An open letter to artist-run centers

Dear Miklos, maybe you should sit on a board of directors at one of these artist
run centres that you feel "limit" you as an artist. Then you could have input
into the programming decisions and also learn more about the lack of funding
but enormous expectations put on artist run centres by the councils, and
artists, curators, and the public–situations that perhaps, out of necessity
and financial restrictions result in thematic's (so more artists can show in a
fiscal year/so the ARC can bring together a diverse number of local, regional,
and international artists to show together. Perhaps this ARC received special
funding to do this show?
You should consider being a little more proactive in your community because I
think that can initiate change much more effectively than writing letters to
people like myself, who sit on ARC boards. Proactive disruption, rather than
distanced critism is, in my humble opinion, the reason canada has (some of the
only) tried and true artist run centres in the world.

Sincerely,

Emelie Chhangur

Quoting [email protected]:

> An open letter to artist-run centers
>
> I received another thematic submission request for the coming season
> from a Candian artist-run center and this one rang alarm bells,
> so I would like to ask your patience in considering the following issue;
>
> As more artist-run centers determine a theme and subject
> for their yearly programming, it is creating a trend
> whereby artists illustrate predetermined curatorial concepts.
>
> The growing creative restrictions imposed
> may limit diversity and the emergence of personal vision.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> –
>
> Miklos Legrady
> 310 Bathurst st.
> Toronto ON.
> M5T 2S3
> 416-203-1846
> 647-292-1846
> http://www.mikidot.com


–
Emelie Chhangur
Assistant Curator
Art Gallery of York University
4700 Keele St
Toronto ON M3J 1P3
tel 416 736 5169 fax 416 736 5985
[email protected]
http://www.yorku.ca/agyu

Dear Miklos, maybe you should sit on a board of directors at one of these artist
run centres that you feel "limit" you as an artist. Then you could have input
into the programming decisions (ie stand your ground as the governing body of
the ARC not to programme thematic shows) and also learn more about the lack of
funding but enormous expectations put on artist run centres by the councils,
and artists, curators, and the public–situations that perhaps, out of
necessity and financial restrictions result in thematic's (so more artists can
show in a fiscal year/so the ARC can bring together a diverse number of local,
regional, and international artists to show together. Perhaps this ARC received
special funding to do this show,which allows them to do more than their mandate
programming.
You should consider being a little more proactive in your community because I
think that can initiate change much more effectively than writing letters to
people like myself, who sit on ARC boards. Proactive disruption, rather than
distanced critism is, in my humble opinion, the reason canada has (some of the
only) tried and true artist run centres in the world.

Sincerely,

Emelie Chhangur

Quoting [email protected]:

> An open letter to artist-run centers
>
> I received another thematic submission request for the coming season
> from a Candian artist-run center and this one rang alarm bells,
> so I would like to ask your patience in considering the following issue;
>
> As more artist-run centers determine a theme and subject
> for their yearly programming, it is creating a trend
> whereby artists illustrate predetermined curatorial concepts.
>
> The growing creative restrictions imposed
> may limit diversity and the emergence of personal vision.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> –
>
> Miklos Legrady
> 310 Bathurst st.
> Toronto ON.
> M5T 2S3
> 416-203-1846
> 647-292-1846
> http://www.mikidot.com


–
Emelie Chhangur
Assistant Curator
Art Gallery of York University
4700 Keele St
Toronto ON M3J 1P3
tel 416 736 5169 fax 416 736 5985
[email protected]
http://www.yorku.ca/agyu

who needs artist-run centers for the emergence of personal vision?
dv







_____

Van: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Namens
[email protected]
Verzonden: dinsdag 30 mei 2006 20:17
Aan: [email protected]
CC: [email protected]; [email protected]
Onderwerp: RHIZOME_RAW: An open letter to artist-run centers


An open letter to artist-run centers


I received another thematic submission request for the coming season
from a Candian artist-run center and this one rang alarm bells,
so I would like to ask your patience in considering the following issue;

As more artist-run centers determine a theme and subject
for their yearly programming, it is creating a trend
whereby artists illustrate predetermined curatorial concepts.

The growing creative restrictions imposed
may limit diversity and the emergence of personal vision.


Sincerely,

–




Miklos Legrady
310 Bathurst st.
Toronto ON.
M5T 2S3
416-203-1846
647-292-1846
http://www.mikidot.com

As an artist you could start your own and base it on your curitorial
perspectives.

Maybe you should just have your slides on file and if there is a match they
will curate you into one of the theme shows they are putting together.

I

What is personal vision?

Do only artists possess it, is it an artist right?

