From: "Ann Klefstad" <klefkal-AT-cp.duluth.mn.us>
Subject: Re: an entire universe of delicate, complicated things
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:24:43 -0800




Ed A says:
> Title was "Defrocking the Artist" if I remember right. The author's name
> is Lind. You can probably find it at http://www.nytimes.com/books/
> Ed Atkeson

Yup, that's it. 

As my partner and I work more with commissions, we find that doing
sculpture that fills needs other than our own is both liberating and
frustrating. I think that this state is common for anyone doing any kind of
work, *in the world, not just in their own space*, that they feel connected
to. (That is, cooks and contractors and carpenters, but probably not
assembly line workers and clean-up staff. I've done all these jobs, by the
way. Rainbow collar!)

In this way, artists can join the world--the audience becomes not "them,"
"those people" whom cultural authorities like us must "educate," but your
client, your ally, the person whom you need to both understand and
surprise. You need to give them both what they want and what they don't
know yet that they want, and you have to find form for these things that is
durable both physically and psychically. This is pretty much the job of
many people other than artists.

After reading this brief piece, I think the loss of reverence for art has
been a very good thing for artists. Now maybe we can actually do some work
in the world.

Ann Klefstad


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