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01/11/2007: "Destroying Art Part Two"

In the air on my way to the Fort Meyers airport, I have plenty of time to think. I haven’t heard a thing from any news media I contacted, or Jose and Brad contacted, or my agent in Italy contacted. Pretty much the same ‘wall of silence’ that greeted my appeal to artists on Michael Corbin’s blog, ‘I Don’t Get It’, save those two exceptions.
I think to myself, ‘well, perhaps I used the wrong words.’ Or, the idea of any kind of appeal to anyone was wrong. I tried to offer a carrot, saying if collaboration helped me to reach my goal, then perhaps in the future it would be a resource for any of us. Perhaps I broke the rules of some kind of code of conduct. During the last few days, I had read a book called Criminal Conduct, by Walter C. Reckless, about laws and those who break them. From there I learned that in our American society, nothing is a crime unless there’s a law against it, no matter how immoral. That seemed to me to explain all the troubles I’ve had with AOL. The book also examines primitive societies without written law. In such societies, although there are no laws, there are codes of conduct which, when not observed, are punished by – get this – a wall of silence. Our own culture has written laws, but also has societal mores, which change from group to group within our culture. From street gangs to yuppies, each group has its own rules, and all exert some form of punishment on its members who don’t observe the code.

As I watch the ground passing beneath me, far to the East I see the Atlantic coastline. I feel in this moment the ‘wall of silence’ pressing upon me, and am confident that when I get to Marco Island, CNN won’t be there, nor NBC, ABC, or CBS. Matter of fact, I’m even sure the Naples News won’t be there.
I tried a trick with the Daily News that I thought might cause a stir. I said I was going down to Marco Island with a sledgehammer to smash a big marble sculpture I didn’t like, and didn’t mention that I was the artist. I think to myself, now as I fly, that the most I can expect from those clowns is, that they’ll put a call in to Homeland Security.

An optimistic thought comes to me somewhere over Delaware. I am the one driving this car. If the passengers I counted on to keep me awake are all busy snoozing, then I still have something I can do. Open a window. Put some music on. Don’t wallow in ‘why didn’t…’. Breathe some fresh air, think about now, and make a plan.
People…they will be my media. Word of mouth will be my messenger. Timing is everything, so let’s make it 6:00 PM happy hour at the bar the piece stands in front of.

I know Fort Meyers has a university. I’ve got twenty four hours to find a film student with a camera. My buddy Barton has a pick up truck he drove down from NY, I’ve rented a Dodge Charger for its aggressive look, and we’ve got to get both vehicles inside the retractable posts on the perimeter of the plaza without showing our hand. The vehicles will be placed so they block the security guard’s view and leave the area between us and the bar open.

I unwillingly drift back to the past. Remember that lady from ARTTV who said if I didn’t break the statue she’d do a feature on me? I attempted to contact her several times, and she screened me out, and never called me back. I took a look at the mediocre artwork on the ARTTV site, and re-read her comment. A superior being speaking from way up high on a heavenly cloud, to a miserable tadpole down in the muck. If you ever need to look way up and ask for help, go back and find the address. I fear, however that when she has one of her subordinates ask you to jump, the only response you’ll be allowed to give, will be, “How high?” I prefer what Robert Mitcham would say regularly to anyone he was working with who asked him to do something he didn’t feel like doing.
“You want me to suck what?”
I am brought back to reality as the plane lands. I go get the Charger, a beautiful gunmetal grey, and roar out of the airport. It’s real now. The adventure has begun!

First stop, the Florida Gulf Coast University’s Visitor Center. I ask if they have any film students. Someone calls the chair of the art department, Barry Cavin, who tells them he knows about the sculpture, me, and my wish to destroy it. A student sent him an e-mail after reading the blog on Absolutearts! And, although he doesn’t have any students who shoot film, apart from his University duties, he’s a video artist. We talk for nearly an hour and he says he’ll shoot the scene and put it on DVD for me, one of all the footage, and another his own edit. I get his card and head down 75 on a good luck high, for Marco.

I’ve brought a prototype of the Bocelli piece with me, and a mask, so I go to see Juan at the Studio Gallery, who I met last year. It’s closed, so instead, it’s off to the Esplanade. I meet Gligor there, the manager of the Bayview Restaurant, and he invites me to dinner. He’s Macedonian, and used to drive a Lincoln Continental around Skopje during the Jugoslav war. All the waiters are Serbian. I tell him I’m ‘removing’ the piece, and trying to feel him out, I say, “How do you feel about artists being a little crazy?” He looks at me. “You mean you’re planning to do something crazy removing the piece tomorrow?” I try not to give away the surprise. “Let’s just say I’d rather go out with a bang than a whimper”.

Back in Naples, I go to Barton and Diana’s condo, and we sit looking at the boats from the balcony, talking. We discuss their trip down, the stop in Savannah, and what I’m thinking of doing. They’re warm, sensitive people, and we try to come up with a strategy that will not harm the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts, which got me here in the first place, my own reputation as an artist, or get me a huge hate club. This too, is part of the process, and is as important as the way you apply paint to a canvass. None of those three things are my objective.

Next morning, it’s another run down to the gallery, and here, after signing contracts for the two pieces, I do reveal my plan. We arrange dinner later with Juan’s wife Kira, and my two friends, so each of the five of us can say their share, and we can plan how to make the most of the positive and avoid the negative. At the end, we’re feeling good, and a reporter I met last year, passing by, has scheduled an interview with Juan and me at the gallery at three on the fifth. Not about the Esplanade caper, just about the two pieces I’ve brought.

I have brought no suitable clothes, so I spend the morning of the fifth getting lost and looking for a Gap store. We go have lunch, and at two I pack my hammer and chisel, to start off for Marco. Bart and Diana will join me down there just before five, and Diana will have her video camera ready.
At the gallery, the reporter’s late, and before the interview and photos are over, I get a call from Barry who’s already set up to tape at the Esplanade. I burn rubber with the Charger as I leave the gallery, really feeling fired up, only moments left, and scream down to the Esplanade, about a mile away. My heart is pounding.

Replies: 25 Comments

on Monday, January 22nd, Andrew said

Would be, Karl, if I didn't have anything else going on.

on Thursday, January 18th, Karl said

I'm reminded of that episode from MASH where Hawkeye blows-up his tongue-depressor model of the Washington Monument. Of course, he was making a political commentary.

The act of destruction as art? Or is it the destruction of art as art? Or is it an act of self-deprication of the worst order? Ersatz suicide?

You've put it out there for commentaries sake. It rings like a plead for help rather than artistic statement.

on Thursday, January 18th, Brad said

I was saying to just click on my "name," and it is live and will link you to ...'Sculpture Issue Settled - along with...'

on Sunday, January 14th, Andrew said

Brad, you will, as soon as I get the pix and there's space for the next blog. What do you want me to do to link? Send instructions to my e-mail. I've never done this before.

on Sunday, January 14th, Brad said

So, Andrew, Do we still get the 3rd installment?

Link to me here (my name)... 'Sculpture Issue Settled - along with...'

on Saturday, January 13th, Andrew said

After reading these comments, it is becoming apparent to me that there has been a shift since part one - towards seeing a positive side to all this, and new possibilities coming, as someone said in my first blog on this subject, like a phoenix out of the ashes. I no longer see anyone referring to what could have been, if I'd just left things the way they were. It feels like we've moved further down the path.
And in this one, nothing actually happened. Just my own thought processes of preparation and angst, the discarding of plans I'd made, and a few people getting involved in the planning. I want to mention that the comments that came from the last blog had a big role in the decisions I made. In that sense, at least a part of what happened is both to your merit, and at the same time, your fault! I always enjoy it when things I do or say have an effect on the lives of people around me, and hope you all enjoy that what you said, did too.

on Friday, January 12th, Brad said

People - ask almost anyone, given the time to reach under their bed, or stepladder to the back of their top closet shelf, or rummage through their garage or the boxes in their attic - they all can find a picture they have of their family, or friends, and their first or second car. Just because we get rid of things doesn't mean they don't still hold meaning to us. I lost my virginity in the back of my 1966 Ford Fairlane Station Wagon, in the Southern Methodist University's Moody Coliseum parking lot - where I had attended my first Rolling Stones Concert. I wouldn't want the car back today - but the processes of growing up I experienced, while owning it, were very valuable to me. Experiences of life, and near-death - are just typical for some teenage's existence.

