Proposal for Exhibition
So I haven't written much of late because I've been out in my garage matting art. When I'm not outside enjoying the summer, that is. And now it's serious. I've had to craft a "proposal", whatever that is, in order to submit to galleries. They will, in turn, review the proposal and decide if they want to feature me. Some of it is merely a bullshit formality, some of it is more along the lines that (shhh) these galleries take themselves too seriously. But I guess I have to play along if I want to be included. I think it's all a bunch of pretentious bullshit. My original artist statement is kind of an "eff you" to that idea:
My artist statement
Paint collage photography
Order in chaos
But I don't think that would fly. Plus, most folks who don't know me would think I was being a pretentious asshole anyway, not understanding the inherent sarcasm of the haiku.
Anyway, here's the proposal.
I possess a body of work consisting of over five hundred pieces. It spans a variety of media including photography (both film and digital), painting in a variety of mediums, collage, homemade paper, and a combination of all of these. All of the pieces have not been documented. Taken together, they explore a variety of themes including depression, the joy of living, relationships and political ideas.
An artist statement is, as is the body of work, a living, breathing thing. Writing about art, even though I am a writer as well as an artist, is next to impossible for me. Art must be an experience, must make the viewer feel something, must touch the individual. Generally, my art exposes truth around me as I see it. I explore decay and rebirth, considering the subjects I choose to explore, as well as the mediums I use. The medium of collage exemplifies this, but even the photographs I take tend towards urban decay and the beauty inherent in that. A solid artist statement makes more sense for me after a show has been solidified, even if the show hasn't yet been hung.
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