SCA Art Critique at April Meeting

In keeping with the SCA mission to promote the development and education of its artists, our April meeting was centered on an informal and constructive art critique of members' work. Nine members presented work for review by the group: Karen Feuer-Schwager, Marilou Hogeboom, Ellen Rose, Desiree Engel, Marilyn Ellis, Tieko Horita and new member Ladan Badaradan. About ten minutes were given to each member. Works were generally in progress rather than finished pieces. The group followed guidelines for constructive criticism that responds to the artists direction and intent in the work. The positive comments after the meeting were that this program is beneficial for all attendees and that it helps to gain feedback and see one's work through the eyes of others. Photos by Suzette Rosenthal.

Self-Questions About Being an Artist

It doesn’t take much thought to recognize that one’s art does not appeal to everybody. In fact, so the expression goes, it usually doesn’t . . . So we are continuously on the cusp of making art, art that is thoughtful and has depth as well as color and design. Well, what does it take to be an artist? Thus on my own quest, and in reading In The Making by Linda Weintraub, concerning about 100 strategies artists take in making art, I gleaned ten questions in considering one’s processes and strategy for art. I hope to elaborate on these questions in future writings.

What kind of artist are you?
How do you define your art?
What are your research activities?
What levels of appreciation are considered in making art?
What are your internal sources of inspiration?
What are your external sources of inspiration?
Who is your ideal audience?
What is your artistic self, versus your authentic self?
Who are your contemporary art critics?

What is my 20 year plan to make and show art?

Michael Asher at SMMoA

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Santa Monica Museum of Art at its location at Bergamont Station in Santa Monica, LA artist Michael Asher was selected for an installation show to capture the essence of the past 37 exhibitions that span the ten years. Instead of referencing the art content of these shows, he has chosen his own conceptualist approach that accumulates the designs of the temporary walls installed for the shows. He has installed aluminum and wooden stud walls in the exhibition space that adds together all of these floor designs. Of course they stack together and intersect at odd points and angles. The result is a maze of studded structure that the public is invited to explore. Despite the many sharp edges, exposed floor braces, and a labryrinth of walls without any entry or exit, the public comes to see and experience.
Remember being a kid at about ten years old, and how we used to explore construction sites after hours, walking through the open studded walls, the smells, the thrill and the mystery of architecture in the making. None of that is in this show, however. Instead, there are closed obstructions of studded walls in all directions, requiring some risk-taking to wander through, although that is all there is to do. Even before entering, you have to sign a no-liability agreement. The first room at the entry has the 37 floor designs with dates and show titles. So what is it all about? No art, no architecture, just an accumulation of temporary studded walls.
Squeezing oneself between the studs, again and again, with chaotic sameness in all directions, one eventually begins to ask this question, what is the point? How is this art? What is this art-installation experience? How do the 37 cutting-edge exhibitions add up to this? My own take dawns after a while, that Michael Asher has many meanings and purposes for this work. Central to all of them is its meaning itself. The dearth of esthetic content engenders a response about the why of it all. What are art museums for, and why do so many people come to them? And what is art for? What are these things – art, beauty, culture, and how does art capture and communicate these qualities? Come and see.

Suki Berg at OCCCA

SCA member Suki Berg has a retrospective show at OCCCA this month, with an opening reception this Saturday, April 5, 6-10pm. There is an excellent art review of her show in this month's Art Scene (April issue) written by Suvan Geer (p. 20). Hope to see SCA members there.