So, Howard Halle says "The art world is in need of deep reform and has been for a long time. it would be nice of artists really addressed that, mainly I think, by working for themselves first. I don’t see that happening in Powhida’s work." I do work for myself, Howard, and I'm trying to exploit my betters' wealth, power, and fame, and this is the hard part, to call attention to the GIANT, GLARING class disparity in the art world. The Hooverville drawing isn't for Howard Halle who calls for reform, but I bet the dude doesn't have five practical reforms to offer. (Howard you can prove me wrong and leave them as comments here) The drawing isn't just about navel gazing at the art world, but to point out that it's run buy a plutocracy, and there is giant excess supply of labor ie., artists, who are routinely fucked by the system and too terrified to do anything about it because they are made to feel like they are replaceable. The imbalance of power is repulsive. Putting aside that Jade and I went specific to grab people's attention, the drawing is a satirical representation of our shared experiences going down to Miami and seeing the fucked up hierarchy of the art world reflected through all its' participants, Paddy included. Jade and I weren't comprehensive by any stretch. The drawing is a semi-autobiographical portrait based on our experiences and limited knowledge of the art world. We threw in artists we love and want to support and people we can't stand. Paddy's in there because she is a comedian, and resists easy judgments of people like strippers. We love strippers. The Brainstormers, Kevin Regan, Andrew Hurst, David Petersen, Daniel Hesidence, Doug McQueen, Navin Norling, and many others are in the drawing because they represent artists we know in the hierarchy of the art world.
For sure we make fun of the wealthy, the famous, and the powerful. They are part of a star system that is chewing on my fucking leg right now, bleeding out what little integrity I have left, but I'm not rich and celebrity isn't power. If you envy this, I'll trade it right now for some money. You can have it. When I was in Miami in December fretting over the Times article that had just come out, Paddy and Hrag demanded I come out and enjoy it. They, and you, probably think that I am being disingenuous when I say the attention is troubling to me, but I'm not. The best thing about the Times article was that it wasn't some vanity profile in Vanity magazine. It got into the contradictions of 'pissing on my betters' to call attention that we labor in a star system that will not benefit most of us, certainly not the scores of art students spat out of the ponzi scheme of academia. No, you are probably not going to make much money or even land a decent job in a cultural center (aka city) even if you get an MFA. Howard Halle is right on that score and any sense of entitlement young artists have should be wiped out immediately.
As for the drawing being topical or mattering in ten years, I hope that like Ad Reinhardt's (thanks for the spell check asshole) cartoons from the 1950's they will shed light on the conditions of being an artist in the pre and post-boom, late-capitalist, personality driven star system that drives the art world. I've been doing this since 2005. Take a look at my website. Before that I made personal narratives that were only as interesting as my own life. I can't imagine that MOST of the shit produced in the last decade will matter in ten or twenty years. I hope that the deer antlers, disco balls, glitter n' glue, and neo-neo expressionist paintings gets crushed in the trash compactor of history. I know it will, and likely so will much of my art, but I think that any value it has is more about the sociology and culture of the art world than whether than I can draw well enough for you. I'm sorry I don't have another practice where I make big-assed paintings or delve into the spiritual aspects of life, but that's because I'm an atheist and believe in that crap we call science. I'm not here to make paintings that make you feel better about your existence on earth. Go to church.
I'll end with one last Howard Halle quote, "Working through an idea that maybe nobody understands except you, until they do understand it." I'm pretty sure that Howard doesn't understand the work, not just this drawing, that I've been in engaged in. I know Paddy doesn't it. She's always asking questions, not providing any attempts at analysis. That's the problem with being a genius, no one understands me except me, and maybe Jade and Jen sometimes, but they usually just think I'm fucking crazy. Awesome. Howard, by your definition, I'm on the right track working for myself.
