Comments on: Putting Art on a Pedestal at PIE Studio Friday night in Springfield

By: jim draper

jim draper — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:37:38 +0000

OK, OK, OK
everyone can calm down about it all.
The show is more of a no-brow sort of thing.
It was an attempt to offer artists a place to participate
in a show that was selected by someone from out-of-town who is supposed to know something
about art. I didn’t even look at the images until they
were sent off to Ethan at OK Harris.
The entries were from all over the country, a
few from Jacksonville, and a fair number were
selected from Jacksonville.
Sorry everyone got upset about it, it was meant to
be considered a gift to the Jacksonville art community. Low or HIgh. Up or down. If anyone wants to see it or support it, it is here, if not,
no big deal. No offense taken, none given.
A blank storefront would probably be less interesting (or not.)

By: mark creegan

mark creegan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:30:44 +0000

or what i mean to say- citing a preference for something (which is what you did) is not the same as devaluing something else (which is what snobbishness is)

By: mark creegan

mark creegan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:12:33 +0000

Joey, I did not think your comment was snobbish at all, you were just trying to differentiate what you liked and what you did not. And besides, everyone is somewhat snobbish about something- a favorite type of food, music, etc. Its really okay. Being a snob is much better than being racist er sumpthin’.

But all this has got me thinking about the subject of different art genres and I hope to put it all up in a Jaxcal post soon when time allows.

Thanks!

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:30:36 +0000

Eek! I was worried this might happen. In an attempt to be honest I came off as snobbish. Not my intention at all. It is what it is, and if I came off as snobbish, I guess I am in this instance. Again, the feedback is appreciated.

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:30:35 +0000

By: Mike G

Mike G — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:30:47 +0000

I bet if the show was about monsters on skateboards or munnys I’m sure you’d love it and would have given the show a great prognosis.

I really find the lowbrow scene to be snobbish now. Interesting observation Michael. It’s funny because historically the lowbrow scene never had a scene.

Now that they have one they have a tendency to snob anything that’s not in that scene. And the “highbrow” scene has sort of welcomed lowbrow as a movement within contemporary art in general, al la Banksy’s work selling for thousands.

It’s interesting that a site that seems to be dedicated to culture would snob a show just because it doesn’t fit within someone’s style or view of art.

I also find that the fans of “lowbrow” have a tendency of not wanting work to be about anything of any real substance. I know that is lopping lowbrow into a huge category, but I don’t believe most of it is about anything other than trying to define cool.

Cool is a sickness in America. Stylish hipsters shrug content and powerful concepts into categories such as:

People in suits, little old ladies, wine drinkers, high-brow art.

It’s a sad state of affairs. Just to be honest.

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:43:59 +0000

@Kyle I didn’t go, I was hoping to see a recap too. Thanks for the clarification on highbrow vs. lowbrow. I’m not an art scholar and obviously used this term wrong.

@Michael, I guess what I’m getting at, ultimately, is not all art is for all people. I wanted to promote the event, but not blindly endorse the type of art that would be there.

If I came across as “art-snobbish” that’s not what I intended. I hoped to come across as honest. I guess my art critiquing skills need some work. Thanks for your input.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:16:10 +0000

I was hoping there would be a recap of this show on one of the local blogs. Anyone go?

+ I understand Lowbrow, but disagree that “Highbrow would be the opposite.” Lowbrow is more akin to a contemporary movement in art ( (with which, incidentally, some “founders” of the movement are reluctant to align themselves). In my experience the the term “highbrow” is a pejorative one and is often used to attack intellectual, conceptual, and other “difficult” art.

In any case, the art establishment in Jacksonville is fairly pretentious. I imagine that’s what you were getting at.

By: Michael Howle

Michael Howle — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:32:37 +0000

I’m not sure of your prognosis. If we are going to be candid here, I think your comments may have wandered into the realm of art-snobbish.

The comments aren’t just observations of the patrons/art, but implies a value judgment (whatever that is for old ladies, wine drinkers, and folks with suits).

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:51:56 +0000

It would definitely be the art. Check out this definition of Low brow art. High brow art would be the opposite of this.

Thanks for the applause. I was actually debating another sugar coated event listing or actually going out on a limb and saying what I think.

And again, I could be totally off base on my evaluation of tonight show. I am just basing it on person taste and past experience.