Artists Statements

Today in my weird garden. Darn thing has now a pretty good display if you like plants from some other planet, hey, maybe I'll call this a 'plantnet'. The last section is all tied up with the bougainvilla and then straight up to the sky. The end does keep growing but thankfully it's slowed down to throw all it's energy into these less than magnificent flowers. The tree that it is nestled in, beyond the wall, suffered major damage from the last hurricane and we are trying to figure out what to replace it with and the landscape guy is on us to get it done. I want to wait until this plantnet if finished before we disturb anything else. Meanwhile if the tree goes over, so goes the domino set that I have unwittingly built.

Today I want to talk for a minute about Artists Statements. They are a bugaboo of mine and it's so rare to read one that makes sense and is understandable. A statement should be short and to the point. It should address questions about the origins and the makeup as well as motivation of the artist. It should enhance the art, not obscure it. It should be written in simple English, not art-speak. And finally it should be condensed enough that it can be included in the gallery book and will pique the interest of anyone looking through that. I'm talking 50 words or less in general, though some requirements are for different lengths.

Here's an example of a short statement of the sort that drive me nuts:

Interviewer: What motivates your work?

Artist: My deep fascination with the processes of change effected by time and nature’s gradual breaking down of form has developed into a profound meditation on loss and dissolution, restoration and restoral, and the interaction of mutability and permanence. I attempt to embody life’s processes of covering and discovering the possibilities of our interactions with the natural forces of time.

Sandy: Huh?

Remember, those reading your statement suffer from Short Attention Span, and if they are bored by your write-up they might not bother to go back and look again at your art. You want to bring 'em IN, not cut them out. Use the first person, 'I' statements, do not refer to yourself as 'The Artist' or by your last name, or in the third person. Avoid obscure references, and don't name-drop or compare yourself to well known artists. Go for specifics and explain in clear language. Don't go into long technique explanations but do mention your materials and methods in a general way.

And finally, update and revise your statement frequently as you develop your art. I just did a re-write on a very old statement I found in a deeply hidden file on my computer, and now it's ready to roll as soon as I need it. For a show, I'll add a short paragraph specific to the piece being displayed or discussed. Remember not everybody takes the time to read these, but for those who do it's a chance for you to give them the short form tour of your work.

Originally I had some horrid examples of statements I was going to post, but changed my mind because some of these folks are still around and probably using them! Instead I'll show you my 'general statement' if you show me yours...

STATEMENT

I have always sewn and I have also always been an artist, but it wasn’t until I was long into adult life that I had one of those moments of synchronicity that made me realize I could combine both as my medium.

For my work, the fabric is generally the focus. I usually start with a piece that speaks to me and take off from there- the stories develop in my subconscious as I work, much like Tanguy’s ‘automatic writing’. In fact, when I finish a piece I rarely remember the process of making it but I do know the associations and the stories that give it meaning. I really don’t feel like I make these pieces, they simply come through me using my technique and craft to become whole.

My newer work has focused on exploring photography and collage techniques. These seem to be done as a result of a need to layer and add images on top of images. I have moved slightly away from traditional quiltmaking, but I just cannot give up that final split from working with layers and stitchery. I hope I never do.