Walt can likely attest to how many stories are there in Art History where a renown painter burned his work, painted over it, or gave it to children for play to ruination. Being a visual artist myself, process has always been a curiosity to capture into illustration. I'm sure I have negatives of every darkroom I've ever built - including the building of enlarger tables, and even plumbing the sinks. All the things we touch, as we prepare to begin the process of our art, are important in the role they play, even the choices we make over where we work - the lighting conditions, a gazing window, or a favorite type of music - even what we may sip on.

I have a flat file cabinet partially filled with the images that were almost ok to sell but for some small needed correction, or a speckle of missing pigment. Otherwise - it was always my habit to burn my rejects. With stone sculpture - one is faced with a greater task - if it comes to the time of fatal disposal. I can see how Andrew came to the intersection he did - driving a Dodge Charger, no less. A lot has been discover in recent decades over the Mayan Culture. How great a part that ritual played in their lives - where playing a game like basketball could mean death to the winner... We cover many details when making final arrangements for our dearly loved and departed kin and such. Death and life - it is woven into our most primal origins. Some might question - well, Andrew had offers for his work when he exposed his intentions - why didn't he give his work a home in that part of the process? Perhaps because his mind was made up already. If you decide it is your wish that your art (one piece in particular) should no longer exist, in the state you once left it years ago, and it is still yours to dispose of - then bring out the hammer & chisel - have a going away party. We humans have a long tradition of magnanimous send offs - off to school, off to war, off to be married, and, as I previously discussed, off to the afterlife. Walt was right - it is dialog. And it will go on as long as it's course will allow. Andrew has worked long and hard on his road - just so we could put our tread to it. Somewhere, there will come an exit to another highway - and we'll all have the choice to put our treads there too...

on Friday, January 12th, Andrew said

I've said this before, that I never envision the precise outcome of anything I start. It's the very begining that fascinates me, the moment when all things are still possible. The recording of this is a record, step by step, of how events and other personalities interacted with my intentions to lead to an end I couldn't have foreseen. And Walt, there's literally nothing left. I was pretty thorough. Brad, deconstruction and construction...those simple tools are pretty versatile, aren't they?

on Friday, January 12th, walt said

Jose, I'm your biggest fan. Right on. I've been thinking of doing the same thing, a short to show during an opening. I've actually suggested to both my sons who do video that I'd like to work with them on some kind of documentation of this sort. It's so inexpensive these days. I already have a digital camcorder. A small TV that plays both dvd's and video tape can be had for around $100-$150 bucks. It could be set to loop during an entire evening and even kept running through the duration of the show. I already have some footage of various events and paintings in progress but am now planning on doing a more recent documentation of a new work that is beginning to take shape in my mind.

Andrew, looking forward to the next blog. And maybe at some further date if anything interesting happens via this experience an update may be called for. Maybe you can sell the bits and pieces left over as a souvineer. Good luck.

on Friday, January 12th, mark said

Ego, we all have one. The only time I see ego as bad thing is if it gets in the way of what we want, or our ego hurts others, and yes ego can hurt others and ourselves as well. Without an ego we would stop creating, it is our ego that in many ways gives us the strength to continue on against the odds.

One thing about destroying a work of art. I do not wish to belittle what Andrew has done, but it has given me pause to think. I destroy a great many paintings, sometimes they end up in the trash, some times I paint over them. Some have hung in shows or galleries and when I see them again I think they should not be. But is it worth recording each one I destroy? How many works will people wish to see me dispose of in what ever way I do it? Is each painting I destroy a statment on the place of art today or is it just part of the natural evolution of creating?

on Friday, January 12th, jose said

Ok, you’ve revealed a little bit more and we now know that the media didn’t show up. Nevertheless, from what I’ve heard so far, you did well. In the first place no one can accuse you of not having tried to organize that part of the gig, secondly, by getting the thing videotaped you secured a record of what happened. When the time comes you’ll be able to provide the media with documentation of your activity and it won’t make a difference if they were on the spot or not.

