In real life 09 - October 2013 - Three reasons to love New York

Three reason why I love New York(ers)
1    NY enjoys street-life; they love the small outdoors and don't bother keeping up appearances.
Watch video of a collision of street vendors, bums and a pissed brass band.
2    NY knows that art first of all is a way of live before you may sell it or turn it into a career.
Watch video of one of the numerous community gardens and urban farms.
3    NY poors out energy everywhere and the peeps moves on through like they just don't care.
Watch video of a Saturday after noon at Broadway and Union Square.
Nowamsane?

In the field 10 - October 2013

In Aphabet City art is not a product that is manufactured and sold. Here art is a way of life.

 

Abstract

What is this all about?

Economists suggest that creative cities breed innovative economies. Statistics show more patents, intellectual property claims and more new innovative start-ups at cities and regions where more artists work and live. So art may play an important role in a learning society but the big - until now not well answered - question is: How? How does art make us smart? So I'm not thinking about art therapy, art education or community art. I am thinking about the catalyst effect of artists on the growth and flourish of their community.

What am I doing?

I'm digging into a couple of cases of innovative and trend setting art practices and art scenes in urban environments. At the moment I'm talking with artists who are upfront in colonizing new spaces and setting trends in NYC hotspots like NW Brooklyn, East Village and SE Queens. And to clarify their statements I observe and participate in their practices. I want to know how they work on a daily basis and how they involve the public in their work and practice. I want to find out how the conversation between them and their community is shaped and how learning opportunities may occur in these settings.

Why NYC?

I don't need to explain that New York City is happening, economically as well as artistically. Besides that it is clear that NYC and the Netherlands have a lot in common, historically, economically and culturally. You could claim that NYC is (New) Amsterdam in overdrive. Best New York practices could very well be exported to the Netherlands, perhaps adapted in scale and pace.

At the same time I'm studying best practices in the Netherlands to compare them with the New York cases. Until now I studied Freehouse in Rotterdam, and more Dutch cases will follow in 2014.

In real life 08 - October 2013

I presumed that to get to know the American way of life one has to eat at a typical fast food restaurant like Wendy's or Popeye's at least once. So I went to the nearby checkers and ordered a "Loaded French Fries". These are fries covered with cheese and bacon. On my turn the waiter asked for my name and my order. After a couple of minutes I was called with a merry voice "Arthur, pick up your order please! Have a good one!" The waiter handed over a bright red plate with a package on it reading "Feast on, bold food for those who live it big." 

 

When I opened the paper bag the suspense wasn't over yet. In the bag there was this cardboard box with a picture on it of a man with presumably adorable ladies at each of his sides. "Make it a big night. Do late night Right" the box red. Checkers does not sell fries. They sell self-esteem.

Browsing the shop at MoMA Ps1 it occurred to me that most art magazines did not have works of art on the cover but people. Apparently we are more interested in the makers then in the actual work of art. Maybe art is nothing but a vehicle to move into a way of life that we desire and that these artists are role models for this lifestyle. Maybe we don't even really enjoy the art they are making, we just want to be with them, be seen in their company.

When I opened the box at checkers I was shocked watching the content. I understood that the cover was necessary to contradict my gut feeling and reduce my feeling of guilt. Here the comparison with the art magazine seems to go wrong. The works of art within the wrapping of the magazine appear to be far more tasteful then the loaded fries. I do not see any need to contradict my gut feeling or to reduce my feeling of guilt. So why do these art magazine covers focus on the artist instead of on the work of art?