From: Jonathan Bailey (quryhous@midcoast.com)
Date: 12/14/02-10:34:08 PM Z
Chris-
> I'm very sad. My question is this to the group: Must one always be
> able to articulate precisely why, for what reason one did certain work?
> Especially if it is really glorious? Must one always be able to clearly
> articulate the why of a photograph?
FWIW:
Vision is always ahead of understanding. If we are working well and perhaps
even doing new work, *by definition* we can not understand it at the time
(much less speak about it!). More than likely we won't be able to articulate
very much for quite some time - months or even years may be required. (This
is the biggest reason I generally don't print work more recent than two to
three years old, but that's another story.)
"Understanding" is a luxury of hindsight - if in fact it comes at all.
Or "understanding" is in the realm of the (quite necessary) intellectuals -
who can, if they are any good, tease out important issues surrounding things
like art/vision/theory/culture. But, I doubt artists will ever be any good
at *both* making the art and dissecting it. One is generally good at one or
the other, but not both.
This is not to say that artists should not be able to speak about their
work - when the time comes for it! But, it seems to me the height of cruelty
to demand from a student that he/she articulate the why of making
photographs. I think it *is* helpful for students to listen to someone who
can, through experience and practice, speak about their work - especially if
it is someone who can do so well (quite rare). In this way the student can
absorb some of the how-to, which may be useful *later* when there is an
honest need to speak well about what one is doing. But why *peel* the skin
from the snake when it will shed it easily when the time is right??
To take things a step further, I think the pressure to have students mount
exhibitions and find venues (galleries even!) in which to show the work as
part of completing "the program" is entirely misplaced as well - another
minority opinion, no doubt.
Chris, I just wanted to say that I, for one, feel your instincts are
entirely on target. It sounds to me like something is being trampled upon
in that "crit" process. It seems to me that crit is being accomplished at
the expense (and loss) of something valuable.
Peace.
Jon
www.jonathan-bailey.com
Tenants Harbor, Maine
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