Maria Williams-Russell Art Blog
Sarah Jessica-Parker's Art Reality Show
by art_review , August 5, 2008—12:00 AM
I'll admit it - I love my competition reality TV shows, especially the ones where people have to demonstrate some skill and creative talent to win. I especially love Last Comic Standing because comics are often not funny when they're hanging around the house - the first season they were downright curmudgeons and I loved them for it because once they hit the stage they transformed into hilarious likeable beings. Genius! I also am addicted to Project Runway where the competition is difficult and the designers have to really "work it" to avoid elimination. Sometimes I daydream about what kind of garment I would have made if I had been on the show... So, when I found out that Bravo TV has just agreed to take on an art reality show, I was very pleased.
The show is called American Artist and is the brain child of Sarah Jessica Parker of "Sex in the City". It will feature artists as contestants who will be given a new art challenge each week that tests their overall artistic talent through media, skill and creativity. The artworks from each challenge will then be judged by a panel of fellow artists, gallerists, collectors, curators and critics. American Artist's grand-prize winner will receive a gallery show, a cash prize and a sponsored nation-wide museum tour according to Jim Hibbard's Live Feed of the Hollywood Reporter. Not too shabby.
For those of you who snub this kind of TV, I understand. I'm sure it is completely produced to tug at our heartstrings and make us love to hate. However, I do think shows like these have some merit beyond entertainment. For one thing, I think it is a step in the right direction when our society begins to root for the emerging artist. Artists face so much adversity as it is, especially when they just start out, that to have TV shows honor their talents is positive for our culture as a whole. Also, these shows do a good job at communicating an artist's passion and tireless committment to their art regardless of fame and fortune, turning the emerging artist into a role model for viewers. Lastly, through these shows the average viewer is given the chance to learn something about art outside of a museum or gallery. Art becomes personal and watchers gain an appreciation for the process and the final product that they may have not had before. Of course everything depends on how the show is produced. Done poorly, it could be a total bust, but if it's done well, I bet TV audiences everywhere will embrace American Artist.
What will that mean for art sales? They say that ballroom dancing classes had through the roof sign-ups after Dancing with the Stars!
COMMENTS
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08/25/2008 * 16:56:46
I have to agree with Mary. I have yet to watch one single “reality” show knowing that there would probably be very little of reality involved. Thank you, Mary, for synopsizing and reinforcing what I thought they would be without so much as wasting any of my time on them. As best as I can tell, the only winners of these reality shows are the stations that are making a fortune selling the commercial time.
Though my profession is in the arts, I will continue to watch only those informative shows on such stations as PBS and leave the reality shows to those who have much too much time on their hands. Perhaps the viewers should be participating in some of those activities they watch rather than simply spectating.
I think if artists are truly interested in having their work critiqued, they should seek out someone they respect as a teacher or gallery owner, and spare themselves the humiliation of being emotionally mutilated by some paid sordid “judges” in front of an audience of millions. Constructive criticism of something so personal as art is hard enough on a one on one basis. At least if someone respected is honest with the artist, it will take them much further in their growth as an artist than a panel of some self-absorbed, fan seeking individuals.
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08/14/2008 * 11:30:59
I'm perfectly comfortable with art as entertainment. It's been entertainment for centuries. However, the reality show format has become hollow entertainment, more focused on failure than success. The reality show has become so formulaic, so over-the-top dramatic, so full of repeat footage, that they are hard to watch anymore.
I'm tired of the "conflict" between participants, the tears, and the meltdowns. I haven't seen a show yet where the judges weren't nasty and insulting (right on cue). I held out hope for The Greatest American Dog only to be disappointed again. This show followed suit right down to the overly long dramatic pauses, the fights, (the owners, not the dogs)and the pompous judges. The dogs were cool.
I would really hate to see artists subjugate themselves to this crap. Do you really think anyone will be launched into fame? Artists as Celebrities are few, where Celebrities as Artists are all over the place.
If they were to produce a show that actually taught America something, or gave them a better understanding of it,(it would be PBS) I'd be supportive, but there are no network ratings in that.
Yes, Dancing With The Stars increased sign ups for dancing lessons. At best American Artist will encourage a spike in art classes, maybe even raise the appreciation of art, but do nothing for the sale of art.
I predict stereotypical participants, dramatic angst and damagingly critical judges, with little focus on the art itself. We'll see.
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08/10/2008 * 21:44:43
I second that Zander!! I been taking a look at artid and will be putting up work. I looked all over the place to apply to the show and i see no casting calling yet. This is a great idea for those of us that need exposure!
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08/06/2008 * 10:01:04
Art is not a competitive sport but we do live in a competitive world. Besides, it's not like talent shows are a new concept. I'm just a tad concerned that this whole "idol" mentality is becoming the de facto model for success.
That said, I'll agree that IF we have to watch the deconstruction of any creative process and its practioners, THEN why not the plastic arts and artists? This new twist to the "reality" illusion might be a good idea and hopefully a fun program that could inform and inspire those of us unclear on (or uncomfortable with) the concept of art as entertainment.
Zander Lassen ( homepage )
12/31/2008 * 22:13:10
You can pre-apply for this show at www.magicalelves.com . Jeffrey Deitch, of Deitch Projects, NYC, hosted a similar TV show for two seasons called: ArtStar.