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 put your work in a show? [asks the curator of the nonprofit] Then write me a statement and tell me how your work, which looks like a lot of other work, fits into my plan.  Now: here’s the back story on my proposed/humble solution for all this.

Last summer, I went to an exhibit of Dan Cameron’s SVA class, called “A New Currency.” Though the work and format were familiar enough (hardscrabble installation housed in a bit of loaned real estate, temporarily re-purposed for art), and didn’t really break any new ground, visually speaking, I really, really liked the premise: should we think about a new way of valuing art? Does art need a new currency? I attended a panel discussion. I listened. I looked around. I asked myself, ‘what’s the bottom line here, really?’ And what I came up with was that, thusfar, Cameron’s kids’ striving for a new currency required that everyone involved—the artists, the landlord, the experts at the panel (I’m assuming, here)—had to give away their work and time for free. Hmmm. During that panel discussion, I raised my hand and opined that, perhaps, what we need isn’t a new currency; maybe we need to rewind further, to art school, and forge ourselves A New Pedagogy. We need to teach students in new ways and in new settings so that future generations of artists can re-shape where and how and what they show, and how its valued.

I don’t remember getting any really cogent response. The show, after all, was done under SVA’s umbrella, and under the tutelage of a teacher leading a class—no matter how boundary breaking it might seem to be. I looked at their blog recently; though it’s inspired others (as it did, me), I don’t see a new currency (beyond giving away your services) has caught on. No, the paradigm hasn’t shifted. That said, I tried to shift it last year—in vain.

Sarah Schmerler teaching writing for photographers at Pierogi gallery, 2009

Last year, about this time, I asked dealer Joe Amrhein for a favor: I wanted to teach writing in a commercial, not an academic setting—a place that would have more meaning, and raise the stakes, so to speak, for artists. He and Susan were nice enough to consent, and gave me their gallery late one night. It went OK, sure, but looking back: I made a lot of mistakes: of narrowing my attendees too specifically  (there was a Nadja Bournonville show in the adjoining room—I thought it’d make good fodder for photographers, specifically, to write and think about); of charging money for my services (I should have anticipated the free new currency of the moment); of not using my time well. Three hours later, and I still didn’t get through all the material I needed to get though, in order to empower photographers to write. Sheesh. Can you forgive me? I was alone. No Twitter, no #hashtagclass blog discussions, no other people (Ed?!) believing in my quest to keep it real. To keep the market intact, but bring EDUCATION to the MARKETPLACE.
Ed, Dan, my old professor Alan (who’s got a photo gallery in Chelsea), and anyone who’ll listen: I think that The Market System needs to invest, and give back, and otherwise cede a small portion of its geography, time, and resources to education. (Sort of like the 1% for art program makes developers fund public art?) The Academy (see my previous post) is helpless in this; they’re a business, like any other, at this point, serving you, the dealer, with fresh meat for consumption. Down with this collector-centric, Art Fair System; down with The Buyer is Always Right. Up with learning.
We need A New Pedagogy.
The “currency” can stay the same; artists need it to live. As do we all.
You know what Lucy van Pelt says to Charlie Brown in that Christmas special as they’re walking through the snow: Nobody ever gives me what I really want for Christmas… (says Lucy)
What is it you really want? (asks Charlie Brown)
Real estate.