Art is dying #I

Or is it?

Is social media, cancel culture and a heightened social offensive killing artistic expression? Perhaps it is simply challenging the status quo. Well, there is nothing simple about it.

As an artist, I find it very easy to think I am on thin ice when creating art that is socially charged or any art for that matter. What is accepted today may be “out of date” tomorrow. This “thin ice” feeling is driven by the invisible hurdle of not knowing what is charged or deemed “offensive” from one day to the next. Social media and public platforms seem to dictate this change.

So the question arrises, should I care? Should I care that my work may offend someone. My answer is no. A great big hard NO. It’s not my responsibility once art is made and put into the world. I can not control how the work is viewed and received. That is the very definition of art.

From Andres Serrano, Georgia O'keeffe , Robert Mapplethorpe, Dave Chappelle and SO many others pushed against what was socially accepted and inspired change. Throughout history artist have used their work to promote and inspire change. Change may come dressed in disguise with its sole purpose to get something out of the dark and start a conversation.

Statistically, 65% of Americans say “people that are too easily offended” is a major problem, while 53% say “people saying offensive things to others” is a major problem. (PEW research center) I don’t even know what this means but statistics never was something I could sign up for. Who knows who funds who in these statistics. All I know is that I have “offended” many more people over the last 5 years than I have in my entire life. Maybe that is a good thing…

Sparking change can light a fire, a fire that may be needed, a fire that may reveal the truth in the ashes. You can quote me there…

Portrait session with Nat

South dakota badlands Photo Workshop (part II)