04/21/2008: "THE ART OF EVERYDAY JOE"

The title really gets to the heart of the matter. I am an "Everyday Joe," I write for the "Everyday Joe" and art is FOR the "Everyday Joe."

That's why my new book is called, "The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector's Journal." Before you think I'm some huckster JUST trying to hawk a book,
please hear me out.

Unfortunately, some people in the art world make things more complicated than they need to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT talking about "dumbing
down" art. Art is expressive, multidimensional and often quite profound, but shouldn't people be free to see and feel whatever moves them? Shouldn't we
be able to break down the most complex work to its most basic, essential concepts?

Not too long ago, an art dealer told me that many people in the art world like to keep art shrouded in mystery ... held high on a mountaintop. Art is lofty and high-minded, but there's a big difference between profundity and pretense. We've done the snobbery thing for so long. Aren't we bored stiff with that?

Let's make art TRULY accessible for people. If we do this, we'll spark excitement and set off a renaissance. Let's talk about it, let's open our doors, let's be nice to people who nothing about art. Every single person is an opportunity to expand the reach of contemporary art. If you really think about it, this is more than just "pie in the sky." This is down to earth practicality. If the "Everyday Joe" thinks that art is actually available and affordable, they'll buy it ... and YOU get to eat tonight. Plain and simple. We don't need to complicate this.

I wrote "The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector's Journal" because I own SO MANY illustrated art books, none of which really speak to the everyday person. They're all academic, clinical examinations of art that seem to be written for a small circle of art historians and curators. I love these books because I love art, but I've come to realize that even art can be too, "Inside Baseball." Pardon the sports metaphor.

People want art, they need art, they crave art, but I think many don't even realize it. Art hasn't been made available to them because some artists, curators, dealers, writers, professors and administrators believe that art should be kept on high. Therefore, people are intimidated by it. However, the reality is that art is EVERYWHERE. It's all around us. We're living here on earth, the greatest masterpiece of all (which we're destroying unfortunately). As art people, it's our privilege and responsibility to introduce people to the long lost love they never met. Art. Yes, art for the people.

While we talk politics, appeasing people and presidential campaigns, let's get art on the agenda. Never has the art community had such an opportunity to put art
in the spotlight, but where are you people? Art is not a frill.

I wrote "The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector's Journal" because I'm an avid art collector who MUST write and talk about art. I MUST share my experiences. I want to bridge the gap between a person's first experience with art and their first art purchase. Art is almost as broad as life itself. Because art is so far-reaching, I LOVE writing about art and applying it to the things of everyday life. Art is a slice of life ... or is life a slice of art? I don't know. What I do know is that if you give people art, you give them a shot at royalty. Suddenly, a hum-drum existence becomes enlightened and illuminated ... black and white becomes technicolor and high-brow joins low-brow and creates dialogue rather than farts in your face. We can raise the dialogue but we can keep it real too.

Art is MUCH MORE than just a painting on a wall or a sculpture on a table. It's an experience, a daily reality. It's the real deal. That's why I visit art museums and fairs and galleries. That's why I love talking with and meeting artists and dealers and people throughout the art world ... all over the world. Art is powerful. Art people are powerful. Unfortunately, I don't think their true power has been realized. Let's take art to the people ... the masses. Let's not be snobbish about this. We've done that to death.

Art is for the "Everyday Joe." Yes, I do want to sell books. I don't apologize for that, but more importantly, I want to help our struggling artists. I want people to know about the transforming power of art and the role that it plays in their lives and the world. I want people to catch this benevolent disease for the benefit of us all. It's a win-win proposition. No, I'm not running for office, but if I were, you can bet your ass that the concerns of everyday people and art would be front and center.

