Melissa

In a recent article in the Village Voice, writer Jerry Saltz ripped into artist Lisa Yuskavage’s newest show at the David Zwirner Gallery. He made what I thought was an interesting point in his rant.

It was this -

“skill” shouldn’t just mean being competent or being able to render the figure realistically; it’s nowhere near as important in art as originality, surprise, obsession, experimentation, the willingness to publicly embarrass one’s self, and something visionary. Skill is about being flexible and creative.”

He goes on to state that in order for her to save her career that “she must transcend the market’s definition of skill”

How true is that really. Those words “the willingness to publicly embarrass one’s self” really hit me. It is a raw, honest and very difficult thing to do and artists do it all the time. I don’t think people appreciate or get that enough. Making something as intimate as art ( anything really - poetry, writing, film, photography, etc) and then taking that creation and displaying it for the world to see, consume, enjoy and judge is the most freightening and rewarding thing imaginable. And we as consumers, whether we are sophisticated or niave, are (I believe) inherently aware of whether or not that work is sincere or not. Just like meeting a new person. Either we feel lied to or tricked or we feel open and moved. If you as a person, spend your day interacting with people at only face value they will surely know it. Trust me. If you make artwork or write a poem without love or conviction behind it, the viewer will know it. We all know what talent and skill looks like. We know many people who are good at what they do. Could perform their job with a blindfold on. Then we know people who, like Saltz’s remarks, ‘transcend the market’s definition of skill’ - These are the people who move you, inspire you. These are people who take their job - whether it is a job as a painter, a writer, a doctor, teacher or a waitress - and they shine.

Why not all embarrass ourselves with our honesty. What have we got to lose? Save for being unauthentic.