http://www.friezefoundation.org/talks/detail/platitudes_about_contemporary_art_popular_and_provocative_but_true/

Yes, Jody, ArtPrize is a contest in which “the artist with the most votes wins, plain and simple.” But this also gives us a clue into the motivations of the artist(s), which become much clearer the more self-promotion we do. It is very difficult to separate the “I want votes so I can win money” motivation from an artwork when it is presented in this format, and I think that this is largely what makes people uncomfortable: it confuses our notion of why we or other artists create artwork. Now, I’m not saying that the sole reason any artist has entered ArtPrize is because they are greedy for money, in fact I don’t think that is why anyone entered, but in promoting our work, we are promoting ourselves OVER others, promoting ONE piece, not a body of work, which sort of discombobulates the overall effect of a piece and the others surrounding it. We hope that the promotion of ArtPrize as a whole overpoweringly encourages the viewers to see everything, to make a fair decision. But we obviously don’t truly believe that it will, which is where the self-promotion comes in. In the case of ArtPrize, it seems the underlying purpose for self-promotion on the artists’ part is to garner support in order to win. If this plays no part in an artist’s motivation, then there is no reason for self-promotion at all, as ArtPrize is doing a heck of a job promoting the event in its entirety. So I guess to conclude, I leave with the question of why, in the context of ArtPrize, self-promote at all?

Who has ever gotten an art advertisement saying, “The artists showing in our gallery are sexy!! Come see and buy their art!”

I’ve been in a studio where the artist was working on business cards or fliers to advertise himself. The main subject always would be his art taking up the whole or 3/4s of the advertisement. (with his name and contact on the other half or side) He always said “I let my artwork do the talking, I could care less what they think about me,” and I’d like to think that would be a good example to take on. I’ve seen people buy commissions from this man based solely on his artwork. I thought that was how it should be.

I believe Wynn and others were just simply stating (if not already said) that they were deterred from the artists that drew a line between themselves and their artwork. I personally felt confused at times on if my vote was going to the artwork or the artist. All of these consisted of the artist in person first stating where they were from and how difficult it was to get here or what they were going to use the money for. I’d be less turned off if they introduced their piece and what motivated them to create it or how they wished to communicate with the viewer.(There were some of these too and I enjoyed the chance to approach and talk to them about their art) For me there is a segregated line, detaching the vote between the artwork and the artist.

As far as the notes and t-shirts. I too was disturbed by the reason to vote for this artist (notice not artwork) was because #2 she’s hot!!! Is the artprize voting system really about the artist or the artwork? I’m confused.