Post-Studio Art

 "The bottom line is that artists work where and when they can and how they can." 

- Robert Storr

Recently, I was challenged to re-examine the purpose of my blog as it relates to my art making.  I was strongly encouraged to question the level of disclosure as it relates to community-building.  Through this inspired questioning, it is even clearer to me why this space is a necessary expression of my practice. To say that I am a "community-taught artist" is not a flippant affect of branding, it is a reflection of the truth I experience daily.  The usual conflicts, triumphs, sympathies and discoveries that I experience with others are the intangible materials that dictate my studio practice.  I predict that this will last my whole life through, whether I am in school, working a 9-to-5, or freelancing to make ends meet.  There are other essential benefits of sharing in an open forum that are just beginning to reveal themselves.  I believe that the insistence on adding a personal voice to written history resonates more fully with the advent of online publishing.  While this allows more room for drivel (myself included), perhaps history shouldn't have such a refined taste level; especially since time adds a patina that may reveal deeper levels of meaning from the contemporary mundane. Privacy (along with exclusivity) is a fiction that I hope to challenge through sharing. Thoughts, comments and suggestions- anonymously or otherwise / positive or negative - are always welcome.  

On a related note: I'm investigating the methods and means of the Post-Studio Art course developed by John Baldessari at CalArts in the 1970's.  Baldessari "is known for his conceptual work that often intersects artistic genres and media. His work has been featured in more than 200 solo exhibitions and in more than 1,000 group exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe."