Hey there Dear Listener - went to the Arts Society of Ulster's 10th Anniversary Exhibition last evening - here's some wee photos for those of you who missed the event.
Now I normally despise openings cause you have to pretend - not the fun kind of pretend where you get to invent stories about yourself and your various exploits - but the kind of pretend where you have to be polite and restrain yourself from sneering at the complete lack of artistry mixed with misguided ambition normally on display at these kind of things.
What's that?
You're calling me an asshole?
A jerk?
Who am I to look down at this collection of, well - OK it is mostly hopeless - but heartfelt work?
Well, you're right of course.
I am being a jerk cause the Arts Society of Ulster's 'main aim is to promote and encourage interest in the fine and applied arts in Northern Ireland', (quote from their catalogue).
And there's nothing wrong with that. Long-time listeners of the Podcast know how devoted I am to the propagation of art - and my commitment to art's potential in making the world a better place; and hey, not only do they show work, the Arts Society also organises various courses in areas such as 'life drawing' and awards prizes to young artists and designers.
So enough of my bitching at the variable quality of the work. Hell, I can't paint or draw so what right do I have to complain?
No right - so here's some more photos from the opening instead:
Not sure what's happening below. It's possible they had some sort of disagreement.
This is typical of the work shown:
I hope these two had a good time. You could buy the art at the show so perhaps they were shopping for a last minute Christmas gift.
This photo is kind of a buffer, and I'll tell you why:
You see - I know I shouldn't bitch. I agree with what I said above. I have no right to complain about the work. Heck, a lot of the artists in the show aren't 'professional' in the traditional sense...but...there is one painting in the show.
It's the worst painting in the world.
I've deliberately hidden it far down in this post to spare you in case you do not have the constitution Dear Reader.
Scroll down if you must.
(Keep Scrolling)
(Almost There)
(Here it comes...)
Good lord that's bad.
OK. Enough of that.
If I really believe I can do better than I have to put my money where my mouth, (blog?), is and try myself. So I went out and got a couple of books, (OK - the 'Zen of Seeing' was actually a gift that I really have not looked at yet).
I'm going to teach myself to draw folks. If I can't draw or illustrate then I have no right to judge that monstrosity that lurks farther up this post. I'll start on my trip to the States and report back to you in the next podcast. Wish me luck.
And if you're in Belfast in the next couple of weeks you could do worse than to visit the Exhibition - here's the details:
Arts Society of Ulster - 10 Annual Exhibition - 2006
The Switch Room
84-89 Great Patrick Street, Belfast
Exhibition continues every day from Wednesday 20th of December till Friday 29th December, excluding Christmas and Boxing Day, 10am till 5pm.
Is that painting of Fran Drescher?
Posted by: Phil | December 21, 2006 at 09:35 AM
I think the horror of the painting cannot be confined to the supposed representation of any one person.
Posted by: Jett Loe | December 21, 2006 at 10:47 AM
You're right.
It could be an amalgamation of loud-mouthed female personas, but it is best not to try and peg this one as such.
Is this the art-equivalent of The Amercia Show?
Posted by: Phil | December 21, 2006 at 11:23 AM
That fact that it 'portrays' someone female was not noticed - the sheer terribleness of it conceptually was what got to me. That, and the hand on the right.
Posted by: Jett Loe | December 21, 2006 at 01:17 PM
Don't get me wrong - I agree...it goes beyond any portrayal - I was just so taken aback by it, that it made me pause to think "who could be behind this monstrosity". I could only identify "Fran Drescher" as an annoying female with that grating, shrill voice that could have something to do with a visual so equally annoying and horrifying. It looks a bit like her.
I mean, someone did have to pose for this, right? Now it's all I can think about.
You have to stop this, Jett. First, the unveiling of the America Show, now this. I love it, but I also hate you for it.
Posted by: Phil | December 21, 2006 at 02:42 PM
Post script:
Of course I must apologize to the European readers out there who may not know who Fran Drescher is - I am American, and in my America-centro universe I assume everyone knows who we know.
Drescher was the star of this American sitcom, in which she played a character that had this incredible high-pitched, annoying New York accent. I would encourage you to find an mp3 clip from this show to understand more why I associate this painting with her and this character.
Thank you.
Posted by: Phil | December 21, 2006 at 03:15 PM
On this side of the pond I think we know her best as Bobby Fleckman! 'The hostess with the mostess' from Spinal Tap...
If you go to any 6th form art class in the land you'll see paintings like that. I'd take a guess that whoever curated the exhibition must've been so proud of their offspring's 6th form art project that they shoe-horned it in there in the misguided belief that it will somehow cause a sensation and kick start their career into the world of art thus getting them out of the house where they've been lying on the sofa 24 hours a day since leaving school... I'm sure that's how these things work in Norn Iron... We don't live in a meritocracy over here... ;)
Posted by: Brabazon | December 21, 2006 at 03:56 PM
I had another look at the press release for the show - there are 250 works on display out of a total number of 500 submitted - so ya had a 50 percent chance of getting in.
