The
controversy over whether Barnett Newman's painting, that the
Canadian government bought for well over a million dollars, is good
art, bad art, or even art, may never be completely settled. For me,
this is not so much the issue. It is more a statement on big
government, than it is on art.
By funding individuals, governments encourage mediocrity, rather
than the excellence through freedom, that I'm sure is their
intention. Even more insidious however, is the damage done to the
struggler-artist, who finds it even harder to compete. The big
government `pets' get the show space and the publicity. The public,
in turn, views this as `the' art and `the' artists of the day.
An artist's personal vision, commitment, and standards, must be
compromised as government expectations hang over him. His audience
becomes this government, rather than the public. He is subtly
pressured into doing the accepted thing, which paradoxically today
is the outrageous avant-garde.
There are certain things best left out of the hands of big
government: religion and art to name two.
If the `people' want art they will have it, and will provide places
for artist's work to hang. They might even become participants or
buy more art, understanding their responsibility in the nurturing
process, rather than leaving it up to governments.
Municipal, local governments' involvement in the arts can be
effective because they are more in touch with the grass roots, and
being members of the community are more in tune with its desires and
needs. The Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver is an example of
local government working with the people in the community to create
a meaningful event.
Upon
explaining some of Gauguin's paintings to a confused viewer, Degas
referred to a fable by La Fontaine, saying that:
" 'Gauguin is the thin wolf without the collar' (that is, he prefers
liberty with starvation to servitude with abundance - John Rewald)."
(143)
"He is fortified by two great realizations. First, the artist is
probably the only free person left in society. He or she does his or
her own thing from start to finish and no one can dictate how to do
it... be proud of your freedom. God knows you'll need your pride to
stay on course."
(Jack Shadbolt , On Being an Artist , The Alberta College of Art
Convocation Address , 1988)
143. Herschel B. Chipp, Theories of Modern Art, (Berkeley and L.A.,
Cal., University of California Press, 1968),p. 76
