Attack of the Arts Administrators
This post is prompted by the District of Tofino’s Request for Proposals for a “cultural scan” (on tofino.ca, the 3-page PDF downloads from this link). Scanning the document itself, i am struck by how little it has to do with actual art. In fact, the thing is pure 200-proof bureaucracy in its wording and its thought process, and as such is 180 degrees opposed to art. I suppose i’m not saying it shouldn’t be done; presumably the district’s bureaucratic mill needs it. I am saying nobody should even begin to confuse this with making or advancing art.
When i think of arts and culture, scans and reports are last on the list, and arts events of various forms are first: artists doing art, and “the public” seeing/experiencing artists doing art, and “the public” making its own art (for a healthy society does not silo off its creativity into any one sector). All else is dross. I think of events: arts talks, spontaneous shows … happenings with passion in them (or intellect or intention or anything but bureaucracy!). Read more…
Call for Event Coordinator for Missoula Children’s TheatreCall for Event Coordinator for Missoula Children’s Theatre
Pacific Rim Arts Society is accepting application for the position of Event Coordinator for Missoula Children’s Theatre
Event: Feb. 7 – 12 2012 will be held in Tofino
This is a paid position. The successful candidate will be working closely with the PRAS Director of Events.
Please submit resume with a cover letter to:
PRAS
Box 468
Ucluelet, B.C. V0R 3A0
or via email :
pacificrimarts@gmail.com
The Deadline for submissions will be no later than January 12th, 2012. For further information or any questions please email pacificrimarts@gmail.com
Art prices … an exegesis
I’ve ranted about West Coast art prices before — specifically, how wildly expensive they often seem to be, and how so few artworks sell in local venues and shows. Here’s someone who’s as bamboozled as me. Click the pic for more artistic inquiry at William Powhida‘s site, including:
- What’s WRONG with the (fucking) art world market.
- What’s RIGHT with the artworld
- Things I don’t get (or even want to know the answer to)
stick shift project
Look, artists can do something about climate change. The simple but evocative stick shift project made a few Vancouverites scratch their heads in bemusement — and maybe shift a bit in their habitual thinking.
Public artist is Julien Thomas — @julienfthomas on Twitter.
The Meat Guns of Dimitri Tsykalov
For more guns, click the pic.
~greg
Mysterious protractors
I don’t know if this is art. You be the judge. But it’s making people think and talk.
Somebody is super-gluing large yellow protractors to objects in a Pittsburgh neighbourhood — hundreds of them. “Each is penned with a unique number, and tracking them down is becoming a local mystery.” People are bemused, intrigued. The authorities are not happy. Me, i love it — shades of Banksy!
Thanks for this, BoingBoing.net.
Arty bollocks
Artists:
Tired of coming up with creative bumpf for your grant applications?
Resume need a little padding out and jargonizing?
Want to add some chewy beef to that artist statement for your next show?
Help is at hand! Try this on-line
Arty Bollocks Generator
Do you hate having to write your artist statement? Generate your own here for free, and if you don’t like it, generate another one. For use with funding applications, exhibitions, curriculum vitae, websites….[Thanks, @brainpicker!]
A battery, five LEDs, the full text of Cory Doctorow’s Creative Commons licensed novel Makers, and one energetic miniature Doberman: a clever nighttime read in the park and a cool artistic mashup.
Blog post: http://i.document.m05.de/?p=970
‘I don’t work for free. Do you work for free?’
It had to be said. Aboriginal comedian Ryan McMahon — who bills his style as “Indian vaudeville” — wrote a long blog post about a year ago on why he won’t work for free, and by the way what the hell is it that makes it okay to ask a painter or performer or musician to “donate” some work or time, but not a plumber or a lawyer or (god forbid) government bureaucrat?
It’s a tough and dicey question every artist eventually bumps into in their career. As Ryan says: I’m putting this out there because I feel it needs to be said…. This blog post has been coming for close to a year now and I’ve just not had the guts to post it and put it out there. Today, that changed. I think most working artists would/will get behind this blog post 100%.
Plus more burning questions, like:
Why Are Artists Always Forced To Defend Their Worth?
Artists Don’t Respect Themselves or Each Other Enough
and
So What Are You Whining About?
Worth the read when you reach the point of being fed up enough. Link to blog post. Here he is on YouTube.
