TVP isn’t really about Vancouver anymore (well, no more than it’s about textured vegetable protein) but it’s a catchy way to refer to the identity crisis of Seattle’s art scene.
When I left this train of posts dangling, I had imagined I’d pick up RIGHT HERE! Local IS the new conceptual!!! Ah the sweet smell of synchronicity! Dan Webb should be credited for first uttering the phrase “Local is the new conceptual,” and now we have a panel discussion (swoon, I love panel discussions) tonight called “Local Is the New Conceptual” moderated by Jen Graves at Greg Kucera. 7pm.
(I only found out about this event because my blog stats alerted me that this blog o’ mine was listed as a link on SLOG that would likely cover the discussion. Funny.)
There’s so much to talk about!
Some questions to pick up where we left off: What is missing in Seattle’s art scene? What might fill the void?
I think the crux of the problem is that Seattle’s art scene has been built using the template of the New York art scene, as most art scenes in the U.S. are. The New York art scene thrives on the romance of the (preferably tormented) artist slogging away in his studio creating masterpieces that rich people snatch up like hotcakes. Young artists barely out of art school are preyed upon (if they’re lucky) and celebrated and then lost in the frenzy. A few artists have repeat successes and Whitney shows are had and books are written. This works in New York, with its gallery culture. This doesn’t work in Seattle, because there is no gallery culture.
We need a new template.
I think one is emerging, right here. In the writing, in these blogs.
Something exciting is happening, and while it might include galleries, it is not of galleries. We’re banding together, and it’s going to be good. And it will be unique to Seattle.
