Rarely do artists enjoy the words of art critics. The only time that we do enjoy them is when they say something favorable about our work, and even then we are often nonplussed.
So, I am not exactly sure why I asked my friend and self appointed art critic Tom Wachunas to write about my “Safe Animals Safe Kids” mural. I was, let’s say, underwhelmed with his commentary (read it here).
To my own defense, Tom has written very favorable pieces about my work in the past, so my request was not totally ignorant.
And, although I am not sure, I think he meant to be favorable with his latest Art Wach blog post. I have to say, though, it left me scratching my head.
First of all, Tom detests the oversaturated football culture of our city of Canton, OH as much I do, so his football references in both of his writings about my work are really confusing.
And then there is the comment that calls my work “part photo-shop manipulation, part paint-by-number segmenting”. Not exactly the compliment an artist looks for.
I don’t profess to be an art critic. I don’t profess to have work that is going to rock the so-called Art World like Picasso, Worhol, or Banksy. But I suspect that these Art World rock stars have had worse comments made about them.
For what it is worth, I think people grasp for words to explain the child-like simplicity of my work and sometimes settle on “paint-by-number” without really contemplating the dismissive nature of the comparison. I would, however, expect a little more awareness from an art critic who knows my work and knows that my process is a bit more complicated than paint-by-number.
Sigh. Oh well.
Tom has a penchant for inserting his own agendas into his commentaries, too. In writing about my work, he takes the opportunity to chastise the Canton arts establishment about “the state of public art works as it stands now in downtown Canton,” complaining about the fact that the “Safe Animals Safe Kids” mural is my third public artwork in a two-block area. (Actually he gives me too much credit. It is only my second.)
A handful of artists have created new interest in the downtown Canton area, so complaints about how many public artworks there are by particular artists seem sort of bourgesois, if you ask me. At least someone is doing something to revive a previously blighted area and bringing it new interest.
I do agree that a more strategic public art planning process extending from the pioneering artists’ efforts is warranted. Such a process is beginning.
Tom does make positive notes about the mission of the mural to raise awareness about the connections between animal abuse, domestic violence and child abuse, and for that I am grateful.
Were I the art critic reviewing my mural, I would have made mention of other legitimate artistic questions of scale and placement, but hey, I am not the critic.
Regardless of our disagreement, Tom and I will remain friends, and we will continue to share dialog about our thoughts on art and life. It is invigorating to be in a city with a thriving arts community where such conversation has a regular place. Is your city like that?
Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT
Check out my Referral Incentive Program! Send your friends here and you could get an ACEO by BZTAT!
Custom Pet Portraits / Contemporary Artwork of Cats, Dogs and other Animals
BZTAT Studios - In the heart of the Canton, OH Arts District
"Safe Animals Safe Kids" mural by BZTAT
It has taken me several months to complete, but my first Okey’s Promise: Art for a Cause mural is complete! We will be hanging it on the side of the Imperial Room, a restaurant/lounge in the Canton Ohio Art’s District, tomorrow (August 1) starting at 9:00 AM.
You can see the photos of each stage of the mural’s creation here on my Google+ photo page. (Never fear if you are not yet on G+. You can still see the photo album.) New photos will be added throughout the day as we go through the process of hanging it on the wall.
I also encourage you to check out the website for Okey’s Promise where you can read about the project and learn about how animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence are all connected. Also, follow the latest activity on the Okey’s Promise Facebook Fan Page!
The mural will be dedicated during the Frist Friday festivities on Friday August 5. If you cannot make it to Canton, there will be a live broadcast on UStream so you can attend from afar! You can sign up on the Facebook Event Page if you’d like to be a part of things on location or virtually.
What: Dedication of the “Safe Animals Safe Kids” mural by artist BZTAT
Where: 420 Court Ave. NW, Canton, OH
When: Friday, August 5 at 7:30 pm
I hope to see you there – in Canton or in cyberspace!
Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT
Check out my Referral Incentive Program! Send your friends here and you could get an ACEO by BZTAT!
Custom Pet Portraits / Contemporary Artwork of Cats, Dogs and other Animals
BZTAT Studios - In the heart of the Canton, OH Arts District
I am a mural artist. I like to create large scale public art that can be enjoyed by everyone, not just the select few people who make their way into a gallery or museum.
Most artists aspire to have their work shown in a gallery or museum. Not me. I would rather have my art seen on building on a city street where thousands can see it as they drive or walk by.
I also like to create art that has a purpose of motivating and inspiring people to make change in the world.
My artistic ideal is not exactly an easy path. Finding a way to finance public art with an altruistic purpose is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Typically, you have to submit laborious grant proposals or enter competitions to gain public art funding. Your chances are slim to none in such efforts, and your efforts are often judged by people who have no concept of what you hope to achieve.
If I take the typical route, it will take months to gain the funding, if I get it at all. There is a good chance that I would lose out to another worthy project, and my artistic vision would also be at risk of being altered by less visionary community leaders.
I have a passion and a vision with Okey’s Promise. It is a project that simply must be done.
I know that there are people who share my passion and are inspired by my vision. And I know that they can help me fulfill the vision. Are you one of them?
Are you intrigued enough to explore a bit more and join me in my artistic adventure?
Okey’s Promise is a public art project designed to create public awareness about the connections between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence.
These issues are deeply connect and need to be addressed together, not one in isolation of each other. When animals are suffering in a home or a community, children are likely to be suffering as well.
Yet merely sharing the facts doesn’t seem to get the point across.
Creating artwork that is highly visible to the community has a greater chance of connecting the dots for people. It is easy to ignore a fact sheet, but hard to dismiss a powerful public artwork that reaches out to you each day as you drive by it.
Please visit my Okey’s Promise website to learn more and to read about my unique plan for funding the project. You can also follow updates on Facebook.
Thanks. Your support means so much to me.
Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT
Check out my Referral Incentive Program! Send your friends here and you could get an ACEO by BZTAT!
Custom Pet Portraits / Contemporary Artwork of Cats, Dogs and other Animals
BZTAT Studios - In the heart of the Canton, OH Arts District
