7 Days In The Art World (the crit)

First of all, I really enjoyed reading this book so far. I think it is very appropriate for what we are going through right now.

"When there is nothing to say, that becomes the question, in which case that's a really interesting conversation."

I think this statement summarizes the entire point behind Asher's ridiculously long critics. I think its the truth. I think that after you have sat their and talked about all the stuff you "LIKED" and then you talked about what you "DIDNT LIKE". That after that you begin to really explore what the work is really about, or if you have not got to that point. You can then explore what the work could potentially be. It creates a platform in which to expand your work conceptually. I think that critics are crucial for the success of any artist, I do not care how good you think you are or how good everyone tells you you are. If you dont have a critic you will fail because you ll miss things, or get stuck reproducing the same thing over and over again.

"It used to be said that some art colleges instructed their students only up to the wrist they focused on craftsmanship while cal arts educated its artists only down to the wrist its concentration on the cerebral was such that it neglected the fine art of the hand."

This spoke very true to the format the I THINK Rutgers follows. There are times when I hear many people speak about how they dont teach you how to do stuff, or how to use the programs. I think this is the best way to learn because the professors push you to expand your thinking. How you create a work and what goes into it are the most important. Creating the ideas are the hard part, excuting them through programs or techinical skills can be aquired. Thus you are better off learning how to think then learning how to do.

"that any artist whose work fails to display some conceptual rigor is little more than a pretender, illustrator, or designer."

I think to call someone whose work is not conceptual a designer is crap. Much of the work designers do is based concept. I dont not think designers have as much freedom sometimes as painters, but I dont agree that design work is not conceptual. More specifically we are conducting a project in design 3 which is all about concept. It isn't commercially based. There is no client. It is purely the designer trying to make its mark on the world, just like any other artist.

"you have to find something that is true to yourself as a person-some non-negotiable core that will get you through a forty-year artistic practice."

This is very true and touches on what we have to do for our thesis project. I started in this direction is painting 2 last semester. I completed a series of small paintings, went through hours of frustration merely thinking about what interested me, what I wanted to say, what I wanted to make art about, and in the end I found my direction. It was something I had a lot of interest in and a lot of passion behind. That is the kidn of content and direction you need if you want to make art for the rest of your life.

"There is no point in being to brazen."

Very simple, when it comes to critique, "please leave your feelings at the door."