My main complaint with much abstract work is its inherent disregard for concrete, well- resolved design. If it looks like a mess, it is easily disregarded as one. If it has no structural point or organization, it feels too experimental and, to brings on a feeling that my students often express: "What's so great about that? I could have done it." Lately, though, my feelings are changing a bit. So what if I could have done it? Does that truly change anything? Maybe randomness suits today's world better than organization, anyway.
I remember the amazing art quilter Ruth McDowell said in a workshop that it didn't matter what her art was about, that the image just gave her a reason to play with fabric. So what if the image is gone and the play is the point of the piece? Can't people respond to the elements within it with the same fervor and intensity? Ok, so if Ruth were to go completely experimental, spontaneous, and drop her intricate piecing techniques, it wouldn't be the same. Much of her talent lies in her ability to manipulate fabric accurately and with the finest craftsmanship. If she were to produce a piece without imagery, loosely designed but full of her color, patterns, and technique, would it be engaging? A better question might be: Would it matter?
I'm thinking these things as a result of viewing an online exhibit of work by Jackie Saccoccio (presented by Hyperallergic.com, of course!) I came across it this morning and read the article, which described her process and product really well. In looking at the art, I see energy, conflict, and a playful sense of accepting the informal. The immediate. The colors clash. The marks are layered in ways that don't make logical sense. The work seems temporary and experimental. I could have done that, as the kids say, but I didn't, which is my usual retort to them. If I had, would I have called it art?
Good art leads to lots of questions as well as immediate responses that reflect the viewer's experience. Highly abstract art seems to elicit the strongest response in may as it goes against the traditional grain, even when the grain these days involves so much abstraction. It is a puzzle.
What will you make today?