From: Katharine Thayer (kthayer@pacifier.com)
Date: 12/14/02-02:51:57 PM Z
Jon,
I've been sitting here trying to think of how to say what I want to say
to Chris and you've said it better than I could have, thanks.
I'm reminded of Robert Frost, when he was asked to say something about a
poem after he read it; he answered, bewildered, "You want me to say it
WORSE?"
Katharine
Jonathan Bailey wrote:
>
> 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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