Pointe of Art

Can Your Kid Really Do It 7/03
by Robert Maniscalco

I don't know, the three words with which you should never begin an arts column. But really, I don't know. They're liberating words, actually. The expanded version is, "I don't know anything about art but I know what I like." So rages the debate between the arts "insiders" and just about everyone else. The very nature of art leads to a certain ambiguity, which precludes definitive answers. Real art asks more questions than it answers, which is galling to the literal set, the ones who have to have everything spelled out for them.

Occassionally I hear the statement, "my kid could do that" in reference to abstract or, so called, "modern" art. So let's explore whether your kid really could paint like Picasso or say De Kooning. My stock answer to the "my kid" statement is "yes" and "no." Yes, only a child is capable of the kind of inner freedom expressed by these great masters. And no, most people, including most children, lack the tenacity and open heartedness necessary to give themselves over that fully to the creative process. The "my kid" comment is irritating on so many levels because it trivializes the work of serious artists, many of whom have devoted their entire lives to soul searching and skill building in the search of their own voice. Their process and product is extremely personal to them.

On the other hand, there will always be the charlatans, who casually pick up a brush or step onto the stage, surprised when the world doesn't fall to their knees in awe of their natural talent. These people are every bit as insulting as the "my kid" crowd.

The fact is, very few people have what it takes to be a professional artist. Fine painters, musicians, actors, poets, dancers, etc. are a rare breed indeed. They must be intensely dedicated, extraordinarily savvy - not to mention supremely talented -- to make it as a professional. The arts are not a good career choice for light weights.

Despite the common myths about "crazy" artists, successful artists are some of the most grounded individuals you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. Ironically, whenever professional artists, musicians and poets get together they rarely talk about art. They're usually discussing business models and marketing strategies and coming up with ways to support a family, just like any other entrepreneur.

Meanwhile, the idea that anyone can make art is being heavily promoted by the media. Michael H. Margolin, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Wayne County Council for Arts, History and Humanities, points out that we are seeing more and more television segments about how easy it is to "decorate" your home with cute little "accent pieces" you can make yourself in minutes. From Martha Stewart to the immensely popular "Trading Places," on TLC, which is about a team of designers and neighbors who redo the interior of each others' rooms, these shows are immensely popular. Margolin believes these shows "do a great disservice to the artist, putting their work in the same context as framed feathers and other frou-frou." Margolin feels this is another salvo, unwittingly fired, against the visual arts. "These design pieces-whether they are good or mediocre-are unfailingly referred to by the designer, the team and the program host as "art", therefore blurring the distinction between a design used to supplement a decorating scheme and a work of art growing out of personal conviction, intellectual concerns, and emotional impulses. The person who sits before a canvas and pours out heart, soul, skill on a painting meant to exist in the hopes of communicating an idea or emotional state-whether good, bad, or in-between-is an artist."

I certainly am "guilty" of trying to encourage everyone to get creatively involved and becoming fully self-expressed. I believe self-expression is an essential human function. Visual literacy, for instance, is available to anyone, just as reading and writing, if the opportunity is created. My intention, however, has never been to trivialize or devalue the work of serious artists. After dedicating my life to painting commission portraits, no one values dedication to craft more than I.

There's an important distinction that needs to be made between the arts professional and the amateur, those noble souls who produce art purely for the love of creating. Many wonderful artists don't have much income to show for their efforts. This doesn't mean they aren't excellent or pure it just means they are not actually professional. An excellent example of this definition of amateurism is the Grosse Pointe Theatre, who produce excellent work on an all volunteer basis.

So when we say we are advocating arts what are we actually advocating? Art means many different things to many different people. For some it means fun time for their child between serious studies of reading and math. To others, it is a spiritual quest, a profound attempt to answer the questions of our existence. For many of us, it's the way we earn a living. Yes, art feeds the soul but it is also a worthy profession and should feed the belly as well.

How do we create an environment to encourage the development of professional artists without rewarding mediocrity? Are there professional standards for artists, as in the legal or say, plumbing professions? Not really. The path to becoming a professional artist is varied indeed. While doctors have a clear career track, with designated forks along the way, artists usually are the result of a unique life arch.

It helps if one can visualize a goal. What does being an artist look like to you? For instance, there are a few common points most successful visual artists have in common: they win awards given by impartial jurors. Sometimes they are represented regionally by established galleries or art reps; many professionals prefer to remain unaffiliated. In either case professionals make sure their work is easily available for viewing during business hours. They may have academic affiliations. They may have received professional arts training or apprenticeships with established professionals, while some are considered "outsider" artists, having no training whatsoever. Many artists produce limited editions, many sell only originals. They probably have published articles documenting exhibitions of their work. They should have distinctive professional tools such as resumes, biographies, artist statements, portfolios, catalogues, websites, etc.

There are many ways to earn a living as an artist, many of which are being explored in the DAN (Detroit Artist Network) forums. The next DAN forum is at the Scarab Club on June 23 at 6 pm and will focus on commission fine art, such as illustration, portraiture and public art.

Another WCCAHH program presented by WCCAHH is the Fresh Art Festivals, happening all over Wayne County this summer and fall. This program pays artists to share their process with members of the community, who are already attending many of the outstanding summer festivals throughout Wayne County. A complete schedule of Fresh Art Festivals is below.

One thing is certain, artists must think outside the box, when it comes to making a living. We live in a society which doesn't always value the arts and we must be committed to teaching the value of art if we ever hope to be taken seriously as professionals. How can we expect society to value our creativity if artists refuse to embrace the idea of professionalism?

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