Wowo. I did a week long workshop at Artcity with kids 6-16. There were over 40 participants, and we covered everything from contour to collage.
Some highlights for me:
A boy named Pheonix tracked a canker worm in his sketchbook which culminated in taping down the ink covered worm next to a R.I.P headstone. This worm map covered two full pages, and really had us all engaged. Art imitating life?
We did some portraits in the round where the participants passed around their sketchbooks, and each person drew a different aspect or part of the portrait. Some serious laughter was recorded and will be part of the exhibition in September at the Semai Gallery in the exchange.
And lastly, one of my favorite sketchbooks was by a girl named Amy. Through a mix of collage and drawing she portrayed a man who wanted a woman's body with a seperate page dedicated to this character's twin Brister. (a sister/brother hybrid) I think she's 10, and obviously very creative. A gem.
Now what did I learn? (or maybe, what things did I hope were true and were reinforced by these little artists) Hmmmm. That everybody is potentially an artist. That art is a wonderful way to express what you're feeling, things you're trying to understand, and a great way to have some fun.
And that sketchbooks are an archaic version of virtual space. It's a place that kids and adults can go to be/think about other things. To discover things about themselves and the world. To release anxiety. To share joy.
What an amazing experience. Thank-you Artcity.
7 comments:
"That everybody is potentially an artist" is very different from "Everybody is an artist."
Is this change an oversight or a change in your previous philosophy?
Whatever the case, I'm happy this was a great experience. Indeed, you are a great teacher!
:)
I wouldn't go that far!
One of the rules of artcity is that to be in artcity one must be making art. So when I say 'potentially', I think this means that an any given moment, anyone can be an artist. The moment you stop making art, you're no longer an artist. An artist has to be making art.
Now, I wonder how this works with people who 'have' made art. They were artists. Hmmm.
This rule of artcity's is very simple and very effective. It quickly dissolves horseplay and inactivity.
I remember seeing an artist who followed an ant with a red pen in s big circle on the floor for 3 days. The perimeter of the circular prison was the thickest with line, implying that the main thing on the ant's mind (?) was escape (and also says something of it's tenacity). As with the worm you spoke of, it becomes a sort of memorial too.
As per my own experience, that of making art, or working with kids making art...
"art is a wonderful way to express what you're feeling, things you're trying to understand, and a great way to have some fun".
-Check check check
"It's a place that kids and adults can go to be/think about other things. To discover things about themselves and the world. To release anxiety. To share joy".
-Check check check check
"that sketchbooks are an archaic version of virtual space".
-maybe not so archaic, but, yuppers, check.
As for the all artists are or potentially are an artist conundrum, I think we could look back at some of our attmpts to define art.
When we use the broad definition of art, a sensual or creative activity, certainly everyone IS an artist, as everyone has done this, even a baby, wide eyed reaching, gaping mouths and groping hands, searching for something to feel or ingest.
As for the "potentially" argument, using the more narrow definition of art, drawing, painting, sculpture, and other conventional art activities (which is quite broad is quite a large list and growing) is always a potential, but not always realized. This of course runs the danger of being too narrow. Especially in an art-city environment with a rule like you mentioned. What/Who's to say what counts as art. Why was the worm thing art? Because it involved ink? If so, why not allow an all out ink battle, throwing and spilling it everywhere intentionally? (You have to admit that may yeild interesting "art"). I guess it is up to the qualified facilitators to decide what they are willing to clean up after, (or level of apathy they are willing to observe) more than to define art itself. SO the "as long as your making art" rule is just a ruse to bring some order to an otherwise precarious environment. It sounds like you did a good job and had fun at it!
Congratulations.
(oops, how did that get so long)
yep yep yep, uh-huh uh-huh.
I would say that the "art piece" is simply the result of what an artist has done. If an artist doesn't make a paintings (art pieces)is he really less of an artist, or does the way that the artist makes decisions and lives his (or her) life not define the term "artist" more than the product? Marcel Duchamp quit making art in order to play chess for the rest of his life, is that not a performance piece? Was he no longer an artist?
An artist "is", not "does".
P.S. I am glad you had such a great time with the kids James.
I appreciate both Macro's and Denis' dissections/affirmations of my words. It's funny that my analysis or observations result in you two analyzing and observing my words about art.
I too agree that art doesn't have to be a finished piece. Art is more about the work/play/performance than any object. process is important.
I'd have to disagree with an artist 'is' though. Or should I say an artist can 'isn't' as well.
I'd say duchamp quit art. I know some artists who are no longer artists. Or maybe what Denis is saying that art can be life. Maybe a person's movements can be art. their thoughts. maybe its all art, I dunno.
Tough questions, definitions never suffice, and here I am again kicking the dead art horse. thump, thump.
See young artists like this really revealed to me how impressionable people can be, especially the little people. and sometimes the best solution is to attempt to not leave any impression at all.
But I could see the other artists footprints on these kids. I'm not sure if that's a bad thing, learning a visual language, developing an art vocabulary, uh-oh, rambling on now, better stop, but I think you all get what I mean.
sounds like you had a rich experience with these young artists and they with you.
I think you're right about (a lot actually) but specifically the footprint, it would be so nice to be weightless in our interactions with young people but I don't think that is actually possible.
Can't wait to see the exhibition.
Post a Comment