Review of Art Hop
by Mike Schnauz
Art Hop is an interesting feature of Fresno. It's the one night a month when everybody goes out, which is weird because it's a Thursday. And everybody gets drunk. At least at the places I go to. The streets and alleys are filled with 20 somethings getting high and hiding 40's in their backpacks. And there's always that one guys who brings his little kids.
The funny thing is, it's rarely the art that brings people out. How can it be? The art is always the same. It's like these artists think that, even though after countless showings no one has bought their shitty painting of a naked woman or a monster eating civilization, there's still hope that they might so there's no reason to paint anything new. These artists think they're all bringing something new to the art world. False. Last night, I honestly heard an artist utter this line, "I try to capture ordinary things that most people miss."
Holy fucking shit. Roll out the red carpet, everyone. We have a revolutionary.
The thing that brings people out is the free wine, and probably the free weed that always materializes where you least expect it to. Art Hop is the one night where anything goes. The cops have no power and you could pretty much get away with anything.
It's a riot, for sure. I'm just waiting for the cops to get wise and start busting people for drinking in public. And the drugs, of course. But until then, Art Hop gets an 8/10.
Art Hop is an interesting feature of Fresno. It's the one night a month when everybody goes out, which is weird because it's a Thursday. And everybody gets drunk. At least at the places I go to. The streets and alleys are filled with 20 somethings getting high and hiding 40's in their backpacks. And there's always that one guys who brings his little kids.
The funny thing is, it's rarely the art that brings people out. How can it be? The art is always the same. It's like these artists think that, even though after countless showings no one has bought their shitty painting of a naked woman or a monster eating civilization, there's still hope that they might so there's no reason to paint anything new. These artists think they're all bringing something new to the art world. False. Last night, I honestly heard an artist utter this line, "I try to capture ordinary things that most people miss."
Holy fucking shit. Roll out the red carpet, everyone. We have a revolutionary.
The thing that brings people out is the free wine, and probably the free weed that always materializes where you least expect it to. Art Hop is the one night where anything goes. The cops have no power and you could pretty much get away with anything.
It's a riot, for sure. I'm just waiting for the cops to get wise and start busting people for drinking in public. And the drugs, of course. But until then, Art Hop gets an 8/10.
Please share where this Art Hop is? Because its not the one I attend every month.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you going?
Delete"And there's always that one guys who brings his little kids."
ReplyDeleteThat sums up my childhood. Free dinner at least once a month.
"I try to capture ordinary things that most people miss."
ReplyDeletethat is an amazing statement.
as for the cops getting wise, i'm not sure how they aren't already. i mean, it's been going on for what, fifteen years?
See also similar city-wide studio open house events in Oakland, Portland, Austin, Minneapolis, Richmond, Providence, etc.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the entire body of work's evolution for a famous, successful artist, you'd see a lot of repeated pieces and themes, tweaked slowly as each artist develops their ideas and skills.
I propose that what we experience in these smaller cities is a rarely-rotating well of local artists who continuously (at least the ones who are dedicated to growing their craft) produce pieces that may appear static unless you have the opportunity to see their entire bodies of work over the years. This is in no means an excuse for an inexperienced or just plain un-talented artist who should practice more before throwing art on a wall.
Local artists are given the chance to participate in shows, and they put their new work up. As well as whatever didn't sell before (or their favorites that they personally love but haven't been able to sell) as filler. True, a great crime of artists is being delusionally narcissistic about their crafts, especially when talking to prospective patrons.
People who buy art are often as much to blame. They want an experience when meeting the artist, a story to tell friends who want to know what the fuck that $ 400 naked lady / giant octopus trashing a crowded nightclub painting is all about. If this weren't the case, art shows would be physical manifestations of online stores, with paintings just hanging, no artists around, and buyers paying 1/10 of an artwork’s potential actual value by debit card at the sign-in desk.
City-wide studio open house nights are social events, though, mostly a time intended for people who like art to meet the artists, and for studios to hopefully network more artists for future shows. And yes, a night for bars, restaurants, coffee shops to benefit from a little off-calendar business. This does not stop socialites from milling about, partying with friends. The art buyers are out there, though. Open house purchase transactions are few and far between, especially in this economy, but the payout is still enough to coax local artists into studios so they can pay rent / supplies / recreational sundries.
Most of these local artists also can't afford (financially, or just from time off at a day job) to travel to different cities, or to have their artwork shipped to different cities for shows in which they'll have no control. Which is a reason why it’s so hard for smaller cities to attract artists from outside. The big money patrons are all in big cities buying from big name artists, and smaller artists from smaller cities can’t make the trip.
Take the time next Art Hop to just meet some of the artists. Let them know you’re not there to buy (but don’t cockblock them from meeting potential buyers), and just Talk to them as normal people about their work and its development. True, some of them may be total asshats, but I know from friendships that a great number of these Fresno artists are genuine, good human beings that are earnest in their pursuit of creating something beyond their current abilities. It will help keep your attention off the alleys of weed and booze. Then don’t go to another ArtHop for say 4-6 months. That next experience may have a good deal of the same artists, but if you’re really paying attention, I think you may see some new work hanging among the old shit.
see also
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/RZzzKDytK1o