You, in 200 Words (or less)
My human concern is for disenfranchised people as a whole and, specifically, for those who are on the outside and unknown. They have no representation and are easily overlooked. Self-expression is not among their most urgent needs, but their experiences are important for all to know. By making the homeless the subject of art, a place is made for them, however small. While I have never been homeless, I know what I see. It's normal to ignore the plight of the un-housed, as I did, until the whole matter became unconscionable. There's not much we can do except increase awareness. To that purpose I intend to contribute my artistic ability, with the hope that I, and others, can come to an understanding about those who live homelessly. (128 words)
The preceding statement is a condensed version of my blog, which (by now), has surpassed an estimated 75,000 words. I could tell how I got that figure, but, who's counting? What has changed since commencing to write about my painting is an up-coming due date for showing my work. It's ready.
There's little opportunity to exhibit art where I live. I expected that before relocating, here, from (what was) a great place for art exhibits. The timing was, arguably, good. I realized that, with the global reach of the Internet, communication was as good there (here), or anywhere. Depending on what kind of art the artist made, where the artist lived (and made art) was secondary, to art.
These days, I commonly receive numerous “calls” for entry, all of which are served directly to my email inbox. It's not necessary to search for exhibits, although it feels lazy, at times. Eventually, I intend to knock on doors. To get started, I am responding to the broadcast calls for entries. A common factor is that the theme of the exhibit call determines what sort of work will be considered (and what not.) Obviously, my paintings about homeless men are ineligible for most show themes.
It's important to write a cogent statement with call submission. Before being considered for inclusion in any show, the curator (or show committee, etc.), needs a conceptual reference. Not a list of previous shows—a track record of achievements—so much as assurance that the evaluator can be assured that her perception of the art is valid. Humor, double-meaning, and even levity is acceptable -so long as the viewer is in the know.
It has been thus since the Dada movement. Is a painting of a dirty bum that different—in spirit—from Duchamp's urinal? Both use the same strategy. It may not be obvious to everyone. Irony is not my intention. It's there, while not explicit. What is more important is to provide assurance that my work is not "a put-on.” The viewer is not the victim of a hoax, or practical joke, or similar strategy. To that end I offer my assurance: this written guarantee.
Neither does the curator want an avalanche of words. There is the practical limitation of many, many contributors answering a call for art. It's a little like the public school teacher who must grade homework. Long, rambling accounts of an artist's work are not wanted. Artists prefer to make art than write. An art exhibit is not a writing contest. Still (as I argue, here), it's not what an artist says in a statement, but the testament of sincerity that counts in the artist's favor.
The notion of painting homeless men came to me like a bolt out of the blue. If you had told me when I was in art school that I would, one day, be painting bums, I'd have said you've got me mixed-up with someone else. Now, naturally, I wonder why it took me so long. There's much to be said about that, but, for now, it is important to register my actual, aesthetic shock. The homeless conditions at the time of my decision were so bad that (now), it seems inevitable, unavoidable.
And so, while as yet in the planning stage—before ever putting brush to canvas—I realized the subject of derelicts would require explanation. I thus commenced this blog. My abbreviated statement for proposal for exhibit is a just a sample. There's much more where that came from. As they used to say (when the Internet was young), it is a “Work in Progress.”