Stark County Artists Exhibition 2011 at the Massillon Museum

This year’s Stark County Artists’ Exhibition has much to offer on many levels, some good and some not so much. The top prize is well deserved to be awarded for a painting, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, done so technically perfect that it could be mistaken for a digital image.  And therein lies a dilemma…… why should a skillful work of art created by the hand of a talented man (Frank Dale), be judged against or with something that is made by the manipulation of digital media and perhaps not even from imagery created or owned by the maker? Better get your hooks out because a big old can of worms may be about to open. 

As the art world moves further and further into the technical age, as colleges no longer stress the skills of drawing or painting for realism and (oh hell, I’ll just say it…..) that  “talent” is no longer a necessity,  what constitutes “art” has changed considerably. Perhaps it is old school versus new school or maybe just a thinning of the meaning to the definition of “artist”. Yes, I know, the 1950’s ushered in a whole new realm of art but the artist was still in physical contact with their media, even Pollack held the paint can with his hands.

As I have said in the past, this show needs to be divided into two…one for photography and digital pieces, and one for paintings, craft, and work made by more “traditional” media in which the artist is in direct contact with their materials.  The mastery of Marty Chapman’s “Tranquility” does not merit to be judged against a photo in which the subject is caught in the moment. Happenstance versus hours and hours of labor are totally different skill sets. Now I will concede that there does have to be the “eye” of an artist to manipulate and thus manifest imagery into product so I am not suggesting that one form of art is beneath another in any way, they are just two entirely different ways to express ideas and as one field explodes onto the scene in ever more creative ways, needs to be separated so as to give both sides their due respect and appreciation.  Both genres would benefit from having their own juries and their own shows.  The public needs to understand that computers and cameras can do things which people cannot. So too is there perhaps a different intent behind using concepts and imagery found online as opposed to ideas born deep within the soul of the creator.

Some of the electronic or photographic pieces in this show are mesmerizing for sure, particularly Mark Pitocco’s “Equivalence” which is haunting in its simplicity of message. Unfortunately, hanging Emily Vigil”s red hued “Transformer” oil painting directly over it, does neither piece a favor.  A definite color story happens along the back wall, which may explain the location of some pieces, but a few are overshadowed by their neighbors. Brian Robinson’s honorable mention award winning pastel, “June” is also worth taking the time to explore in detail as it is done on a rich brown toned paper that only peeks out here and there across the surface.  Judith Huber’s pastel “Pam’s Antique Sax” is a beautiful example of pure drawing and Erin Meyer’s “Lips” is a humorous soft sculpture that proved to be too inviting for the younger attendees at the opening regardless of what the sign said.

Some questionable pieces can be found in the show but I will not mention them by name or any other detail for one man’s prop is another man’s piece de resistance.  Along those lines, if one is going to use an iconic image that has been done thousands of times by others, then at least do it_______________. I will leave that blank for others to fill in as we all probably have an opinion.

I do want to encourage all to go see the show for treasures and gems can be found without a doubt. Clare Murray Adams “Green and Blue”, Isabel Zaldivar’s “Landscape in Black and White” and Kristen  Lupsor’s “Flora” to name a few. 

In addition to the main gallery show, definitely go upstairs to see the Massillon Tigers exhibition, but not for the reasons you may think. The story it tells is rich for the locals, but all of us need to look ever more closely at the front page newspapers mounted on the walls, not for the headlines touting the Tigers, but for the small stories below the fold.  These single paragraphs mention “incidents” in France, Poland and Germany. Look at the dates of the papers then reflect upon what we now know about this period of history and perhaps how we should have been a bit more interested in reading between the lines. The second floor is always worth a second look anytime one visits the Massillon Museum! 

121 Lincoln Way E. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 5pm, and Sundays 2 – 5 and always free!

** I must also point out, in the fairness of full disclosure, that I have a piece in the show this year, pictured above.

Who needs Soap Operas…. When one has internet scams!

