Sacrificing Art for Shock

Works of Pure Shock-Factor and Extremity Cross the Line that Defines Art

There’s an artist whose work I’ve admired for some time. I’ve seen many of his paintings in my favorite publication, “Architectural Digest,” where his work is frequently featured in the homes of some of the most prestigious professionals and celebrities. Not knowing much about this artist, I delved into the online world to learn about his history, inspiration, and view other work.

Enter controversial artist Damien Hirst, who is described as having a “varied unflinching, fatalistic and darkly humorous view of existence.” Upon discovery of his works that he is most well-known for, all I can say is “wow, really?” Exploring the subjects of life, death, and the human condition, two works – both live, real-time installations – stood out from the crowd.

A Thousand Years (1990): Exposes the cycle of life within the confines of a two-sided clear box. One side contains a separate box with a small hole in which maggots hatch into flies, who then journey to the other side where they feed on a bloody, severed cow’s head lying on the floor.

Let’s Eat Outdoors Today (2011): Also features a two-sided clear enclosure, one side encasing maggots lying in trays on a barbecue, slowly developing into flies and then venturing to the other side where they consume the food remains left over on the table. Hirst’s perspective on this work: “’I was thinking about how we all avoid dirt, but we all ultimately go back into dirt. I was very interested in how we were trying to isolate the horror from our lives and remove it.”

Hirst attributes his inspiration to Francis Bacon, “absorbing the painter’s visceral images and obsessions early on and giving them concrete existence in sculptural form with works like A Thousand Years.” He is described as “pushing the boundaries,” and becoming one of the “most influential artists of our time.”

While I have a very open mind, am more predisposed to off-the-wall art, and appreciate the extreme visuals and messaging, as do I greatly respect and appreciate the artistic, aggressive – frequently violent – visions of Bacon, Goya, and others like them, I honestly found Hirst’s sculptural works to be a disappointment, more like B-movies, quite honestly, poorly done, and in no way capturing, communicating, or revealing the inner and outer darkness that the likes of Bacon and Goya achieved. Maybe it’s because I’ve been witness to this lifecycle of carcasses, maggots, and feasting flies and so the impact was less than inspiring and thought-provoking.

I’m glad to see Hirst has explored the painting medium and still find these works fabulous. But it disturbed me to think that because of the shock value of his work that he has been so highly acclaimed and I have to wonder, when should “art” no longer be defined as “art”?

One Person’s Junk is Another Person’s… Artwork

Found Objects Continue to Find New Homes with Junk Artists and Chick Pickers

We’ve all heard the expression, “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.” Actually, I believe the original expression is “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” but since I’m a chick picker, I modified it to fit the times. And it’s also no news that junk has been an art form for years. However, the popularity of “junk as art” is taking on a new evolution.

If you read my bio on my website, you’ll discover that junk is like pirate treasure to me. Finding discarded ghost objects left to rot in the dirt, disintegrate on the highway, rust in the salvage yard, get stomped on in an alley, or scream for rescue behind a dumpster lid, is an absolute score for me. I see beyond what is, to what can be. And I’m thrilled that there are others out there who share this same passion.

Take Shari Keith, for example, a local Arizona artist who gives new life to discarded objects in the form of jewelry and home décor, even down to recycling her son’s braces to become a funky, chunky necklace. She believes, “…that [junk] is artistically exciting, environmentally beneficial and personally rewarding to use things that others overlook or throw away,” and that junk symbolizes the true meaning of “…with age comes character.” Now while Shari refers to herself as “The Junk Lady,” my moniker is “chick picker” to the core. What I love about Shari is that she is down-to-earth, hands-on, and not only isn’t afraid, but truly loves to dive for this buried treasure.

And then there’s Levi Koenen of The Lost Highway Sign Company, another Arizona artist, who creates art from recycled license plates… license plates from many different decades and states that he cuts and smoothes by hand, taking apart a single plate to create art that features the personalities from many. Levi is all about “saving the planet” and “…[feels] very strongly that we can help save our environment with every can, plastic bottle and many other items that we recycle.”

And media has opened a new door to the concept of recycling junk with Picker Sisters, a new reality series on Lifetime and obviously a spin-off of American Pickers, one of my favorite shows and one I would love to be on. Now the boys from American Pickers don’t create art from their pirate booty, but rather restore and resell. But the finds they discover are incredible, historic, vintage, rusty, tattered, torn, old, and contain incredible character. Picker Sisters features best friends, Tanya McQueen and Tracy Hutson, interior designers with a store in Los Angeles that travel the country looking for junk to rebirth into cool interior design pieces. Their recent episode featured a 1973 vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle they dipped in gold metallic and encased in an acrylic structure to create a table. Super cool (mostly because I’m a huge fan of Harleys). My only disappointment in the Picker Sisters is that – aside from the impression that they don’t come across as hardcore chick pickers and dumpster divers – they, themselves, don’t create the work but rather have a partner who brings their sketched visions to reality. Despite this fact, and although glamorized for top media billing, I dig their concept.

