, restraint, moral belief, hope and joy (not to mention true emotion).  To stop trying to be the Fairest Of Them All and the SPOILED MEDIA CHILD, but the reclusive soul-searching being in love with light and beauty.  Let us be willing to look stupid or uneducated for our faith.  And let us focus on What We Are Doing, not What We Are Getting in return.