May 7, 2008
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The Haters have been Refuted
I suppose anytime you put your work out in a public forum you’re gonna get critics. I don’t mind critics. I actually like getting feedback on my work. What I don’t tolerate are stupid ignorant critics who are critical just because they’re envious. I can’t stand the hateration. That kind of thing gets me all twitchy and cheesed off. But I can deal.
I logged on to my flickr today to find that I’d gotten some lame anonymous comments over and over on my series of Graffiti Abstractions, essentially flaming me and saying I’m a fantastic asshole for “stealing” the work of the graf artists who originally painted it and trying to make money off their work by selling prints. (Woo, ten bucks a pop. Be mad jealous! I are famoze & wealthy photographerz! Don’t hate, yo.)
As if. I politely explained (with teeth gritted) in my best most politest art jargon that by reinterpreting an existing creation- nay, collaboration- and emphasizing certain features, textures, and colors, I’m essentially abstracting what exists and turning it into something entirely different. By reinterpreting a work of art to the degree I have, it becomes my own. Nevermind all that, but the photos clearly aren’t even about a particular artist or tag as a whole, it’s about the creation and destruction of paint on a wall over time. Nor am I entirely unfamiliar to the subculture around street art, since I essentially cut my creative teeth in a crew the summer I turned twenty, and that’s had a huge influence on all of my work ever since. And if my photos get more people to appreciate how pretty graf art is? Then fack yeah, more power to me.
So, I win.
But onward. There are better things to do than dwell on morons. I have completed three more drawings for the Jamaica Plain Arts Association Small Works Sale. behold:
Comments (9)
some people can be real ignorant at times.
You DO win. I love your new profile picture, and the look on her face in Jungle.
If people took as much time to actually look at something and like it as they do to automatically hate something, the world would be a wholly different place.
I agree, you do win. Criticism is only welcome when it’s constructive. When it’s hateful, it’s the sign of an idiot who’s too afraid to give it in person. Easy to hide behind the Internet for those people.
well said, yo. Totally stupid and I hate the internet sometimes. Because it allows everyone to have their say–and be anonymous about it as well. If they had to report whom they were or if it took more time to be displayed, they’d probably think about it more.
Or maybe not. The letter’s to the editor in our local paper are pretty lame to. But regardless, you ARE right. And it’s stupid that you had to get angry over this. IT’S ART–in various forms. Celebrate it! (um, not you because you do, but you know I’m yelling at those people)
In orther news, I wore the necklace I purchased from you today and EVERYONE loved it–someone asked if you would be interested in consignment work? It’s west coast, yo…but….
You seriously gotta wonder sometimes.
thanks for participating in the Xanga BEAUTY CONTEST!
your site looks so professional, I love it!
Hey you! Believe it or not, I knew if anyone was going to reply to my comment, it would be you…just by your picture!
How judgmental is THAT!
I’ll bet we are each just the boiled-down essences of two very different perspectives.
But based on the tone of your comment to me, I felt there was hope for this world!
Sometimes I wish we could all be as objective as Socrates. No fear.
With a basic trust in the goodness of others.
Its just I don’t believe that basic goodness can make it all the way on its own.
Yeah. I guess that’s what I assumed.
And me, old, boring,
conservative (at least sympathetic to those who believe in the open
market system but also appreciative of the liberal’s advocacy for the
underclass) and perhaps different in my belief in Christ being God’s
solution for mankind’s fundamental problem. And, I live in a small town
(although most my years were spent in Chicago).
I am touched by your being touched and your involvement.
Yes, peace.
And may we all know truth in the inward parts.