Example? I first started shooting aspects of my day at the studio shortly before leaving Portugal in 2000, and included short takes in my PR for the last exhibition I did back then. The edited version was nothing fancy, just an artist toiling away and the build up to one of the paintings presented at the exhibition. The press release was straightforward and short with an invitation to view the 2.40 min video pieced together on a normal VHS without sound. The response was beyond what I had expected. Since then I make an effort to keep a record of every single significant step in my undertakings just in case it will come in handy… and if I’m ever so lucky and they come and knock at my door after I’m gone I’ll rest assured that I left all my homework done the way I like it.

Now, when people start tapping at the Ego issue as if it were a bad thing – and fortunately Walt has already addressed that issue further down – I am left dumbfounded. The artist speaks up - he has a big Ego; the artist attempts to maximise his potential chances of taking one step further in his career by attracting attention on himself and his work - his ego has definitely derailed! This is way too simplistic. Arrogance, maliciousness, selfishness, are more likely the signs of an unhealthy Ego to be avoided, but unless we have decided in this lifetime to quickly become foe-destroyers and attain buddhahood at the soonest possible reincarnation, then this kind of finger-pointing is equally childish.

Keep a record of the things you do Andrew. Photographic, Video and printed. On the video front I would advise you to keep a master-tape of all the loose footage and of the edited version on separate DV tapes for safekeeping – don’t trust the DVD disk!!! Its part of our job and like Walt mentions in his response to Michael’s blog: 'if we do not begin to think of our work in a way that becomes entertainment we most likely won't get very far'.

PS. Can you still get in touch with the Video Artist? Definitely get him to pick up on Brad’s suggested angle. Brilliant! Also check that you get versions of the film you can show in the US and in Europe - different systems! But I'm sure you knew that already

on Friday, January 12th, walt said

Brad,

great metaphors! Tom, you gotta love it! Its a dialog dude. It's how all art is discussed. What do you consider worth while discussion anywayZ?

on Friday, January 12th, Brad Michael Moore said

Andrew,
I was looking at the chisel & hammer photo you included in this segment of your story. Good choice of imagery. It connotes both ideas of construction and deconstruction. Could not an artist say, "I'm destroying a stone with my finest finesse - may I only leave the art of it behind..." Should we not also have the right to reconstruct a stone out of our art? All corporeal matter transforms, reconfigures, and returns to lingering dust until it gathers into something new.

As a part of life's process, it is our human nature to be seeking – to discover, inspect, identify, categorize, record, collect, neglect, and/or discard our quarries. I perceive what you have contemplated as a sort of 'regifting' to the cyclical nature of our existence.

Is it news? To be good reporter, like an artist, requires imagination. A desire to proof out a story that is insightful in perspective. An artist has specific tools to exercise their skill. A reporter must craft ideas, as a wordsmith, to produce and incite our mind's eye. A videographer, of all people, should understand the significance of deconstruction. In order to edit - one must reverse the forward motion to reach any significant point of a recorded event. Progress, retract. Tell me people don't enjoy (or at least are drawn to) watching an old building being imploded into a heap of rubble... It strikes the imagination – perhaps, because it's exciting - even hopeful towards the future. To me – that's a good angle.

