DB: Ady's Thesis
A few of you may remember me posting my thoughts after being interviewed by a UPS student attempting to write a thesis that unpacks the relationship between Tacoma and her artists. What do the arts that come from Tacoma say about Tacoma, and what do the artists do to change or demonstrate that identity?
In a shocking and epic dialog, Ady has sent me the completed thesis wherein she interviewed nine other working artists in Tacoma like myself. I do not believe there is any other work that has been written in recent Tacoma history that better speaks to the soul of this city, but I suppose I’m biased because she has made me one of the spokesmen.
What does it mean to interpret a culture by its art? I find it meaningful on a personal level, but when I think of cultures past, Sumerian, Cave-dwellian, Egyptian … in many cases all we have to consider is the artistic expression of the people. By nature artists are subjective viewers, feelers and dwellers. One attempts to immerse oneself in art, while more than likely a scientist attempts to objectify a specimen and a mathematician attempts to abstract a query. When one looks at art, it sees a culture from the inside out and takes on the lens of the being who has sought to orientate itself by living, feeling and experiential knowledge. When I create art, I look from self (in my place) out into the world, rather than in at a world from an abstracted self.
Wikipedia has some interesting things to say about Tacoma. A lot of facts and standards … discussables and deliverables, should you make the choice to move here. However, what did the 72 hour film festival, or perhaps the packed out Nightgowns CD release party have to say about Tacoma? As artists we discuss the act of life in this city in an entirely different language. There are many expressions and events that scream Tacoma to me in a voice that cannot be captured in any other recording process but the creation of art. Just as there is no way to tell you why you should move to Tacoma that will be as good as you actually being here.
Addy’s thesis asks the questions: “How is the identity of Tacoma shaped by the art created within the city, and how does it help to shape that art? What is the role of art in fostering a sense of community?”, and finally “What is the Tacoma art community’s role in the process of urban revitalization, and what are the implications of this in how Tacoma’s identity is perceived?” I like her thought process because she is pressing to know the meaning of art, er … the place that art may have in our very real and palpable little city. She makes it difficult to objectify Tacoma with our thinking by showing the effects of art on our daily city experience, making it an extremely subjective study.
I encourage you to read her findings and enjoy the perspective they offer. I am humbled by her willingness to seek the aggregate opinions of my peers, and am interested to know what she will go on to achieve with her degree.
Filed under: DB
9 comments
N NSHDscott May 26, 2009
It’s Ady. See title page.
Excellent thesis. Those kids at UPS are pretty impressive.
R RR Anderson May 27, 2009
I would like to see Ady discuss her thesis in a City Arts interview. Just sayin.
T tressie May 28, 2009
She said: According to the art community, Tacoma does not know who Tacoma is. In
describing the city, my informants regularly used words such as “gritty,” “industrial,” and
“blue-collar,” yet at the same time they describe Tacoma as “warm,” “friendly,” and “like
a family.”
Why can’t people figure out that gritty is a stupid word, and that blue-collar and friendly can and do co-exist?
For years, until very recently, even the rich here in Tacoma were “warm”.
As far as art, Tacoma really likes Kitties Playing With Yarn, in colors to match the guest bedroom.
Tacoma ain’t edgy, chose blue diamonds over Warhol, and thought neon art was safely provocative.
Figuring out Tacoma really isn’t hard. Perhaps, lifting one’s head from one’s navel would help with perspectives.
M Mofo from the Hood May 28, 2009
Hey tressie. You got somethin’ against representations of Kitties Playing With Yarn?
T tressie May 29, 2009
yo, mofo…you know me … I Love kitties and yarn, just not in the guest room. that’s really more of a bathroom/laundry room thing. K? gee, maybe CLAW needs a challenge…mmmmm….
K Kim Burgess May 31, 2009
I don’t get it.
M Mofo from the Hood June 2, 2009
You’ll get it in the mail.
J jp solyom June 3, 2009
If you build the right sandbox, they will come.
The challenge with Tacoma is that there is a big hand that is preventing the right conditions to evolve. Too much energy is expended to suppress conflict and exploration.
The priority appears to be appeasement which always leads to mediocrity. People are not attracted to mediocrity.
Where in Tacoma is the incubator zone that allows people to live on the “wild” side and explore new things. You can’t discover what works unless you allow a continuous stream of experiments and allow the marketplace to reward those that hit the nail on the head.
The paradox of Tacoma appears to be the overriding need to control the outcome of just about any activity. Discovery and innovation do not thrive in a controlled society… A vibrant economy is built on supplying what the people want – not – what some invisible committee thinks or feels is good for all.
M Mofo from the Hood June 4, 2009
Who in their right or left mind can generate art when you got cultural analysts making you feel all self conscious.
If there was an algorithm for communicating the mysterious then don’t you think somebody would have canned it and sold it nationwide by now?
As if…
Step 1: According to sociological patterns, artist colonies on the eastern and western U.S. seaboards have traditionally evolved into Sunset Magazine trendy neighborhoods with ivy covered brick one and two-story buildings and well-swept cobblestone streets with horse-drawn white carriages.
*authors note: I was in Haight-Ashbury in the summer of ’75 and it was nearly abandoned. From the artistic high point of the often noted 1967 Summer of Love to 1975 there was an eight year devolution. I’ve got photos I shot of Jefferson Starship playing a free concert in the park, at least making an effort to keep the vibe alive. There were freaks still around. But the devolution of 1970’s is still a painful memory for me. From music to clothes to cars–everything started to sound and look overproduced and over-refined.
I don’t know about you people, but when I look I feel. And when I listen I feel. When I put a vinyl LP on the turntable it’s a conscious choice–I want to feel some emotion from the music (try it sometime, the turntable experience. It’s mechanical. It’s visible. And you can see the wavy grooves in the record. Kinda makes ya think like “Dang, how’d them fellers a long time ago figure out how to make an exact reproduction of The Who, Live at Leeds on a vinyl disc?”)
And take the literary arts. I mean anybody could go downtown to Tacoma Rubber Stamp and get an engraved nameplate for their desk or front door that says “C.C. Writer.”
But the self conscious naming of oneself an artist can be like a self imposed restraint. As if there is an audience “out there” with expectations of your next clockwork installment art production.
Seriously, who the F is stopping anyone from making art?
But if it makes you feel good, put on your favorite corporate logowear (buy the manufacturer’s product and then advertise it for them for free ala logo’d out head to toe). Then call up City Hall and arrange a round table meeting between artists and urban planners. Step 1, Step 2…
All very organized.
All very sensible.
All very predictable.