MICHAEL CORBIN IS AN AVID ART COLLECTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK, "THE ART OF EVERYDAY JOE: A COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL." CHECK OUT HIS WEBSITE AT www.artmaestrogallery.com

Replies: 23 Comments

on Monday, April 28th, walt said

sorry it should have read "undeserving show" not undereving show. Although I guess an under revving show is probably also one that does not deserve an audience.

on Monday, April 28th, walt said

BM, I write reviews. I used to write for Dialog magazine and I currently write reviews here from time to time. In fact what I like most about absolutearts.com blogs is that I can write about what I want without an editor sending me to review some undereving show that I'd rather ignore. But it's up to who ever is sending the book. Personally I don't care all that much about free books. But if the book really does have something of importance to offer I'd be willing to write about it.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that to date I haven't read anything here that tells me much about what the book actually says. Just a lot of stuff about how good it is and how everyone who hasn't read it is off the point. So, ok, don't send me the book but say something, quote something so we really have some reason to want to buy a book that supposedly has something important to say about our careers and our lives.

on Monday, April 28th, b said

Walt,

Your writing is usually, if not always, pretty clear. However, I don't think you really qualify as a reviewer especially to try to get a free book. Just an opinion of course.

on Sunday, April 27th, Walt said

BM, I don't disagree that artists, gallerists, critics and museums can get quite heady. But a certain intelligence is involved. It is really quite minimal compared to the number of jerseys I see in frames. Politicians on the other hand pander to the lowest common denominator. Does Michael find that middle ground? My own work is pretty readable. I don't go over the top or pander. I will talk to anyone who wants to talk about what I do. My favorite people are common Joes. I don't hang with those who have the money to buy my work. Which is probably why I don't sell that much. And yet the common Joe doesn't buy a thing. I just don't think the common Joe buys much ever under any cercumstance. I think the uncommon Joe is more like Michael. I think he is out of the ordinary. On the other hand I don't see him responding to our discussion.

Again, send me his book and I'll read it. Hell if its good I might even review it.

on Sunday, April 27th, bm said

Eric Gibson wrote an article for the WSJ called The Lost Art of Writing About Art which truly illustrates the absolute nonsense that we find in the art world such as ". . . invents puzzles out of nonsequiturs to seek congruence in seemingly incongruous situations, whether visual or spatial . . . inhabits those interstitial spaces between understanding and confusion."

and

"Bove's 'settings' draw on the style, and substance, of certain time-specific materials to resuscitate their referential possibilities, to pull them out of historical stasis and return them to active symbolic duty, where new adjacencies might reactivate latent meanings."

Huh?? No wonder so many 'run away' when the word ART is mentioned. This is not what the average Joe or any other reasonable and self-respecting person can make sense of. Corbin's book is a book of essays that is written for anyone to read, it is a book that supports and promotes art and artists, and it makes the art (world) assessable to everyone.

on Thursday, April 24th, walt said

BM,
sorry for the confusion of names. I don't mean to make Michael look bad or anything like that. But unless one can afford to buy the book and take time to read it (about which I would probably not have it read in time to respond on this blog) it becomes a little like the mysteriousness he condemns in the art world.

I didn't condemn or ridicule Michael or his book when I mentioned the art show I visited. I responded to a similar subject, easily confused if one hasn't had the oppurtunity to read the book or drop in on the chat...I was teaching a class at the time of the chat. So what I had hoped is...since no one had responded to the blog that maybe I could scare up a dialogue about the book. I took a leap in the dark. And while I apparently mis understood Michaels version of the average Joe I think my understanding of the average Joe is pretty accurate. The average Joe, if they buy anything they consider art or artistic is most likely to buy a jersey from their favorite footballer under glass. He is more likely as not to buy a mirror or neon light with a beer logo. Or possibly a cheap Salvidore Dali reprint poster at best.

What I now understand Michael to mean by the average Joe would be someone less average and a bit more educated who would like to buy art but is affraid to venture the risk. I speak to them all the time about my work. And at my age with my experience I'm convinced most of my energy has been wasted over the years discussing these things with them. The sale never happens. Now maybe that is because I am an artist. Michael isn't. He's a collector...he's much closer to their mentality. Maybe they'll listen to him.

I was just hoping to engage Michael a little more directly in this blog...or at least get a bit more meat from the book bone than I've gotten so far.

At this point I'm probably not interested enough to buy the book. I haven't hear enough to convince me it is worth the money. So send me a copy and we can talk.