on Thursday, January 11th, Andrew said

I owe you one, Jose, and am available whenever you need me for anything I can do. Thanks. About the 'wall of silence', even if it was just my perception, and didn't really exist, once I believed it was there, it was a tool to be used. Every difficulty, every obstacle, is an opportunity, if you can figure out how to exploit it. By realizing there would be no press, I changed the plan, and tried to bend circumstances to my advantage while I was still on the plane.
Louie, the piece was not made without anyone's influence, as it should have been. It was produced for a truly evil Greek gallerist named Akis Avgerinos who asked me to make a monumental piece, and do it in a month. He had represented McKnight, the artist who does all those simple Greek sea village scenes, and I admit it, I was star struck. I'm fast, I know it, but there's still a limit to how fast you can go and produce quality. Upon shipment to Palm Beach, the gallerist he found died mounting the show, and I got stuck with it. The first reason is a fundamental one for wanting to destroy the piece, and one I used to give myself support whenever I needed it. Whap! Take that, Akis! Your big nose is coming off with this one!
Paul Dorrell's book, 'Living the Artist's Life' speaks of the importance of publicity while maintaining, as I do, that integrity is needed if you enter that realm. Worth reading. Artists can and will lock themselves up in their studios and not try to have people know about their work, but if, like me, you count on it for your next meal, then publicity is like tuning up your Jaguar. You can always wash the grease off your hands afterwards.

on Thursday, January 11th, jose said

Andrew, first of all, well written. The second instalment hasn’t disappointed me and I like the way you are building up the suspense. This is no easy ride and it is very interesting to ‘accompany’ you as you ponder the best way to advance as you come closer to the goal you had set for yourself initially.

I wouldn’t be disheartened by what you see as a lack of response. I don’t think it is indifference or the ‘wall of silence’ as you put it. From our friends at aa I’d say it is perhaps more like disbelief and expectation. Though I think Walt has that knack to put his finger in the wound where it hurts most, and as always he has a valid point. His words are the stuff artists’ conversations are made up of. Who are we indeed to think that the press will come at the click of our fingers? And don’t forget, you were competing for attention with fierce adversaries: The war! a particularly nasty handling of a hanging; new hope? the first woman elected speaker of the house in your country – and the first majority for the senate in 12 years -; Darfur; landslides in Indonesia and Malaysia… Art? Unless something was stolen or sold for a million bucks who cares in the first place? – the value of that publicity slot would go down in value and we wouldn’t want that, now would we?

At least I can already gather from your account that you found new allies as you went along and that is tremendous. That makes your enterprise worthwhile already. Regardless of the end result, you established connections and you built something even as your project set out to destroy. In this respect, Shailendra’s comment to your first blog was one of the most meaningful ones, I thought, and I am glad to see the truth of those words materialising in such a way.

On a personal note, when a fellow artist I respect asks me if I can do a favour I don’t ask myself too many questions beyond: Is it within my capacity to help? There wasn’t much to ponder in this case, now was there? If asked to help I don’t waste time asking myself if it will work or if it is worth the effort – that’s up to whomever asks to judge. It’s pitching in towards the motivation that counts for me. If I decide to do it I just go ahead and do it and don’t expect anything in return – your friendship and respect are ample reward. Unfortunately the timing was not so good for us to maximize our concerted efforts. We should have sent more and more often, but Xmas and the new year festivities were upon us and I had visitors that took up some time. Next time we’ll do better. I Look forward to finding out if at least the local paper showed up and how things turned out.

on Thursday, January 11th, Louie Rochon said

If an important function of good art is to create dialogue and social introspection, then perhaps I need to rethink my opinion of Andrew's decision to publicly destroy his art.

I still believe, after re-reading his comments, that this 'schemes' primary intention is to create media attention and thus promotion of the artist's work. Cool idea. Bravo. It may be more succesful, perhaps, if you weren't as vocal as to your expectations (CNN, ABC, NBC, etc) as 1) these media sources read blogs on the internet as well and 2) the media does not like to be manipulated anymore than anyone does.

This whole idea does bring about interesting dialogue and questions the artists role in society, an artists personal intentions and purpose and examines social boundaries as to what is morally right and wrong.

I, for one single artist's opinion, feel that an artist's primary responsibility is for honesty, to create without influence, their own personal awareness and opinions expressed and maninfested within their creations. That is where I draw the line. That is where I step back and accept, if I have been totally honest with the work, fully expressing myself, that I have done my job completely. If the world doesn't find it amazing, insightful and of value, well then, perhaps I have either a marketing and promotion challenge or perhaps it is not interesting enough for those that have experienced it.

