Art Criticism |
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Art critism online and an explanation of how to spot enduring value in contemporary art. |
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Our links to no-nonsense art criticism online are at the bottom of this page. Enduring Value in Contemporary ArtIn an age of mass production, art has less and less value as "stuff," as a treasure to be valued for its workmanship or material. Even the visual aspect of contemporary art seems to have become devalued due to the same sort of saturation. Thanks to advertising and the pervasiveness of electronic media, the average western consumer sees more manufactured images in one day than is probably healthy to see in one year. More and more, art's real value is in its ideas, its ability to convey originality of concept, its undefinable qualities, its resonance with external trends, its marketing value to an over-stimulated audience. This basic fact of the marketplace makes it even more tempting for artist to take the cheap way out, to hide behind abstraction or vagueness or to promote the inappropriate strictly for its shock value. This cheapening of art accelerates each year as new artists are born into a society more and more saturated with devalued commodities. The cynical artist is a well-worn path if not
six-lane highway. Do we need another exhibit aimed at our inner
nihilistic teenager? Do we need yet another exhibit that asks "what is
art" and little or nothing else? Do we need yet another exhibit
that completely bores us with its trivial answer? Could these
exhibits ever be as interesting as exhibits which ask more pragmatic
questions, such as how are images and words currently being used to
manipulate the masses? And aren't these questions usually posed much
more interestingly when the artist asks them in terms of his or her urgent
beliefs as opposed to mere art-babble? Art Criticism Online |
Art Magazines and BlogsArt ForumArt Forum Est. 1962, the magazine is published ten times a year and is widely known as a decisive voice in its field. As well as in-depth articles and reviews of contemporary art, the magazine features book reviews, columns on cinema and popular culture, and numerous full-page advertisements from prominent galleries around the world. ArtnetArtnet Artnet mainly exists as a place to buy, sell and research fine art online, with a network of over 2,200 galleries in over 250 cities worldwide. The website also publishes a magazine, which features quality, insightful criticism and reviews work of all genres and mediums. Art CriticalArt Critical Graced with writing from some of the most well-known art critics, this online magazine is an excellent resource. It conveniently archives all past essays and writing by author and the online magazine of art and ideas. Art Fag CityArtfagcity blog Well written, well maintained, popular blog that is becoming almost like a real publication. Features New York art news, reviews and art world gossip. Art History NewsletterArt History Newsletter This site is like a blog, but with editors and contributors who describe their work as: "We synopsize news and opinion of interest to art historians and provide original reporting on conferences, lectures, and other special events." Organized neatly in a vertical linear fashion, making it easy to read. Art World SalonArt World Salon "Composed of internaltional cast of founders and panelist, this is not a blog for gossip. Respectful, sophisticated Artworld Salon is a moderated discussion focused upon the fast-paced transformations currently taking place in the global artworld. It started as an email 'conversation' between the three founding members." Big, Red and ShinyBig, Red and Shiny Seeks to be a forum for criticism, discussion and promotion of the arts in New England. Provides reviews of exhibitions and events, articles examining the larger scope and ideas found within contemporary art, and news that is up-to-the-minute and helpful to artists and those interested in the arts. Hatchets and SkewersHatchets and Skewers "An incisive contemporary arts journal" by Jeffry Cudlin, an artist, curator, art critic, and musician living and working in Washington, D.C. He is also the Director of Exhibitions for the Arlington Arts Center and writes for the Washington City Paper. Two Blowhards2blowhards "A group of graying eternal amateurs discuss their passions, interests and obsessions," among them art. Two Coats of PaintTwo Coats of Paint An art blog maintained by Sharon Butler. Two Coats of Paint is a digest of reviews, commentary, and background information about painting and related subjects. It is well-done, unassuming, with no ego. |
Art CriticsBrian AppelBrian Appel A nicely designed personal website of well-known art critic, Brian Appel. He's posted extensive archive of his art criticism writings and interviews, studio visits and other interesting pieces. Clement GreenbergClement Greenberg Continually-updated website created and maintained by a devoted fan of greenberg, one of the greatest art critics of the second half of the 20th century. This site presents the opinions of friends and admirers as well as some of Greenberg's own writing -- in the hope that more readers will discover and admire him. Dave HickeyDave Hickey This is an article published in the DallasArtsRevue about a lecture given by Dave Hickey, which also features some links to other Hickey sites and gives some background on him. It is a good jumping off point to finding more of his writing/criticism. Deborah GarwoodDeborah Garwood The personal website of artist and a contributing editor for artcritical.com, Deborah Garwood, with links to selected criticism. Diane ThodosDiane Thodos The personal website of artist and critic Diane Thodos, with links to selected criticism.. Jed PerlJed Perl A collection of essays and art criticism by Jed Perl, mostly written in The New Republic, collected in a site dedicated to collecting influential writers' writing. Jerry CullumJerry Cullum The blogs of critic Jerry Cullum, the editor at large of Art Papers and long-time art critic for the Atlanta Journal Constitution and other arts publications. Jerry SaltzJerry Saltz The NY magazine's archive of art critic Jerry Saltz's writing. Joe WallentiniJoe Wallentini The personal website of the founder of Abstract Art Online, est 1995. It features criticism, artist profiles, essays, a conversations series, and links to related sites. Since it’s founding, over 50 issues of Abstract Art Online have been published including over 300 exhibition reviews. Linda NochlinLinda Nochlin Link to the essay titled, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?," by Linda Nochlin, which should inspire one to seek out more of her criticism and writing. Maureen MullarkeyMaureen Mullarkey An impressive list of art essays by Maureen Mullarkey located on her own personal artist website. Peter PlagensPeter Plagens Peter Plagens' artist website that also features a list of his writings and art criticism. Robert HughesRobert Hughes An entry in artcyclopedia dedicated to famous art critic, Robert Hughes, with links to a sizable list of his writings. Linda NochlinLinda Nochlin Link to the essay titled, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?," by Linda Nochlin, which should inspire one to seek out more of her criticism and writing. Rosalind KraussRosalind Krauss Lengthy and inspiring famous piece of writing by Rosalind Krauss, art critic, titled "The Originality of the Avant Garde." Ends with a short bio of her and hopefully inspires to seek out more. |