Thank you Ellen.

on Thursday, April 24th, Ellen said

Well, for example, in the essay "Recluse" Micheal discusses why painters (and writers) must spend a lot of time alone developing their work. He says that this being alone should not be construed by the public as strange (MY word), but rather that "solitude" promotes productivity. In another essay: "More Than Meets the Eye," Michael talks about understanding art (or a specific work of art in this case: "Lordosis-Kyphosis-Trombosis by Miguel Angel Avila Melendez) by discussing paintings with the artists who painted them. Michael believes that "The greatest thing about art is not the art, but rather communicating with the artist about the motivation behind it." He DOES say that there are MANY factors to consider when collecting. As I said before, I found this book terrific. An insight into why people collect/love art and are passionate about art. Michael- I hope I got it right!!

on Thursday, April 24th, jose said

Having read Michael's blogs so far I know his enthusiasm is genuine and his purpose quite honourable. If the book is geared towards 'enlightening' the average joe about what it is we artists do and how important and beneficial it could be for them to consider investing in something that is unique, that is good. If readers like bm and Ellen, can tell us that what comes across in this book is a call for the average joe not merely to consider awakening to the importance of art but also to seriously engage in revising priorities so as to put a painting on par with the acquisition of the most recent SUV or HD screen simply because the one that was acquired last year has become obsolete, that is even better. And if it brings us all to a point where the artist no longer needs to face the humiliation of having to bring down his price because there is awarenesss of the importance of what is being transacted, then that is wonderful.

on Thursday, April 24th, bm said

Walt, you simply have to read the book to get the idea. I'm sure you've read Corbin's essays here, right. I think that can give you the idea without spending the money... or simply take what Ellen explained by accepting that you and others here have misunderstood what is meant by the title and made very muddy conclusions based on what you think versus what is.

PS: To illustrate further, I am not BradMM as you assumed.

on Thursday, April 24th, walt said

Thanks Ellen, but would really like to discuss ideas from the book. And without any of the ideas mentioned so far except the very vague concept that it is about art for the everyday Joe, we have nothing to talk about... Unless...

someone actually talks about the book. Like Jose I'm not in a position to run out and buy it just now. Convince me. I'm one of those snobs who need it more than many I suppose.

on Thursday, April 24th, Ellen said

I DID read the book, which I thought was exceptional. I think that the term "every day Joe" is being misunderstood here. It, in relationship to Micnael Corbin's book, does not mean someone like "Archie Bunker," going back to the 60's. It, I think it means folks who are not artists or art history majors....average people who like beauty, visual provocation, sensory stimulation. I thought that the essays in the book targeted everyone and reached out to people to appreciate what serious artists are attempting to work towards in their art. Re the so called educated public with regards to "art:" I was once on a school trip to the Metropolitian Museum of Art in NYC with my son's class, where supposedly the docents are "educated" in the art they discuss. An elegant middle-aged docent stopped before a portrait by the genius Eakins (Eakins did paint laborers, but not in this piece) and said "Look at the knuckles of the hands. They are red. This is a painting of a laborer." Anyone who has EVER done portrait work knows that the spots on the body that we used to call "pulse spots (for some reason): knuckles, ears, nose,etc. are most often emphasized with alarizen or cadmium red light or some other red. This was an "educated woman." I've read articles by art critics, who supposedly know what to look at and could not believe what I was reading. I really liked Michael's book because it had a passion and commitment to art that was created by artists who appear to be passionate about their work. It is a form of education for the public (I use that term broadly) about one person's take on the art he loves.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, Michael Fornadley said

The status quo is still killing artists today by lack of any positive feedback or financial support. We are dying on the vine and frankly nobody cares, far more important events and happenings going on today to consider this art business. Just how are we going to drive the people out of their intellectual comfort zones of entertainment and get them back to critical thinking and the galleries. Are we (old fashion easel painters)even revelant today, dinosaurs hanging on, not knowing we were considered extinct ages ago.

Saying this, we do have to appreciate the collectors, many of them considered in the middle class tax brackets to do support the arts. Many of them are artists themselves and have required that knowledge base to really know what good art is. Here is a solution: Set up a program to send a millionaire to art school instead to them hiring art consultants and experts to purchase art to their collections. Like that will ever happen.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, Andrew said

I don't think that art reaching the everyday Joe is good for art. Just look at the quality downturn since it became so easily available to see for everyone. Not only that, but it also lost its luster, sank to a level where most people could care less to even look at it. Except perhaps, to pick a path around it when you find it blocking your way in a park somewhere.
Let's go back to the days when artists were put to death if they didn't produce something that made the king, or the prince, or the duke, look good to his fellow nobles. As I wander the streets of Florence, or Rome, or St. Petersburg, and find exceptional works of art that take my breath away, all I can say is, what a mistake it was to make art for everyone. So sixties.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, walt said

