apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It is definitely more personal. Because art is basically kind of the documentation of dreams. Dreams tend to reveal the sub-conscious or the unconscious, or the conscious-but-none-of-your-business or whatever.

That said... I'd say that I don't really take issue with people showing their own artwork in their homes, because Lord knows that when I entered into the "I've Got Color" contest, some of my artwork was in there, although really, that paint-by-number mural was ALMOST more of a curatorial choice that I kind of executed myself, so I was not all that devastated by the responses that were less than enthusiastic.

I will say that I think that it's inevitable that in a crowd like this, where the ability to "work a look" in one's home is the focus, there is BOUND to be a lot of arty folks, and they're bound to show off their work. And I'd say that most are kind of used to "crits" that happened in their classes and stuff, but there really is no telling people will say in a blog on the old World Wide Web, so you kind of have to steel yourself. I don't think anything anyone said about mine quite stung like it could have.

I think that many people in here are perfectly capable of distinguishing between how well something is presented and executed, etc. from content that isn't quite their cuppa tea. But for the really polite folks, there probably is a slight disincentive to be completely candid when people's egos are right there on the line like when it's a person's own art.

Hey! What happened to Mike?

I think we pissed him off!

I don't think people had an issue with artists showing their work in their homes, or even with artists marketing their work. I think what people had an issue with was someone who appeared to be entering the competition primarly as a marketing strategy. Perhaps this perception was incorrect but it rubbed some people the wrong way.

For example, when an amateur artist submitted pictures of their own artwork in their home, for price they listed how much it cost THEM to make it, not how much it would cost someone else to buy it. That's the difference.

Curtis, I sent in my entry and feel very nervous about having people comment. I want to tell you that your apartment was my favorite thing I've seen here because of how very personal it is and how carefully created it was. Painting that mural and recreating that wallpaper was such an original idea and a labor of love that I wish you were in this contest because I can't think of how anyone could top that. It took a lot of time and emotional energy to enter and I can now understand your decision to sit this one out, as you said.
I was a bit frightened by how offfended people seemed by any hint of self promotion. I thought the contest made a special appeal to gallery owners. Who would know more about art and placement than a gallery owner? I once attended the housewarming party of a gallery owner and was surprised that his home was pretty much identical to his gallery. It made me more fond of him that he loved the art he sells so much that he is with it all the time. I start the day by reading the news which is very disheartening and then I peek in at AT hoping to see something like Curtis's television. People creating homes that express their unique individuality and offering support to each other seems like good therapy all around.

I think art is more personal. It's both easy and safe to frame a poster of a great work of art; it's already "blessed" as being in good taste. Trusting one's own instincts is another thing altogether. It can be very intimidating, I think (though not for this intrepid crowd).

As for artists displaying their own work -- a la Mike -- I think it's fine as long as they're true to the spirit of the contest and actually living with it. Which he is. On that note--and to follow up on Curtis' point--it's interesting to me that the person who makes a living as an artist gets lambasted, while those who aren't but make their own art are universally lauded.

Zia, anyone who makes a living as an artist has made a very rare achievement.

I would say the answer depends on whether you ask an "artist" or an "interior designer". Regardless, I understand that critique comes with the territory when work created or designed is subject to public review. However, I also feel that critique (however difficult to handle) is good and constructive but negativity and ignorance is not.

To prevent any further inaccurate assumptions, Mike was not by any means DQ'd. It was his personal decision to have his entry pulled from the contest.

It's unfortunate Mike's entry turned into a debate about salesmanship. But I guess folks who focus on the insignificant rather than the art don't really care about art to begin with. In any case, I'm sure their were many people who enjoyed Mike's work and appreciated having the avenues to contact him.

Kate, I totally agree. So let's just say "professional artist" instead. ;-) But seriously, Mike got all sorts of comments, like his stuff was derivative, that it wasn't worth the prices that he was commanding, all sorts of insulting stuff. None of the non-professional artists got any of those types of comments. Which makes me wonder how much we're focusing on the ART itself ...

I missed the comments on Mike's art, and, judging by the posts above, I'm glad I did. I find many of the critiques over and above what I thought this site was about - a place where people who love their homes, regardless of size, location, etc., could "get together" and discuss matters of relevance. So many posts are downright ugly and they have caused me to withdraw from AT to a large degree.

Insofar as art is concerned, I think it is very personal to the individual (unless something is bought/displayed for the mere reason that it matches the decor) and negative remarks would definitely be more hurtful to me than if someone commented on my sheets or furniture etc.

At my holiday party this year, I had a very well-known illustrator come out of my bathroom with the framed post-cards I had hanging in there in his hands. He proceeded to stand in the middle of the party and critique my choice of artwork!

I almost cried!

The problem with strangers looking at your art is that they don't know you and don't know your sense of style and even more importantly in some cases - your sense of humor (as was the case with my bathroom art...).

It's like the old saying goes "I might not know art, but I know what I like." What I have hanging in my apartment makes me happy, and that's not open for interpretation!!

I think we're on very tricky territory, Art v Interior Design.

There's very different ways to look at paintings in a home, and the simplest breakdown is between people looking for some pleasant color match or 'how it goes in a room', and people who have a more visceral emotional or intellectual reason for hanging a piece of art. Some of the works in the later category are ugly by the standards of home decor.

Yeah, that's right, I'm going there. Design uses a more pedestrian lens. No judgement intended btw - there is certainly some art that I think is great that I don't want to live with in my day to day.

Anyway, I think more difficult or personal work may not be showing up - who wants to be flayed by a bunch of strangers online! I've shown pictures of my home here, but my precious ex-voto collection that takes up one wall in the kitchen, or the paintings left to me by a departed friend will not be showing up.

I'm VERY fond of this site, but I wouldn't trust the conversation . . .

Marie, that's truly appalling. I hope someone "accidentally" spilled eggnog or wine on him.