Experimental Art, Considered.

I was listening to NPR today (as usual) at work and I was interested in the All Things Considered Story: "In Tough Times, Artists Find Inspiration, Invention."

It's unusual to find a mainstream news story focusing on the microcosm of the contemporary art world and working artists, so I highly recommend reading it if you missed it. The story basically is suggesting that with the economic downturn, artists are now turning from commercially viable art to less marketable and more experimental art. And suggesting that recent MFA grads facing a "cold" art market are turning to social practice art and other more experimental genres.

First of all, I am sure that experimental art has been alive and well across America and supported by great non-profit galleries and groups like Plugged for as long as I have been making art. In fact, Michelle Blade's sunset stories which are featured in the NPR report remind me immensely of former Plugged member Laura Milkins' current project Walking Stories based in Mexico City.

Initially, when I heard the opening to the NPR story, I literally snorted in laughter. (fta: "Over the past decade, the notion of the "starving" young artist became a bit of a misnomer, as artists right out of school were snapped up by galleries, sometimes selling their work for hundreds of thousands of dollars.") Snapped up by galleries? Hundreds of thousands of dollars? Really? For the vast majority of MFA grads, especially those not living in New York or LA, that is the farthest thing from the truth.

Personally, I never expected my MFA to lead me to a life of fame or fortune and it's hard to imagine someone making art for any other purpose than just having to make art. I find that my most successful work is done in full knowledge that no one will ever want to buy it for their living room. I suspect that the same is true for most artists, in spite of ecomomic boons and busts.

Maybe the economic climate will inspire more artists to create more experimental art.... but will there be more opportunities for these artists? Unfortunately, just as the more commercial art market is hurting, non-profits are as well. The great non-profit galleries, university galleries, and groups that support experimental art are few and precious as it is. Hopefully, what we will see from this era is not only more experimental art, but new and creative ways to support experimental artists.