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Re: warning: bad word...RE: to mat or not
The decision to show evidence of 'handwork' on an artistic piece is an
important decision made by the artist when he/she is producing the work. If
you are adding elements that point like so many arrows to the fact the your
work was hand coated, or the paper was hand made, then you are missing the
point of using hand techniques over machine ones. It is not a matter of
educating the masses or anyone else. Why buy a handmade sweater over a
machine made one, and can someone really tell the difference. The fact is
that most viewers wouldn't know or appreciate handmade from machine made.
Look at how many people buy cheap posters of artwork and proudly display it.
I think that true appreciation for what process was used to create a piece
comes down to a small group, like ours, or certain collectors, who can
appreciate the difference or bask in the nostalgia of it all. Doesn't
someone who has made gum prints gain an understanding and further
appreciation of what constitutes a good gum print over those that have not
had the experience or the tribulations of working/creating with that medium?
It goes back to the idea of critiquing artwork when you are not an artist.
Just think of all those people into fine wines and who know what year and
what variety from what region is the best. Their select knowledge and
appreciation is what make a bottle of wine cost more. Most people will just
swig it down without a second thought as to whether it is Gallo from a
plastic lined box or a bottle from Rothschild (sp?). In the end the artist
must please themselves first.
Gary Miller