In our current era
Power struggles are
constantly developing in
this landscape of invention
New sectors of thought and
action arise from the
spores of the previous periods
Actors gush into the
slipstream from everywhere to
fill these openings
Previously, power struggles
developed to control the money or
geographic domination
Currently, those
old-fashioned concerns are still large
But even more important now
seems to be the desire to
control the geography of the mind.
There are individuals and
groups right now who are working hard
to control the input your
brain gets and the
interpretations you will be able to develop.
The people forcing
the control always happen to
be the bad guys
All is not lost for
imaginations however,
Luckily new developments and
adaptations automatically flower
New ideas that are
benevolent to humanity flow naturally
In ancient times, visual
art, via paintings and sculpture, were the rulers of the mind
People would imagine their
past experiences looking like the scenes in paintings
They would plan their future
in the form of pictures they had seen
Currently people imagine
their past experiences looking like scenes in movies and tv
People plan their future to
look like what they see on film
All is not lost for visual
art however; paintings, sculpture and more are still on the forefront of
imagination stimulation
Artists still
develop the most advanced fundamental interpretations of our
on-earth existence
for our more commercial
brethren to copy and disseminate to the populace
Also when a friend tells you “I saw some great art today”
you know she is not speaking
of the movies.
Standing on top of this
fundamental power, we artists need to strengthen visual art’s influence
I make a call for artists to
strengthen our position. I want today’s artists to be more serious, create art
with meaning, representing your beliefs,
disregard academic prudes,
anticipate the future, be
aware of other developments, and to advance alongside each other like a massive
unit.
By being more serious I mean
solid and permanent in idea or substance. And serious also includes humorous.
Just avoid the frivolous and disposable.
Remember, for something to
be art is must supercede the commercially available norm. Paintings must be better
than anything printed and photographs. Sculpture must be better than
manufactured objects. Photography must be better than posters or paintings.
Video must be better than TV.
and really, better than movies.
The artist of today must
create artwork with meaning. Creations must be significant. They must show
intent to communicate ideas. In this
era we have the ability and hence the duty to go beyond
expressing beauty. We must stimulate
the imagination of the viewer.
Even as a mere citizen, you
must represent your beliefs, personality, and actions. Most artists are
passionately for something or many things. Your artwork should be
utilized to broadcast this. Incorporating your core beliefs into your art is an
easy way to solidify your output.
Disregard those academic
prudes who tell us what can and cannot be art. Everything is in flux right now.
The forms of art are multiplying. If they say you can’t combine words and
pictures, don’t believe them; if
they say you can’t paint a picture with a car, turn away. Create what you viscerally and intellectually
know is going to be art.
Creators should always have
an eye on the future. Your artwork should be built on fundamental ideas rather
than the passing ideas. Consider how
your artwork will be interpreted by historians of the future.
Be aware of other
developments in this world. Knowledge is growing and it is easier to learn
about new advancements in the
sciences or plastics or motorcycles. Cultivate a general knowledge of where
many subjects are advancing. Not necessarily to be an expert on one specific
topic; you need to be abreast of many.
Artists of the future will
have to contend with the huge amount of static 2 dimensional images. People
will become accustomed to find a picture of nearly everything in our reality.
Also consider how much is conveyed in a tiny tiny internet picture.
The artist of today DOES need to be an expert on current
human development, the macro human intellectual evolution.
I want to see artists advance
as a large unit. Artistic output should groove toward a common set of ideals.
Not copying each other, but to move in a similar direction. This must occur
organically of course. But the current stratification of artistic endeavors is
weakening our position.
Shit is happening
everywhere. Fundamental situations are changing, the shape of humanity is in
flux, it is opening up. Artists have a duty
to put this all together for people,
to pull blobs of coherency
out of the fury.
To stimulate people now and
to inform archaeologists of the future.