Now, here's a big assed version of Hooverville (click on it and prepare to scroll) where you can go look for yourself and friends. Just don't miss the fact that you are pretty much fucked one way or another whether you're in this drawing or not. That's the system you have chosen to be participate in like me and Jade. Remember his name, nobody has a fucking clue what he does! That's a sign of real genius.
Have a pleasant evening.
14 comments:
I once ragged on an earlier artwork of yours for being a bit disingenuous about the star system, but man am I pleased you're getting so much play for what you do. (Still not necessarily my aesthetic cup of tea, but then again, you'd probably hate my work too...) The fact is, you're raising your voice for a lot of us out there and I bet I'm not the only one to appreciate it. You're getting a lot of people suddenly uncomfortable about this funny dance we do to try and get our work out there, and discomfort makes for damn good conversation. Thanks.
my evening just turned pleasant. thank you william. and thank you Jade
This drawing actually reminds me of the satirical p.o.v. mode in Peter Brueghel. For example:
This one and This one
Just to be clear, the facebook conversation in which I talk about facades isn't about Hooverville specifically, but the work in general. That said, I'm rarely clear on when you're adapting a persona except of course, when it's painfully obvious.
WTF!!?
The white lines straight below #67 on the convention center look cool (I guess something was corrected).
What was the best time in history to try to be an artist?
Kurt Cobain comes to mind. Maybe Kurt Cobain meets Woody Allen meets Duchamp. He gave us everything and you fucking want to take it away. But tell us, what comes after the bitching? Do you have a plan and a vision of what a proper art world looks like? Do you just want to raise a red flag or do you want to write the 'art commandments'? If you don't, I will.
Here's an interesting cultural policy manifesto from Poland, which a friend recently sent me: http://wuw2009.pl/aktualnosci.php?lang=eng&page=wydarzenia&id=50&mod=opis
I'm waiting for the coffee table book.
Your free association ramblings with various subsets of information remind me of 2 of my favorite authors- Kurt Vonnegut and Dave Eggers. Keep it up at all costs
I think what people overlook sometimes in William's drawings in general, which includes this one made with Jade, is that he's attacking himself first and foremost. The way I read his work, everyone depicted is a proxy for a success and celebrity that he despises, fears and craves all at the same time. However, I realize this may not be a comfort to those represented...
Perhaps I missed the explanation, but why take part in a system that you find so objectionable?
I understand that #class is meant as a sort of think tank to consider alternatives. There are alternatives to the art world you criticize. There's the academic art world for instance. There's also a DIY art world of artists who are sometimes thought of as illustrators, but they make livings illustrating periodicals and books, selling affordable prints via the web, licensing, etc.
The drawing is pretty awesome BTW. cya tonight.
Tim,
I think the system could work better or differently. I'm also a realist, a satirical one, and I want art to change my life too. I think we can call for change from within, and I don't find it all objectionable. Some of it is awesome and inspiring. Asking why I am taking part in the system is sort of like asking 'why vote?' The system is messy like Democracy, but I prefer it to the politics of academia or justifying everything I do before I even do it in grant land.
See you at #class and thanks.
-w
Oh jen, so smart. I haven't ever gotten that from Bill's work at all, even though he has explained it to me about a dozen times. Something about your articulation, or just the fact that its you, made it all clear. That being said, he may be attacking himself first, but he is also nourishing the art world. In Hooverville, sunglass powhida stands at the bread line, ready to serve, to feed. He may very well be stealing, but it looks to me that he's got the literal manna...
that will be $300 an hour for social media psychotherapy
I definitely agree that entering the art world makes an artist feel replaceable. I am used to feeling special because I come from a loving family and a small art school. In those more intimate communities one gets attention from others for producing work but there is a smaller audience. I'm not sure how feasible it is to expect both close attention to be payed to artists and for us all to get widespread exposure but I certainly crave both! At the end of the day I usually feel that I need to change to make my way in this system and I think it might have something to do with being treated like I'm worthless by everyone in the art world. I've seen to many movies about artists where their struggle is a 5 minute sequence before the "make it" Damn this takes longer than 5 minutes!
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