Hard Lessons
For the purpose of creating collages, Imagine Art students were asked to tear into strips or pieces an unwanted or insignificant artwork. One student could not bring himself to do it.
Like a kid trying to jump into a cold pool, he hemmed and hawed, trying to muster all his courage to take the plunge, not able to imagine how invigorated he’d feel afterward. After much contemplation, he still could not bring himself to shred his art.
What was he afraid of? What is it about this particular young artist that kept him from the supposed transformation and growth? Because realizing when to discard or repurpose your art is as important as knowing the reasons you keep it.
His reluctance probably stemmed from all the creativity he’d invested, not to mention the supreme effort and emotional attachment that art demands. It’s understandable why artists get so stressed at the prospect of their art’s destruction, loss, or alteration.
But sometimes teachers feel students must experience that stress in order to grow as artists. Artist Christina Green tells the story about her professor at UT Austin who assigned his students to make sculptures from wooden match sticks. Well, the outcome was quite predictable. He made a point to set ablaze those sculptures that did not meet his standards.
Rick Hernandez has a similar story about a professor who thought Rick's pots were too thick. About 50 freshly thrown bowls of his were lined up on a table in front of him. (He was known for making dozens and dozens of ceramic bowls in one day.) At one point the professor held up a bowl, weighed it in his hand and announced, They're too thick and heavy. To make his point, he then tipped the table over crushing all the green ware. The professor told the stunned potter that it was just clay and could be recycled. Needless to say, Rick became more conscientious of his bowls’ thickness.
These two cases are extreme, but surely history is full of instances like these, either done by teachers or the artists themselves.
Imagine what art students must sacrifice in order to alter, then reuse a work of their art! In time, our young artist will come to grips with the fear of repurposing his work. But it’s not going to be easy, and sometimes will take a hard lesson.
