Sunday, August 8, 2010

AN OPEN LETTER TO CARRIE BRADSHAW

dear ms parker,

I hope you have a moment from your busy schedule as actress, arbiter of taste, purveyor of style, mother, wife and putzfrau to read my plea.

STOP THE MADNESS!!

Ms. Parker I am sure as a proud New Yorker you are thoroughly aware of this city's exuberant cultural life. In particular, New York City has, for over half a century, been a center of contemporary art. Although I am not familiar with your personal collection and your particular tastes and preferences, I must tell you that your time, money and efforts would be better spent in the simple supportive act of purchasing artworks you like and providing a lively for a genuine “next great artist".

if the title of your show weren't repulsive enough, the idea of imposing a reality show competitiveness to a field that is so ruthlessly competitive and cut-throat has totally backfired.
Whereas chefs, fashion designers and hair stylists MUST continue to work and produce to survive, such a small percentage of visual artists make their livelihood through their work that the artist has the ability to not work.
Isn't it better to wait two weeks, two months, two years even in order to produce a work that is genuine in its inception and completion? I admit having a deadline has been able to help complete tasks and work I'm doing in a timely manner, but many the deadline has come and gone before because it was "just not right".

issues of performing under time restraints aside, the idea of throwing a group of artists into a studio together and giving them specific projects or challenges is merely a high-end version of grad school. all reality shows are simulacrums of high school. you have broken this cardinal rule, intently I'm sure. not everyone has gone to grad school, let alone experienced the petty insincerity of the candidates for an MFA.

and what will be come of this new "great artist"? well from eight seasons of Project Runway has anyone become the next Mark Jacobs? Where does the winner of Top Chef season 5 work now?
I wish the finalists all the best in their final show. they are all interesting talent artists. And after you have publicly embarrassed, shamed and hurt two of the three of them, I kneel hope and pray we will not be made to see you drag the fine arts into the ring for mud wrestling.

thank you

Reuben Sandwich
Minnie Van Driver
Jonathan Leiter

1 comment:

Cecil & Cedric said...

I completely agree. The creative process cannot be switched on and off like a light switch and certainly doesn't function under outside pressure.

Mancview, Manchester. UK