….and, are 'non-artists' aloud to have equal rights regarding the use
of personal vision?

marc

> who needs artist-run centers for the emergence of personal vision?
> dv
>
>
>
>
>
> ————————————————————————
> *Van:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
> *Namens *[email protected]
> *Verzonden:* dinsdag 30 mei 2006 20:17
> *Aan:* [email protected]
> *CC:* [email protected]; [email protected]
> *Onderwerp:* RHIZOME_RAW: An open letter to artist-run centers
>
> *An open letter to artist-run centers*
> *
> *
> I received another thematic submission request for the coming season
> from a Candian artist-run center and this one rang alarm bells,
> so I would like to ask your patience in considering the following
> issue;
>
> As more artist-run centers determine a theme and subject
> for their yearly programming, it is creating a trend
> whereby artists illustrate predetermined curatorial concepts.
>
> The growing creative restrictions imposed
> may limit diversity and the emergence of personal vision.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>–
>
>
>
> Miklos Legrady
> 310 Bathurst st.
> Toronto ON.
> M5T 2S3
> 416-203-1846
> 647-292-1846
> http://www.mikidot.com
>

Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 14:31:05 -0400
From: EC
Reply-to: EC
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Re: An open letter to artist-run centers


Dear Miklos, maybe you should sit on a board of directors at one of
these artist
run centres that you feel "limit" you as an artist. Then you could have input
into the programming decisions (ie stand your ground as the governing body of
the ARC not to programme thematic shows) and also learn more about the lack of
funding but enormous expectations put on artist run centres by the councils,
and artists, curators, and the public–situations that perhaps, out of
necessity and financial restrictions result in thematic's (so more artists can
show in a fiscal year/so the ARC can bring together a diverse number of local,
regional, and international artists to show together. Perhaps this ARC received
special funding to do this show,which allows them to do more than their mandate
programming.
You should consider being a little more proactive in your community because I
think that can initiate change much more effectively than writing letters to
people like myself, who sit on ARC boards. Proactive disruption, rather than
distanced critism is, in my humble opinion, the reason canada has (some of the
only) tried and true artist run centres in the world.

Sincerely, EC

______________________________________________

Dear EC,

My open letter to artist run centers, not personally to any
individual, parallels issues raised by another RCA's thematic
submission request, the Western Front. Which calls for projects
questioning the role of institutional authority in establishing an
artist's and work's credibility and credentials… or denying them
the latter.

At the same time, nowhere do I get personal and say that I feel
limited as an artist by the submission theme I reacted to, of
internationalism, in fact I will be applying to that gallery with my
spam project, it being within the theme. Nor do I think a personal
attack demeaning the character of any person raising questions is a
just way to further a cultural dialogue. Or believe that
administrative convenience, or the pressure of enormous expectations,
which I agree they are, should be the motivation by which we decide
our cultural future.

Having served on the board at Optica and on Canadian and
international juries in the last 30 years, I believe the point raised
is valid, and so do other email responses, one from an OCAD student,
one from the curator of a major Ontario museum, and a third from an
upcoming local curator, in that order;

email1-

"You used the words personal vision!
That's awesome, OCAD people make fun of me for using it, they're all cynics.

Artist run centers are supposed to be more open, that's the whole point."

RT

_________________


email2-

Thanks for circulating that!! You are right on. Since when do artists
illustrate curatorial concerns???!!! Good for you.

ML

_________________

email3-

Funny, after reading an Akimbo today, I shared the same thoughts, a
similar flag.
As an artist who is also a (small c) curator, a theme based show
only works if it a curatorial thesis - an exploration of an idea and
an invitation to artists already working with this idea or somewhere
around it to come along, to draw a connection. there is a flaw in
open calls for submissions. although i believe in a call in
principle, in reality I invite artists into the shows I am curating.

A whole year of predetermined themes? Someone ( a person not an
institution) needs to claim a strong vision, a thesis, an
investigation into something really, really important that takes an
entire year to explore, that is connected to an idea beyond that of a
'season'.

JR

___________________

To return to my email, curatorial and administrative decisions can
determine cultural production, if only from the Darwinian effect that
projects and artists which receive support and venues will prosper,
while those whose interests differ from the cultural canon will
suffer the consequences, as any social oganisation must eject those
who do not support it.

What needs questioning here is the shift in power. Robert Storr, 10
years ago, spoke of the time when "art moved from the Cedar Bar to
the seminar room". Is art now moving from the artists' studio to the
curatorial chair, where one person or group, in unconscious agreement
and in contact with similar groups nationwide, decides what work
shall be done…

There is a danger when creative and conceptual decisions move to any
nationwide institution, considering how much influence and power is
already located within them. In a possible gentil future,
sophisticated artists may not even question their conceptual premise,
which was chosen for them in committee. Something worth being on
guard against, or at least discussing.

Sincerely,

Mik

________________________________________________________________________

>Quoting [email protected]:
>
>> An open letter to artist-run centers
>>
>> I received another thematic submission request for the coming season
>> from a Candian artist-run center and this one rang alarm bells,
>> so I would like to ask your patience in considering the following issue;
>>
>> As more artist-run centers determine a theme and subject
>> for their yearly programming, it is creating a trend
> > whereby artists illustrate predetermined curatorial concepts.
>>
>> The growing creative restrictions imposed
>> may limit diversity and the emergence of personal vision.
> >
>>
>
>
>


–

Miklos Legrady
310 Bathurst st.
Toronto ON.
M5T 2S3
416-203-1846
647-292-1846
http://www.mikidot.com