week 8
This week in class sculptor Tannaz came in to talk about her rather different approach to sculpture. When I think of sculpture I think of clay curving and collage but Tannaz work was very different from the usual. Using an abstract approach Tannaz says each of her pieces has an inner deeper meaning that represents something to her personally. These though some of the photos of her work probably did not do justice to the original artwork I got of feel for her style. I loved the way she used text to speak for her in some of her pieces like the giant “IFORGOT” instillation. Another one of her pieces conveys the emptiness of precious things. Even though I would not have noticed this meaning before reading the title I like how Tannaz uses interesting materials to create her pieces and change how people normally feel about them. She said, “I like reactivate pedestrian materials with new meaning.” Another pieces was made with ordinary cinderblocks. Playing with lighting and other materials like silicone plastic Tannaz has fun with art but has put her own organic spin on sculptor. Tannaz explained how during her work process she will sit and look at her artwork until it is dead to her. Sometimes she will stop and look at pieces for days. This was strange but almost seemed like a form of art meditation. I feel like Barbara K-G from our reading this week would respect Tannaz’s method of doing art from objects and tools not normally considered artwork. I really did find Tannaz inspiring, as I wanted to go out and try something new after class.
This weeks reading was an interview with Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a professor in the Performing Studies Department at New York University. She teaches a class on the aesthetics of everyday life and has a lot of input on the art world. One thing I noticed about Barbara is she asks a lot of questions but I like the way she thinks. On page 416, she explains why does art always have to be about beauty, why can’t art have a different notion. She used an example of a garden. Maybe the garden is pretty but also the garden is a source of food. “The arts of everyday life are highly utilitarian arts: they give form to value. That, for me, is what an art of everyday life is, something that gives form to value.” I cannot agree with this quote more I believe art shape and new appearance to something that was not there before. Barbara like many people in the book did not seem to fond of galleries, museums and overall hierarchy of the art world. What I enjoyed about Barbara is she likes what she likes. She does not like art just because it is in a fancy gallery or a expensive museum. Ignoring commercial value Barbara believes a lot of artwork goes unnoticed by the “art world” and she is fine with that. Not only is it bullshit but she believes the art world is just a large commercial market where some artists do not even get the light of day. Who is professional and who is amateur? But really who cares! The art world is trapped by “gate keeping” Barbara explains a way not to let talented artist into the selective world of art. She talks about art racism on page 424 and I found this passage very fascinating. Quality is art racism because a critic can come along and say that is horrible how is that art? The artwork Barbara enjoys is so-called created outside of the art world. Barbara believes the museums are not ready for artist making this “anti-artwork” (don’t really know what else to call it). I believe Tannaz artwork fits into this subgenre of artist who is really trying to do artwork that is out of the ordinary and questions what art can really be. 
public art made from scrap wood in Albany, CA.
