Death and Simplicity

After moving to Poughkeepsie two weeks ago, today I began working. I was recently hired on at Dia:Beacon as a gallery attendent. Basically, I stand around the gallery watching to make sure that people won't damage the art. It's a fly on the wall type of job, with not much really happening. Very quiet and solemn. Almost church like.

What is good about it is that I'll be around a lot of work. You've got many of the major names (Warhol, Judd, Smithson, etc.) So, it's nice to see these pieces and hear about them. Much of today was spent listening to other attendents talk about the work, most of which I know quite a bit about. Probably more that the people who were telling me about it today. It was interesting to listen though. Many of them gave an interesting perspective and counter point to what I would have to said. I just wanted to listen to them, which to few art people ever do. Most just want to talk.

Anyway, the work is interesting. Some of it is very boring and the reason's to justify it tend to lack substance, but overall the Dia:Beacon is an amazing place. What I kept thinking about as I was listening is how this work for me is past it's prime. At the time is was done, it was ground breaking. Now it just lives on in these narratives and massive galleries. For me it is good to see how much art has moved forward and not still living in redundancy of this work. It's just that the work now seems so miminal. I don't feel that I could make a piece in such a simple gesture. Actually, I probably should try to. It might make what I do all that much better.

With all that said, I just want to see these pieces activated in some way. I want them to be used or decay or something. The white walls of the gallery just take them off into to someplace that is so distant for me.

Quality

January 23rd 2007, sees my wife begin school at the Culinary Institute of America. For those who don't know, this is THE BEST culinary school in the nation and probably the world. Robin is an amazing person and I'm extremely excited that he got in. She's in for a tough time, but I know in the end she's going to be one hell of a cook. Not that she isn't already.

In preparation for school, Robin has me doing some reading. It's a book about the culinary institute written by a writer who experienced the school first hand. I just finished the book today and it has me thinking about something. The expectation at the culinary institute is perfection. It shouldn't expect less.

What this did is make me think about my practice as an artist. I don't think that I have ever expected perfection out of my work. Not that I've been lazy with it either. I have always pushed it, mostly way beyond my ability as a craftsman. I've always put my head down and created. Criticism is always a part of this process, but it's never driven me to being perfect. My response to this is that what in the art world is perfect. You can cook a steak and know its burnt, but when is art burnt. When I think about my stuff, it usually underdone. This idea of when the craft and the concept fit together has been a big question for me over the last few years. Though, I don't think that I was ever told to perfect. I was told it needed to be refined. But I never saw anyone doing perfect work. A flaw was always there in some way. I would say that it is easy to find flaws if you look hard enough.

I guess that I always focused on the idea. How good was the idea? I think my ideas are good and getting better. Now it's a matter of getting the rest of it to support the idea.

In New York

After begin in a perpetual state of transition for the last several months, I've finally made it to some solid ground. Just moved into a new place in Poughkeepsie, NY. While it feels great to have a footing, now I have to start another transition into the art scene that is taking place around here. As of right now, I'm feeling a bit lost. Or maybe, I'm just a bit impatient about things. Am meeting with a great group of people down in New York called the Flux Factory. Was looking at their website last night and they seem like a great group of interesting people. Which is exactly what I am looking for. There are a few other things on the horizon, but I'm having to wait for them. What is the phrase? Patience is a virtue.

So, it's quiet. Have been taking some time to check out the city and see what is around. Thus far, I've been hitting the economic side of the area, trying to settle in. Am hoping to see a different side of things soon. Am thinking that I should be more up front about things and just start contacting people.

What I've been trying to do is take this opportunity to start anew. There are things out there and possibilities to explore. A new history, new people, even new food. I've just got to spend the time trying to get out and see what I can.