Posted by:
Mary Anne
Research/tech assistance org
Providence, RI

Topic:
An Intriguing Question

Message:
Katie has posed a very interesting question about whether requiring an artist's statement is limiting. It's made me think about this differently. Thanks! Here are a couple of thoughts -- I don't think artist's statements should necessarily be required for every piece of work. In the case of the Central School, artist statements are taken only for pieces a student artist has selected for a show -- so perhaps the statement is only about why the artist selected that particular work to show.

On the other hand, in looking at some of the artist statements I have noticed that sometimes the artist merely comments on the favored media, "I find I enjoy working in black & white more than color. Even though I try color, I always return to black & white." Or in the case of just putting paint to paper, I'd say your comment as an artist statement would be revealing to the instructor, as well as the artist.

It was fun to think about this. Thanks for posing the question!

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