Brad MM, you are right. I haven't read the essays'. But on the other hand I'm not commenting on the essay's I haven't read or the chat I couldn't participate in as Mark suggested but on an event I saw recently. I saw no comments and thought maybe it would get the dialogue moving. I'm not really attacking Michaels premise per se. But setting up as the devil's advocate. Mine may be a misperception but it is one that many will make. Maybe Michael could participate and direct the discussion a bit more to the point. It might even intrigue me enough to want to buy his book.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, josé said

I didn't realise i was pontificating. Quite true, I haven't read the book and until I sell more paintings this year I won't be able to afford it no matter how affordable it may be. Don't get me wrong I'm all in favour of art reaching the masses and i have pleny of stories of my own on how I have made things affordable for others and promoted this idea of aesthetic democracy... but I am slowly becoming a tad disheartened and skeptical.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, Mark said

bm, I am sure it could be discussed more thourghly if we all read the book first. But here is the rub, this is a blog, not a press realease. If it is meant as a press release, there is a place at AA for that. If it is meant as a blog then one should not expect those reading the blog to purchase a book to talk about it further. Now, if Michael wants to give us a book for free so we can discuss it further that would be fine. My point is that if one writes a blog they should expect it to be discussed based on the blog and not extra information that can be had for a price. That would be like me saying if you want to see what I paint you have to pay me first.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, bm said

Mark - I think your are correct in what you write in your last paragraph. Too true I'm afraid.

Do read this book of essays though, because you really can't make a well informed comment based on a, let's call it, press release of sorts. Again, IF one doesn't read the essays, then one doesn't really have an idea of what the book is about.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, Mark said

for those of us who have not read the book we can only comment on what Michael has posted here. I must admit to feeling a bit conflicted about what has been said here.

Just who is the 'everyday Joe' Michael speaks about? Most 'everyday Joe's' I know don't realy give much thought to art one way or the other. Some like art and even buy, most do not. The 'everyday Joe' (male) is happy with a poster of his favorite Nascar, or sports player, the 'everyday Joe' (female) often just wants something that matches the couch, goes with the decore.

So is it important to reach the 'everyday Joe'? If so that will require more then just making it easy and comfortable for the 'everyday Joe' to see and maybe buy art, it will require education. Most people are afraid of what they do not understand. But who will educate? I try to on a person by person basis if I happen to talk with someone and the subject of art comes up (and they are interested), or if I am working outside and somebody comes up to me, I answer questions. But none of us are able to educate the whole 'EJ' population. Nor do I think with the way things are today with TV, movies, videos and You Tube most care about art any way (talk about junk).

Are we talking here about just making art more visible or more affordable to the 'EJ'? Art fairs, galleries and museums already make art visible to the 'EJ' but the 'EJ' has to go to them. As for the affordable aspect, there are ways to do that but here again if the 'EJ' does not care how can you sell it to them?

I do think tho that there has to be a start some place, and one place is to get away from the elitism, which does not mean there can not be quality or even high prices (I dislike the either or attitudes, as if there if has to be only one way). Elitism comes more from attitude then the cost or quality. I know of some bad artists who are elitists. The problem with creating shows with quality art is who makes that judgement? Some professor of art history, a curator, gallery owner, most of which has not created anything since collage, or at all? I would just assume be judged by the 'everyday Joe'. I have been excepted, rejected and just gone to some highly respected juried art shows that show a lot of 'junk'. Even here on AA there is a lot of 'junk'. I like AA but to be honest they say to have a 'Premiere Portfolio' you must be juried, I think the juring is based on if you paid the fee as there are lots of 'Premiere Portfolios' that are 'junk'. My point being that there is no way to keep out the 'junk' because one man's 'junk' is another man's 'great' art.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, bm said

Jose and Walt: I pose this question to you - have you read this book? You are both way off track in what you think this book of essays is about. Before you jump the gun and pontificate, read the book.

