From: Judy Seigel (jseigel@panix.com)
Date: 02/21/02-02:01:39 AM Z
> --- Christopher Lovenguth <chrisml@pacbell.net> wrote:
> >. I
> > also find it
> > interesting that people really believe that curators
> > have that much power.
The curators come rather far along the food chain... First are the
dealers... they are absolutely the gate keepers. Their criteria are
usually will it sell, or more specifically will it sell to THEIR
clientele. Some are so visionary, they can sell what THEY think is
exciting, interesting, new, good, whatever -- but the dealers make the art
visible. Then come the critics, whose criteria are usually what is *in* at
the moment, and does it have *literary* value, that is, can they write
about it. (Of course if the art COULD be expressed in words, which are so
much easier to get right than *art*, no need to do it, but that's another
story.)
There are also sometimes a few, very few, critics with an eye or a mind of
their own... but don't count on it. Then finally, when the work, or the
style, has a certain heat, or buzz, some curator or other may latch onto
it... but an individual artist (or photographer, or whatever you want to
call him/her) doesn't exist for all practical purposes unless seen as part
of a trend, movement, group, style, or moment.
That said, the profound work will -- if it's not so obscure it's lost
entirely -- surface in another generation, or 100 years. (think Atget).
Meaning that in a sense it's double or nothing -- follow your heart & take
your (long) chances, or do mode du jour, whether it gives you joy or not.
Better yet of course is to be a genius. If you can arrange that, odds are
you can have it your own way.
But to get indignant about some silly-seeming frisson du jour -- oh my,
that's EXACTLY what gives it buzz. And why should anyone care, assuming it
really is silly and not just over their head? (Like Hilton Kramer jumping
up & down on Frank Stella's BRILLIANT wall reliefs. Kramer is so out of
it, he's a legend in his own time.) But if they weren't doing that "silly
stuff," they might be doing the serious stuff you're after -- and maybe
better.
best,
Judy
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