I think most of us are savvy enough to know that the Prince of Nigeria does not really need our money or that the foreign lottery we never entered did not draw our name as the winner. Every now and then however one of those not to be trusted people can get really clever and downright convincing, at least for one exchange. The fun begins when the scam-er does not realize the scam-ee knows exactly what is going on and decides to play along.

A fellow artist friend of mine posted on his FB about a situation involving the potential purchase of some of his work from his website. As artists, many of us have websites in order to allow for a large number of people to see the bulk of our work in one place at one time. So it is not too farfetched to be contacted via email about some of our pieces and the possibility of buying them. Having been a victim of identity theft, red flags shoot up whenever any type of contact does not seem “right”.  So begins my delightful exchange with PS as the Scam-er shall be called (which stands for Poor Speller). 

I got an email from PS asking about a couple of my pieces which just so happen to be currently on display in my studio. Therefore it would seem logical that someone could ask about those two particular works. The email address was not odd although PS’s name did not appear in it anyplace which is somewhat unusual. I put out a flag stick just in case. My return email stated that I would get back to PS with the requested information and the terms of how I handle sales not done in person.  A 24 hour period passed before each exchange. PS asked for more info about my motivations behind each piece.  First I ran a red flag up stick number one then directed her to my website. The flag was because PS said she had seen them on my website and if you are familiar with my website then you know that the requested info is right there on the screen in English (which could be the problem.) Meanwhile I started to print out the emails and using a red pen, corrected the grammatical and spelling errors. Hopefully her self esteem won’t be too hurt if and when they appear in court. I suppose I could have used a yellow marker and just highlighted the errors…..

PS sent another email about shipping. I sent a return one requesting she hold her ponies while I explained that payment had to be for X dollars only, on a US bank, using a certified check and had to clear (both the bank and the FBI) before I would consider any such exchange. PS replied that her husband would send the money right away. Meanwhile I put up some more flag sticks and waited. Eventually PS wrote back. Seems the poor thing was in Cancun for her twin sister’s wedding but ended up the hospital with a possible miscarriage. But thankfully all is okay and the baby is safe and now her husband can send the check. Well my goodness, I felt so bad that I sent a nice sympathetic email about how bad it must be to be in a hospital in Cancun but I am sure the wedding was a blast and glad the baby is safe. Oh one more thing PS, I only use Fed-Ex with your credit card number called in to them. PS said I’d hear from her shipping agent because the work for her “decors” was going to London. Now that I can no longer see past all these dang flags, I contacted my artist friend who gave me the name used for his exchange. Hmmmm….must be the twin sister because they shared a same last name. PS did give me an address for the states and for London. Hello Google-earth… oooohh…a multi unit building with a pool on the roof and surround by parking lots (can we say hotel?).

 PS really wants her work though. Even a reference to homeland security needing to verify some info did not detour her from the quest for my work for her “decors”. The check arrived in the mail on a US bank but I got a large bonus on it! Really? You want to spend all that much more? What economy are you living in? I had to tell PS that though I was deeply appreciative of her generosity, that I could not accept it and would be shredding the document….the one with a list on the back to indicate what is a fraudulent check and hence did not even pass its own test. The local store is sold out of red flags by the way.

The shipping guy, I shall refer to as BG for Bad Grammar, contacted me right away but is from London so he wants to work with a local person. What part of Fed-Ex international does not register with him? Regardless, I let PS know that it would be a lot smarter to send the work to the US address at the place where I am still awaiting a unit number since the building is one of multiple units, and ship it with the rest of her “decors”.  Hey, just trying to help her save a little cash. So far neither PS nor BG wants to play anymore. Darn it, I was having a good time.  Maybe PS had a little problem with the law because an “SP” in the same location was in trouble with the parole board (Google, I love you).  Oh well, at least her baby is safe, the twin sister is happily married and BG is free to pursue other local companies and not negotiate with me. Maybe I will see if that Prince in Africa wants to come out and play. I could forward him the check since he needs the money.