I feel bad for picking on this painting - but Jeezus it's awful. Of course, if after I learn to draw I find that I'm just as bad then will of course apologise profusely.
Posted by: Jett Loe | December 21, 2006 at 06:08 PM
After you learn to draw... that's funny. It reminds me of the time during my first golf lesson when I turned to my friend and announced that within 12 months I would be playing in the LPGA.
Something to keep in mind is that whether or not the painting is awful, you have spent a good deal of time talking about it and that's the point of art, at least to me. It has succeeded in provoking an emotion in you. Very interesting.
Posted by: Jama | December 21, 2006 at 07:52 PM
Oh, I'm gonna learn to draw all right - just you watch.
Re: provoking an emotion...yes an emotion - a reaction more like it - a reaction definitely - a reaction of fear and loathing.
Posted by: Jett Loe | December 21, 2006 at 08:10 PM
LOL - love the build up to the punch on that luverly painting.
I kinda like it in a way. Ambitious.
My British partner knows all the lyrics to the intro song for 'The Nanny' TV show. Cracks us all up!
Posted by: Hounds Rye | December 22, 2006 at 03:00 AM
hehehehehe, some truly awful work there, but in the meantime, you managed to photograph two of my ex-employers. And despite what was on the walls, somehow they managed to look so serious...
*j*
Posted by: James | December 23, 2006 at 09:08 AM
Everybody WAS very serious there...and people were buying the work which is cool.
Posted by: Jett Loe | December 23, 2006 at 09:54 AM
I agree with some of the comments regarding the quality of work but you obviously hadnt gone to the RUA late 2006 where some of the work not just selected but awarded prizes was beyond belief!
The RUA supposedly carries some clout but only in a small pond such as Northern Ireland, some of it was really embarassing.
As with alot of organisations in Northern Ireland, there is an elitist clique and its definitely who you know???
Posted by: claire | January 03, 2007 at 05:46 AM
Yeah Claire - I def. agree with you = N.I. is a very insular / closed kind of place - so very 'clique'y - the only response is to do good work!!
Posted by: Jett Loe | January 03, 2007 at 01:49 PM
If I may be quite honest with you, Jett, I understand how seeing a painting like that one near the bottom can, at first, put a person off, and being somewhat late to the community and all, I'm responding to it a bit late, but I haven't quite caught on to what the image really means to me, which is possibly one reason I don't really think this is at all a bad piece. There is quite a lot of detail, and it seems to be well made, but you might think it's bad for a reason I'm completely unaware of, but either way, I am sorry for posting comments to old entries and being slightly behind the times here.
~iPar~
Posted by: Aorund Par | January 10, 2007 at 09:41 AM
Don't worry - feel free to post what ya want.
Will have to disagree with ya though - that is one bad painting.
Posted by: Jett Loe | January 10, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Honestly, I can't see what you dislike about it. I certainly respect your opinion on the matter, but when you get a minute, I wonder if you could email me at [email protected] and tell me exactly why you dislike it so much. I'm seriously interested to hear first hand your perspective on it. Whatever would be easy for you to do, be it just a text email or perhaps an audio file talking about it, I'd love to hear it. By the way, I hadn't mentioned it yet, but I have a web page with some fractal art I've done. The link to that is http://aorundpar.deviantart.com, and you can have a look at those whenever you feel like it, and I hope you would, because more contact info is there that you might be able to use, considering I can't use Skype through my dialup connection, or so I assume, but anyway and also, the audio file I sent you, you might not want to include in the next podcast, but I hope you got it and found it at least moderately interesting, but yeah, email me and let me know why you don't like that painting, because I am genuinely interested in hearing your viewpoint. So until next time,I wish you all the best and be safe wherever you are.
~iPar~
Posted by: Aorund Par | January 11, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Hi there iPar - yes I got your audio file - I'll extract part of it on an upcoming show and discuss the 'podcast process' per your request.
Re: the painting - I think it's appalling in every aspect from composition to subject matter and execution - but as I originally posted I am not that comfortable critiquing without trying painting and drawing for myself - so any further critique of the work will come in a visual medium.
Posted by: Jett Loe | January 11, 2007 at 03:06 PM
That "Fundamentals of drawing" book on the top of the pile there is by Barry, my old art teacher from School. Legendary teacher he was too. Certainly got me drawing a lot.
Posted by: Mark | March 15, 2007 at 05:10 AM
Excellent! I'm having fun with the book - perhaps soon will unveil my wee sketches of Belfast.
Posted by: Jett Loe | March 15, 2007 at 08:50 AM