Seminar in Contemporary Art, Fall 2010: Welcome to the Upper East Side Galleries

Before the shit hits the fan, here is a list of the galleries that we visited:

It almost feels like the art world has not evolved thanks to the U.E.S. galleries. Everything is expensive and smells like death. The art works were situated in galleries that resembled the homes of the rich and old.

So why not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a piece that is showing across the street?

It will look lovely above your fire place.

As if these galleries are not already intimidating, some of them had to buzz you in, and they pretend to be open to the public. Yet they're hidden and their main focus is to sell. I kept having to remind myself that these artworks have a specific audience:

1. An audience that claims to have good, high, or fine taste in art.

2. An audience that appreciates craft over concept.

3. An audience that plays it safe and perversely and uncomfortably affects the rest of the art world.

4. Oh and.....a very small audience who have a shit load of money to throw away.

I cannot help but think that art is a reflection of society and culture. And when these people die and these art works are then moved around the world, continue to be invested in or auctioned off, what is left to say about our society? What about the artist? Does anyone care about what the artist wanted?

Maybe it is a little exciting that the art we make, lives a life of travel that we may never experience alive.

However, it seems there is no goal for that kind of art, other than to play the game of desire. These works provoke d e s i r e for those who can afford it.

I refuse to believe that any of this craft is worth more than concept.

But then, should I even care? As an artist in this present time, a latina - young- woman and mother, should it bother me that these few people are willing to spend vasts amounts of money on what they claim to be as "high" art.

Yes, it bothers me.

John Currin can SUCK IT, he paints porn sooooooooo beautifully on canvas.

The only respect for him that I have is this:

Thank you for playing the game so well and milking these bastards. You've only further exploited all the flaws in societal views on gender and sex.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Knowing that the huge investments in the art world are being placed on works that play a decorative role in "higher" society.....affects how other artists price their work and survive just so that CAN continue to make work.

The AMAZING and most POSITIVE outcome of this trip was knowing that in the end, art should be accessible to the public. Art that is successful should be able to reach and affect the masses ( hopefully in a positive way ), regardless of income.

I also wonder, if women artists are making nearly as much money as male artists, especially in the upper east side....only through research will I able to know the answer.