Oh how glorious to know that others see the impossible in the junk that lies beneath the surface, junk with a history, a past, and a story to tell. Power to the junkers who are giving new life to these recycled, reclaimed, found objects to tell a new story.

Artistic Innocence

Artistic Inspiration Through the Eyes of a Child

While I was doing my art demonstration at the Tempe Center for the Arts Fall Arts Kick-Off, I was engaged in conversation during a majority of the event with a 10-year-old girl named Rachel. She was absolutely delightful, inquisitive, charming, and ultimately… innocent.

We chatted incessantly about art and creativity, her eyes lighting up and beaming, her smile getting bigger, and her face glowing as we talked about the art of found objects and using the remnants left behind – on the street, in the dirt, from the trash – to create art. She began telling me about all of the creative things she enjoys doing, one in which particularly engaged me. One day, she and her friends were walking home, I believe from school, and they discovered a broken down cardboard box in the middle of their path. Well, the Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn came to life as they eagerly snatched it up and began forming it, bending it, and manipulating it into different shapes and structures, without expectations and completely oblivious to their surroundings. It was just fun, entertaining, and an adventure of challenging their little minds to see what they could conjure up.

During her story-telling, she spoke with a freshness and innocence that we often lose as we grow up and become tainted by the world around us, innocence uncluttered by emotion, psychological impact, and the frequent thought that art should be driven by the inner-most depths of our psyche. For Rachel, it was simply about creating something out of nothing, which, for the most part, is what my art is all about so I reveled in this bond that I shared with her. Don’t get me wrong, as I absolutely believe that art can serve as an incredible vessel for expression and release of emotional and other deep subject matter, but it doesn’t always have to be – and sometimes never is. To be honest, presently there is only piece of art I’ve created that is truly symbolic of something personal, an artistic journey I did find immensely enjoyable and revealing. However, the majority of my work is about seeing the impossible in something discarded, left to die, so to speak, and giving it new life.

Early on in the evening, I tried to impart a small bit of artistic wisdom into Rachel’s mind, telling her that as we get older, it’s easy to lose the creative innocence of a child and encouraged her to never stop creating, thinking outside the box, and to continue to explore her creativity… to see the magic behind these found objects, even in something as insignificant as a cardboard box or shiny candy wrapper on the sidewalk that has the potential of becoming something new and fabulous on a canvas. A few hours later as the event was closing, here comes Rachel to say goodbye. Before we parted, I asked her, “Remember what I told you?” And she beamed right up and said, “Never stop being creative.”

In a world now filled with such stress, chaos, and uncertainty, I’m so thankful for my art and the outlet it provides for my escape into an oblivious and innocence of my own, a world without judgment, without boundaries and expectations. And thanks to Rachel, for not only reminding me of this, but for also keeping that inspiration kindled. A broken down cardboard box takes on a whole new meaning for me now.

Are You An Artist… Or Not?

“Aspiring Artist,” “Emerging Artist,” “Up-and-Coming Artist.” You’re Either an Artist… Or You’re Not
Some years ago, I used to refer to myself as an “aspiring artist.” One day, over drinks with a long-time friend who is not only an art connoisseur but also an artist and art collector, we contemplated this subject. As I used this term to describe myself, he questioned it. Well, of course, I defended my archaic labeling by saying that I was not – could never be – in the same arena as the true art masters of the past and present (many come to your mind, I’m sure). He blatantly said: “Lilly, you’re either an artist or you’re not.”

Point taken. If you’re going to do something, do it. If you say something, mean it. This rings true from another conversation I had with an artist friend who said that you have to live and breathe your art – and believe in your art. And another truism from my brother when I told him that my art would never “live up to the standards” because it was raw and imperfect and he said, “that’s what makes your art, not only art, but your art.”

So what do the scholars say? Historically, artists were those who were considered “learned persons” or “Masters of Arts” through study, practice, making a living through their art, and creating “works of aesthetic value.” Sources: thefreedictionary.com, wikipedia.com

Well, the times they have a-changed. Princeton.edu defines an artist as: creative person (a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination). Source: wikipedia

Now that’s what I’m talking about. Creativity. Imagination. Expressionism. Isn’t that what art is about and what defines an “artist”? Take one look at Polish artist Monika Grzymala, who’s doing an entire installation at a London gallery using black and white sticky tape. Now that’s imagination. For me, it’s truly about creative expression, freeing up your mind and body and allowing the “crazy” to come out. I’m often telling people who say they have no creative talent at all that, in reality, we all have creative talent. It’s just a matter of 1) tapping into it and allowing it to emerge and 2) a question of whether or not that’s a side you want to explore!

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I have the greatest respect and admiration for the “learned Masters” and all artists who invest time and resources in art education, history, and application. For me, however, even though I studied the arts in college as part of my general course curriculum (went for the business degree!), I can’t remember when I wasn’t creative growing up and quite literally discovered the artist in me… on my own. It just emerged and exploded. And that forever changed my life.

So, are you an artist… or not?