on Wednesday, April 23rd, josé said

Forgive me Michael but I am inclined to think along the lines of what Walt said, and yep, in this regard I am an art snob. Average Joe wants a bargain, I want to make a living, and as the years advance and I see that I've been at this for a fair lenght of time I grow increasingly wary of letting my work go just to make someone happy... I too, for once, would like to come out of it with a nice fat grin on my face and not simply a few bills I take back to count over and over to see if I can pay for all the stuff that would keep me at least care-free if not happy. Forgive this outburst of snobery and perhaps even elitism on my part but that's the way I tend to see things of late, fortunately for average joe it is undeniable that there is growing output to satisfy them. Art, however, is not some cheap commodity, it is something you aim to possess and ultimately work hard to acquire: the possession of an object of beauty becomes that much dearer the more you felt how dear it was to your wallet.

on Tuesday, April 22nd, walt said

Sorry I missed the live chat. Something we have to consider though is that art is a complex form capable of everything from the common and obvious to the most subtle and theoretical. I've often likened it to physics. There are theoretical physicists as well as common engineers. They all use physics. While Einstein is dreaming of how to get us from the microcosm to the macrocosm there are engineers who simply want to build a better bridge to get us from one shore to another.

I just went to a big local show at some studios here in Columbus. It was a one day affair. All comers accepted. They had awards for the "peoples choice". It was very egalitarian,democratic, very open minded,...and truthfully quite awful. There was so much junk up on the walls that you had a hard time seeing the work that actually might have been worth looking at.

I went because my sons were both exhibiting in this meat market. You know, if your sons are artists you are not a soccer dad but an art show dad.

Now I like the ideas that this large wharehouse full of artists have begun to promalgate recently. But meat markets of this sort don't seem to do anyone any good. Some selectivity is required or you can't see the forest for the trees. At best the people there were not looking at the art so much as enjoying the carnival atmosphere. It 'felt' like something important was happening. And isn't that just another kind of hype? The pendulum may need to swing all the way but lets hope the momentum gets it to the center quicker.

Sorry. Maybe I'm an art snob...probably am...been at it for over 40 years. But I'd rather see the more carefully selected and properly hyped and hung elitism that everyone rails against than shows that proport to be for the people like this one that actualy lowers the bar and dumbs down the field. I could only stay for about 30 minutes. It was oppressive.

I've heard that the big art fairs are quite similar in some respects. I've never been to one.

But my complaint is that with more access than ever before because of the web how come quality, selectivity and greatness is so down played. We certainly don't down play it in sports, or music, or in our choice of doctors. Yes any doctor will do if you don't have much money but would you really want an amateur, or an incompetent performing brain surgery on you? Yes, I know, it's different. But why is it different? Oh yeah, artists don't kill anyone when they make a bad painting. I forgot.

on Monday, April 21st, Jodi Melfi said

Please join Mike and I at 12noon until 3pm US EDT today, April 21 for a live chat. Dial in 1-309-946-5100 then enter code 553139.

We'll be talking about EVERYTHING and how it relates to art, collecting, and his new book.

on Monday, April 21st, Mark said

I agree with the over all idea of making art more accessable, I have often here talked about how dealers, galleries and artists have made art this thing that only the educated can understand. The problem is that even tho I too think art is important (I create it for a living) and I also think there are many people out there who if given a spark could build a fire with knowledge in regards to art, there are as many or more who no matter how much you throw art at them could, will, care less. So when we speake to the 'everyday Joe' which 'everyday Joe' are we talking about? It does matter. I think also that rather then throw a lot of deeper meaning of art at the 'everyday Joe' we need to first tell him/her that above all else their reaction to a work is what counts most. Let them know that, educated or not in art, their feelings about a piece are paramont. If you make the viewer feel at ease, and if they feel that they have an opinion that is worthwhile and not wrong, then they may become more interested in art.

The other issue of making art more accessable is, how? It would be nice to get more people into museums and galleries and art shows of all kinds but artists need to make a living as well. Reproductions is one way. What others? It can be difficult to keep prices low enough (on originals)to make a living yet still make it available to those who do not have a lot of money. When it comes to art or groceries, I know which most will buy first.

As to pushing a book here, well at one time it would have bothered me, truth is everyone here is here to make a sale. Look at most of the artist's blogs, they are written to sell their work. And why not?

Art Blogs - Artblogs - Art Weblogs - absolutearts.com - wwar.com

04/21/2008: "THE ART OF EVERYDAY JOE"