Marketing and Promotion can always be tweaked. Societies opinions and value judgements of the work - I feel, none of my business. I also believe that if I become overly concerned about blending these two elements, then I will become just another arts and crafts *****, prostituting my work for what I hope will please the masses. No thanks - I'd rather get a day job.

There's 3 more cents.

on Thursday, January 11th, walt said

Andrew,

Then there may be some support once you have destroyed the work and begin to send the video out. You may be able to milk this for more than I thought. If you can get the correct foothold on the idea that this is about the indifference of current society to self expression there might be some more press in it.

Ego isn't a bad thing. Artist's without a healthy ego go no where for the most part. The more indifference we face the more ego we need to hold up under the weight of indifference. All advertising is egotistical. Every company that advertises or seeks public recognition for their work in the form of awards and P.R. or news coverage has put their ego out there for an exchange. It is calculated. There is nothing wrong in this. But since it is all about public image and public relations it must be calculated carefully. That's all.

As several have said, It's your work. You have some valid reasons for destroying it and I think you are being sly to try to recoup something from the the destruction.

Will be interesting to hear what happens.

on Thursday, January 11th, mark said

Andrew I didn't see your comment till I posted mine. I agree, if you don't try you don't gain. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

on Thursday, January 11th, mark said

Wow! Some livid anger here; Louie and especially Tom. Did an artist scare you when you where young Tom (joking)? Seriously, I seem to remember (I may be wrong here) that Andrew was originaly going to destroy the peice because it hadn't sold and the cost of shipping it home was to great and it seemed an interesting idea to destroy it. Many thought destroying it would be a statment on art in these times, there where many ideas as to what to do. The blog went on for some time in way of comments and I will not go into it all as my memmory will not allow me to. But most seemed positive, if destroying a work can be positive. I do not remember the blog being one of self pitty though. I agree it does seem from this blog that Andrew comes across as feeling a bit sorry for himself but that may not be true, he may just be trying to write an interesting blog, make us think. The rest of the story (next blog I hope) will probably reveal that to us.

Now I agree with Tom that as artists we should stop feeling bad because we are not appreciated as much as we feel we should be. That is life and I for one have excepted that fact but will continue to paint as that is what I do. But Tom a question (I hope you come back to see responces to your stament) if you think so negatively about artists why are you in this site? HHHMMMMMM, one wonders. Remember Tom, that which we hate in others, we embody in ourselves. Why be so harsh to a person you do not know or understand?

on Thursday, January 11th, Andrew said

When you are open about your planning and thought processes, you're likely to draw criticism, or questions, or when you're lucky, even support. That's the nature of back-and-forth discussion. You just don't learn anything if everyone agrees with you.
Apart from that, there are a couple of things I want to clear up. Walt, when I put the piece up, seven articles came out in three newspapers. This trip, one did come out in the Naples News that was very supportive, and led to the almost instant sale of another piece. But it didn't even mention the plaza event, which was a far more interesting story that involved a lot more people. As for CNN etc., those were pipe dreams, but I'll always try anyway just in case I win the lottery with one of them. You should never let doubt stop you from trying something that you might succeed at.
Some people seem to have forgotten that I didn't like this piece, not because no one bought it, but because quite simply, it wasn't very good.
Ego? Sure, I have one. You know any artists, lawyers, doctors, or auto body men that don't?

on Thursday, January 11th, Louie Rochon said

I think that you would be better served reading "New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, a book about the self destructive manifestations of ego. I understand, all to well, the ego's frustration and eventual desperation (from many years of personal experience)of our own ill conceived illusions of brilliance, which it appears, is playing out in a desperate grandiose attempt to seek out some morsel of recognition, for yourself. This is all about you, isn't it?

Intentions. That is what I am interested in ... what are you true intentions here? Only you can answer this question for sure, in your heart of hearts. If I had to guess ... a scared little boy, sitting all alone in the sandbox, crying for attention and feeling painfully 'invisible and insgignificant' in his perception of the way the world views him.

