It was crazy, man. The closing of Area's "Everyone's Got Money Issues" at Mess Hall featured CEO's from local corporations meeting with the community to debate idealism vs. the complexities of business realities. The discussion included uninsured working-class republicans who defended their non-suppport of the health care bill. Even though it was an uncomfortable, heated debate, and although no one came to any kind of consensus, a glimmer of a common ground was found. Both sides gained a greater understanding of the "other side".
Ok, not quite.
I'll say what I always say:
A. There's a whole lot of preaching to the choir
B. The art is "used" as a starting point for a discussion that quickly veers off the "art-road", so to speak.
But within the usual echo-chamber framework, it was intelligent. I give huge props to the very theme of the show, dealing with the issues of money, as opposed to rejecting the idea of currency. It's is a reflection of a next gen left-wing ideology that's not about crushing capitalism anymore, but practicing it with compassion. The portion of the closing I attended was a presentation by Eric Triantafillou on anti-capitalism images through the ages. He took an interesting take on how in political art graphics, the image of a villanized "capitalism" became more nebulous over time, and the images of "the worker" (symbolized by a hammer crushing the personified capital), begin to fade. One final, contemporary image was the monopoly man with a bag of money, bleeding on the floor after being stabbed in the back. This time, no "worker" did the deed, capitalism died on its own.
I picked up a copy of Area Issue #8, and found lots of good stuff:
Our own Lee Ann Norman on the New Business of Art
And 5 questions about socially engaged art in Chicago.
The reason I call this next-gen is that these groups are practicing these ideals through business models, which is tricky. These artist are trying to pay rent and the groups are in the belly of the beast always aware that they're practicing capitalism as they try to cover their costs, make a profit, and pay (or not pay) themselves and their workers.
Throughout the program is an acceptance that capitalism is a part of life, it's not going anywhere, and instead of trying to destroy it, like previous generations, it's trying to practice it with greater compassion.
However, my desire for articles from these artist groups to remove some of the whitewashing, I don't a sales job. By their very decade-long perseverance, they're role models, so they could be allowed candor.
In the aforelinked issue of Area's Newspaper, Newcomer Incubate published their 2-year report. Behind closed doors, people whisper about how their whole deal could fail, as they work hard to pass around eentsy beentsy bits of money, and is dependent on arts groups not flaking out on their fundraiser (see model explained in BaS interview). There are some precariously perched idea in their charter. But NO ONE will say it in public. Although I think it's noble, we should still look at it critically, and talk about the execution honestly.
Temporary Services also did a decade-in-review, which was much more upfront about difficulties, but I still wish it talked about ideals or elements they've had to abandon. I wish they could just say what sucks, what's hard, and what doesn't work.
But still, it's a new look - fiscal solvency has entered the building.
What I would encourage from all these groups is complete transparency about the inner-turmoil and conflict they face. There's no need for a positive spin or brave game face. The very fact that they haven't quit is enough of an example of success. And it would be helpful if they disclosed more about the problems of ideals, because without honestly regarding past failures, the next generation has to push the same boulder up the same hill. It's time to examine ineffencies, myths, failures, and ugly truths of human nature.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Area, EricTriantafillou, MessHall, politicalart, TemporaryServices
We join you in welcoming people into a discussion on the operation and structure of the Artist Run Credit League. Working out the idea of the ARCL in public is a central component of the project. So far, we have hosted a public discussion at the Hyde Park Art Center on the occasion of the ARCL's launch and, two weeks ago, participated in a public discussion organized around the concept of "surplus" at the Mess Hall exhibition. During this second discussion, we invited feedback on the project and also announced a partnership with the North Side Community Federal Credit Union, a socially conscious bank on the North Side that will be hosting the funds.
Transparency and dialogue are an integral part of this all of our projects' processes as we work out an experimental form of arts administration. People can get in touch with direct conversation, thoughts, and criticism via our website -- incubate-chicago.org.
More information about the ARCL is on the project's website here -- artistruncreditleague.com
--Bryce Dwyer of InCUBATE