The cutting edge of FOLK art
Folk art, as I define it, is art of or relating to the common people. And, by that definition, I am a folk artist.
Non-folk contemporary art tends to get a little convoluted and inbred. These artists choose to overlook the larger community and focus instead on peer acceptance. They make art for other artists or for a creative intelligentsia, effectively shutting out the average person.
The reasoning behind this behavior shows a painful lack of self-awareness on the artists’ part. They argue that the work would have to be “dumbed down” in order for it to appeal to an audience that would rather consume popular culture than the so-called “high” culture of fine art. But what if, instead, the opposite were true? What if those elitist artists actually had to admit that they were the stupid ones—too stupid to be able to communicate with a wider audience?
As I see it, folk art accepts the general public’s one criterion when viewing art. All that people (including me) demand of artists is craft. Work without this requirement is ridiculed by the average person. Work with it is shown respect and is sometimes even given careful study.
Since that’s the case, it seems to me that the best way to cause revolution is to present a challenging topic in a well-crafted way. Even if the viewer doesn’t agree with the message, the skill which went into the making of the art should be able to touch them. It should inspire deference on some level, and it might even cause the viewer to think again about what the artist is saying with the work.
Folk artists are on the pulse. Get folk, or get out.
Gwenn Seemel
Wade
2007
acrylic on canvas bag
13 x 13 inches
(detail below)
My portrait bags are the folksiest part of my work: they most fully embrace the folk notion that well-made and meaningful things shouldn’t be sealed hermetically in an intellectual bubble.
Art shouldn’t be about art. Art should be about people.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Down-to-earth
- “An artist’s job is to tell the truth.”
- The definition of art
CATEGORIES: - Philosophy - You Bag -
(15) Comments / Commentaires: The cutting edge of FOLK art
I came across your announcement on folk art on the craiglsit website. I just receceived my MFA in painting. The main reason I chose to obtain an MFA was to become a better artist and have the ability to become a professor at an art school or University.
Judging from your writing, you have had a “run-in” or some criticism on your work. I rather like your work but not your words.
You mention “convoluted” and “inbred” as terms with contemporary fine artists. I can’t agree more in some instances. I’ve been to galleries where it’s obvious the gallerist wants to obviously display what sells or what may be popular.
I think your assesment goes both ways. “Convoluted” and “inbred” are what I feel with a lot of “outsider” and “folkish” art. I especially am tired of “graphic style” or anime art that is being placed on canvases and sold in galleries . This work has no pulse.
A LOT of this type of art work you say that are “for the people” is so banal and boring. This art is definitely “shutting me out” as well as a lot of my friends that are, I guess as you state, “average people”.
You are obviously talented. Your skills and technique (craft)are great. However, great technique doesn’t make you a good artist. Some artists’ craft is exceptionall, but the work (content) looks like crap. I will definitely overlook the skill of a work if I see another image of a cartoon girl in a pink bunny suit. To me, it’s been done before, trendy, and a sell-out.
I hope with time you’ll get over the elite art world, or even learn to appreciate it. We’re not all pricks.
I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the “cartoon girls in pink bunny suits.” I am tired of that too!
I think art should be equal parts content and delivery, and, these days, I see a lot of art that is heavy on one or the other, instead of a happy marriage of the two.
So it’s true, I could have written my post from the opposite end of the spectrum—challenging the purely-crafters to find something to say with their work. But, honestly, I have too much craft in my work for non-crafters to take me seriously if I do that! Besides, I find non-crafters and ideaists more fun to poke at! Unlike the purely-crafters who often avoid art theory, ideaists engage with me and poke me back. And, for that, I am grateful!
LL,
Why do you mention your MFA as a response to this post? I ask because I have been thinking about pursuing an MFA and don’t understand the correlation here.
David
David-
I understand your confusion. I had edited my original response. I was feeling a little defensive to Gwen’s comments about “elitist artists”. I took out the part that I am considered an elitist artist(dripping with a bit of sarcasm, but in reality true) because I have obtained my MFA. I thought the implication stood in my original posting, but I understand if it wasn’t clear to you.
Does MFA determine elitism? Is that what separates the elitists from the rest?
On a more personal note, do you regret getting your MFA? I struggle with this. It’s my feeling that if I had one it wouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Like I said in my original post, I wanted to become a better artist, and be able to teach at a university/art school. In no way do I regret having an MFA when I have become a better artist, and that I will in fact be teaching next Fall.