Personally, I think there is far more honor in suffering, with pride, knowing that you have invested all that makes you - you, in a physical manifestation, labeled art. Whether it is noticed or not, who cares. Any other reaction is just whiney baby temper tantrum. Yeah, that feels right - that's the impression I was trying to explain - this whole pathetic media attempt is simply a temper tantrum. "You don't like my toys, wahhhhhh, then I'm going to smash it, and then no one can play."

That's my 3 cents.

on Thursday, January 11th, Tom said

This is even worse then artist's statement. You are pathetic. Why not invite some people to destroy it for you then you will get some attention. All you artists here on this site think way too much yourselves. Get a job and stop crying because no one cares about you or your art. Mayby people just don't like your art. Every thought of that.

on Thursday, January 11th, walt said

Andrew,

Thomas Hart Benton threatened to destroy work that the IRS wanted to tax as inventory. I don't remember if he did it or not. Maybe there is a lesson there.I've often thought of advertising a fire sale in reverse. If no one buys a work I'd burn it. But then I thought of all the good work I'd be burning. So I would only do it with work I'm gonna destroy anyway. But then I don't want anyone owning those works.

I don't think anyone is trying to punish you. This isn't a form of censorship. Your works didn't offend anyone. If it was censorship they would have stopped you from exhibiting in the first place. They just don't care. It doesn't affect them. It's your work. You can do what you want with it. It's their news station. They can cover what they want. Was there any press previously covering those pieces? If not, then why would they cover it now? I agree with Mark. Even though I found the work interesting Andrew, why should they care? I mean the President is sending more troups to Iraq some of whom will dia in a few months. There are people being murdered in Darfur every day.

Now if there had been serious press when the pieces went up they might pay attention. If you are arrested, whether rightly or wrongly (preferably wrongly) then they might pay attention. Either way, you might be able to take the video on the road and submit it to various venues and shows. Whether much will come of that I couldn't say. But I fear what you will find when all is said and done is that quite simply no one but you and some of us in the art community think this might be important. Many will applaud your actions not for the reasons you hope but simply because in their minds the work wasn't any good anyway so why let it live? I disagree but you know as well as I they are out there.

Will it hurt your reputation as an artist? probably not for the same reason. I just don't thnik that many people care. I don't think it's a wall of silence so much as a wall of indifference as Mark suggested.

on Thursday, January 11th, mark said

Of course I have no idea as to what will transpire in the next chapter of this adventure, so my comments will be based only on what I just read.

I remember the blog you originaly wrote about the idea of destroying your sculpture, and I felt then as I do now, that it is your art and you should be able to do with it as you please, and if you can get some notice by destroying the work then fine. I might do the same myself. I have often remarked to my wife that I wish I would be invited by the President to the Whitehouse, in an artists capacity, just so I could publicly refuse (I dislike the Bush administration and it would give me some publicity) of course I know that will not happen. My point is that at times one needs to take advantage of a situation.

Having said that. I supose no one (at least at this writting) took noticed of your desire to destroy the sculpture because they thought, "So."
Maybe, just maybe, there was no "wall of silance". I mean no disrespect Andrew, but if you had the prominence of Picasso, Warhol or even Wyeth, the world would may have paid attention. You certainly have a reputation, there is not doubt, but I wonder if this "wall of silence" you speake of, is more a matter of indifference because they at CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, are thinking Andrew Wielawski? Who is that, another crazy artist, and why should we care?

Perhaps too it all sounds so intense and dramatic, and I have to admitt contrived. Perhaps that too has something to do with the "wall of silence". I think it human nature to think that I, as an individual, am important (and it is true we are all important) that all eyes are or should be on me, truth is most people just don't care.

I am looking forward to the next installment, I hope it all has a positive outcome for you Andrew, and that you get from this what you want. I suport your efforts, and as I said before I would probably do much the same under the cirumstances. Though late, good luck.

on Thursday, January 11th, Curios said

I take it this is part one...?