Category Archives: Writing Advice for Artists
Learn how to Write a Statement this week @ Muriel Guépin
I’m giving an artist’s statement writing workshop (the basics) on Wed., Mar. 16, 7:30–9:30PM. You should register ahead of time by writing to contact@murielguepingallery.com or calling. See you!!
Hypallage: “the idle hill of summer”
I like Wikipedia’s definition of hypallage—a weird adjective/noun combo; when a writer modifies the “wrong” word in a sentence, opting for the emotional quality that the combination imparts, rather than logic.
I’m reminded of Yiddish syntax translated into English (like: “throw Mama from the train the umbrella”) only in a more Western and lovely, and [...]
Jonathan Franzen: reads good books; writes on a defunct tombstone of a laptop.
Totally cool interview with writer Jonathan Franzen in “The Onion.”
Agree!:
AVC [The Onion asks about the Internet, et al]: How much do you think about the concept of readership? It’s changed so much, even since your last novel. It appears to be more about interactivity and instantaneous response, and about everyone having an equal voice. Do [...]
Also posted in Technology and Information Systems Tagged Internet reading, Jonathan Franzen, reader, Will Pappenheimer Leave a comment
Start a blog about art. Or even, a blog about writing about art. It’s a free world.
Sometimes the best way to get comfortable writing is to…write. Now, not every artist wants to start a blog. I understand that. However, if an artist had something really specific on his mind, and a good sense of focus, and a desire to help others…Well, I’d say he should start a blog.
Why not?
After #hashtagclass, a [...]
Also posted in Chelsea Galleries, Uncategorized Tagged Artist's statement advice, blogging, Brian Dupont, hashtagclass, writing advice Leave a comment
Everyone Loves Robert Ryman’s…writing
As if his killer abstractions weren’t enough: lately, artists keep telling me how much they admire the words that Ryman chooses to describe his own work. Check out the simplicity of both image and text at Art Observed blog. Meantime, I’ll copy some gloss below.
The title of his most recent show, alone, is great:
“Robert Ryman: [...]
Also posted in Uncategorized Tagged Artist's Statments, Pace Wildenstein, Richmond Arts Center, Robert Ryman, writing advice Leave a comment
Journalism 101 as artist’s statement-writing strategy
Strategy Moment:
I owe this insight to Jean Shin, a marvelous sculptor (who’s got a nice profile in this month’s Sculpture Magazine, btw.) Why not just stick to the basic interview questions journalists use when trying to talk about your work?
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW?
Ask them of the artwork; you can even interview it as if it [...]
Also posted in DIY Art, Recession Advice Tagged artists statements, Jean Shin, Journalism, writing strategy Leave a comment
Too cool for school? Never.
As this week of free advice on artist’s statements comes to a close, here’s Two Things I’ve Learned: 1) Don’t give your work away for free (artists, writers, this means You); even if it’s for a nominal fee, your work must get valued. 2) Try not to treat your attempts at writing-to gain-clarity-and-objectivity as a [...]
[#hashtag] Class Dismissed. Everyone gets an A for Effort. Well, Almost Everyone.
William Powhida makes transgressive, self-reflective, art;
and his subjects are often people—or prevailing notions of—Power. Hence, I shouldn’t have been surprised last night when he suddenly called me out as conducting the most in-your-face, authoritarian, put-people-on-the-spot-to-give-a-right-answer #hashtagclass session that he’s seen yet. [Sorry, I have to paraphrase on the above; I was writing on my computer [...]
An open letter to Ed Winkelman, SVA, Dan Cameron, or anyone in a position to help artists speak Truth to Power: we do need “A New Currency”
No wonder artists have a hard time writing statements. Rebelling against the need to write is the only self-defense/self-preservation mechanism they have left in a system that seeks to compartmentalize them. Do you want funding? [asks the foundation] Explain how what you do fits in with our criteria for what’s worth $. Want me to [...]
Schmerlreport | 11.3.11 | The 2 habits of highly productive people