I don’t think a MFA necessarily determines elitism, and it is not that big of a concern to me. I really don’t like the term elitist.
However, think about it, I have obtained a degree in a field that a select group of people with outstanding personal abilities, intellect, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes possess. Some would say my views on art would be taken more seriously or carry more weight than an artist without a MFA. This does put me in an elite group and I accept this.
“I don’t think a MFA necessarily determines elitism, and it is not that big of a concern to me. I really don’t like the term elitist.”
“However, think about it, I have obtained a degree… This does put me in an elite group and I accept this.”
?
Qwen, your work is a glorious outpouring of your
inner spirit. You have a magical ability to portray people in their own natural beauty. I think that your soul sores out across your canvas and shows it’s truest splendor in everything you do. I also love the portrait of We Can Do It! I saw it on the Art of Politics website.
“I think art should be equal parts content and delivery”
Yes! Thank you! This argument always gets shoved to the side in favour of “but technique alone doesn’t make for good art.” How that makes me want to clobber people! Technique alone does not guarantee good art, but there is no good art WITHOUT technique, without skill and fluency in your chosen medium. Art is a language, and if you can’t speak eloquently, don’t go oratin’. It doesn’t matter whether you are self-taught or up to your ears in diplomas. Skill is either present or it’s not, and contrary to prevailing notions in the art world, skill is not optional.
One of my biggest beefs is the myth that incompetence is acceptable. People fall back on vapid trends such as bunny du jour, because they camouflage their lack of skill with a paintbrush, as well as lack of anything to say.
The nice thing about a “civilian audience”, not trained to suppress their instinctive response to a piece of art is that if the piece is badly made, they’ll judge it so.
(By “civilian” I don’t mean blue collar to the point of illiteracy, just not an art world professional.)
Them’s fightin’ words it would seem. I see elitism on both sides - although I would refer to the 2 schools as Highbrow and Lowbrow because I think Folk Art is a bit of a narrower category than you describe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_art Although the cited article notes that the terms pop and folk are sometimes used interchangeably to describe certain work,but I think they are at opposite extremes.I don’t know in what category my own work falls as I have an art education but have had my work described as outsider and primitive. When it gets right down to it I don’t think it really matters, but I do find the elitism on both the Low Brow and High Brow sides of the art world annoying.
I think there is validity and quality in both well crafted accessible art and high brow art which sometimes needs some intellectualism to be fully appreciated. They are different experiences and I don’t think one is better than the other. I think we live in a time where art is very difficult to define because it has bled into so many different arenas due to the ability to popularize imagery via mass media. At the same time that it may be questionable to view some not so well crafted conceptual art as valid, by the same token, I can’t necessarily qualify an extremely well crafted piece of “craft” as art.
There is something impossible to define in words which makes art art. I know it when I see it 
You might find this interesting : http://bluestonefolkschool.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/what-is-a-folk-school/
The folk schools sound really cool! And I agree with most everything you said above except that I think there is a minimum of craft necessary for a work of art made in today’s world. I think we’re beyond the point where it was interesting to make something without craft and to do it as a way of making commentary about craft. Now, it’s hard to say what that minimum is, but I do think it exists!
Then we don’t disagree at all because I actually did not say that poorly crafted fine art was valid in my view.
“I think there is validity and quality in both well crafted accessible art and high brow art which sometimes needs some intellectualism to be fully appreciated. They are different experiences and I don’t think one is better than the other. I think we live in a time where art is very difficult to define because it has bled into so many different arenas due to the ability to popularize imagery via mass media. At the same time that it may be questionable to view some not so well crafted conceptual art as valid, by the same token, I can’t necessarily qualify an extremely well crafted piece of “craft” as art. “
In the first sentence of the “well crafted” is supposed to apply to the high brow art too. the above paragraph
My point was that just because something is extremely well crafted I don’t think that necessarily makes it art.
Jeez - maybe I need to learn to craft a sentence better !(see above)
AnnGee...
Yes well crafted and full of emotion. Art should make you feel something. I often think the more “intellectual"artists are less afraid that the public won’t understand their work, but rather, won’t connect or feel an intent.
I really like your bags. Art, like one’s heart, should be worn on one’s sleeve for everyone to see.
--- -- - --- - ---- - - --- ----- -- -