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Tuesday 20 September 2011

The Artist's Statement.

Big.  Heavy.  Sigh.

I've been asked by several things I'm involved with to submit an "Artist's Statement".  I've never done this before.  So far, I feel I haven't had it explained very well to me.  I've read some great ones!  But what exactly should go into it?  What questions should it be answering about me and my work? 

what do i do?  i need direction.

I found the following in my google results.  I shook my head in horror as I read it:

Q: Why do I have to write an artist statement? It's stupid. If I wanted to write to express myself I would have been a writer. 

I 'm thinking that might be the wrong attitude to start with!  lol  I did find THIS advice on another blog.  That gives me lots to think about.  And I came across this, which I thought would be helpful by the sound of the title.  But it was too much to read and now my brain is beginning to turn to mush. I'm feeling the deadline pressure.  Perhaps the first google result holds more merit now?  lol  Ahhh I'll keep trying.  Feedback?  Links?


Thanks!

~Monika

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Monika, unsure how many words they expect, but this is my artist's statement. I edit it depending on whether they want first person or third person and may add references to my writing if it's for my poetry etc. Although I have no reference to my abstracts, if it was for an abstract exhibit, I would tailor it for that. Hope it helps.

Welland artist, Michelle V. Alkerton can barely contain herself when inspired and thrives best when close to nature. Learning new techniques and discovering the endless possibilities of expression keeps life exciting and enables her to share her response to life through art!
Stay inspired!

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

Oh - here's the rest of that "it's stupid" link. It's actually a good article! http://www.artbusiness.com/artstate.html
And THANK YOU Michelle! ;) That's awesome. Hehe
~Monika

Anonymous said...

Hi Monika
There are some examples for the Artist's Statement on the SQG website for the quilt show entries. They are very simple, or can be as detailed as you wish.
Re your other works, that may be a bit more involved. Sorry,can't help you there.
Hope that helps :)
Joyce

Chiara Z said...

Hi Monika
I've just been looking around your blog because it seems to me that the makings of an artist's statement are already here. Your profile says, "my work is inspired by my homeland". That's a big one. Every Thursday you give us a sample of things you love--what are the top few? Prairie! Nature! Details! Sky! . . . what else?

I think of it as an introduction with a bit of context and insight for people who aren't familiar with your work. Hope that helps:)

PrairiePeasant said...

One way to look at it is to consider what you like to read/learn about other artists? What keeps your interest or makes you smile when you read their statements. I love the above comment by Michelle, that she "can barely contain herself when inspired!" Good luck!

PrairiePeasant said...

(sorry for the mixed up punctuation above)

Letterpress said...

I like the first link better than the second (sounds too canned) but I can see you've been given some great ideas above.

Carry on!

Elizabeth E.
occasionalpiece.wordpress.com

Melly Testa said...

We need to learn to speak well and positively about ourselves no matter what our chosen path. Artist statements aren't stupid, what is stupid is that being an artist isn't valued in our society so presenting an artist statement, keeping an artist cv, marketing, publicizing maintaining an email list, selling work and creating contracts, basically all the work of being an artist sits squarely on our shoulders. Once you start doing it it gets easier but geez, when you first start? ouch.

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