when you can’t see something. sometimes you just do something and see what happens.

Or, The Art Of Making Art, without even looking

I went to the f295 session held today at SF State, a place that I visited many times to hear Jack Welpott talk. And more importantly, to argue. I had no illusion that the gathering would be as dynamic as art sessions held in the uprising 60s among artists and advocates of a creative life. I didn’t think that it could seem so dull. That art was boring. That photographers are afraid, timid, and dull.

there may not be rules of art, but the early 21st century is certainly full of art rulers, staking out big claims to small ideas.

The session began with check-in. Single entry after being looked up off the two page list. I was a “second” so pushed in following my wife. “excuse me sir” “yep, i’m with her” this to a free event with attendees not filling the front 15% of the theater. I had been stopped, over what. And that stopping should have given me pause. It was fair notice. This is a corporate event.

Someone Begins Talking

The sessions begin, with an intro to rules of the show, and the ‘about us.’ Then a pass the hat to collect fees to cover the use of the hall. Finally, to the pitch of the f295 (founder?owner?) about his understanding of ‘what photography is about.’ Too bad that he mistakes the relationship between tech and photography. further, that he makes not one mention of the interrelationships among the visual arts, those common quests and questions. Relegated instead to a self administered history lesson. the lesson, less than insight, provides the bromides that art is about communicating and that photography has something to do with time. Time and two other things.

photography isn’t about time, unless you are reading the Time-Life guidebooks.

art isn’t about communicating with someone else. it isn’t about transfer from me to you, from a maker to a consumer. It isn’t, about communication at all, unless you are measuring it by gallery wall. In that case you will be duped into valuing it by pricing theory, or choice theory. That is over that way out the door and to your right. That’s it, the business school.

The sessions continue without introductions. Sadly, the first batch of speakers do not announce who they are. Not event their slides have the customary ‘bumper’ indicating who is speaking or about to.
After two hours come the morning QA session.

questions, but they have to be kept away from follow up or depth, instead they evolve into “could you say your last-name, please?” they end with 5 minutes left in the morning.

I understand the main thing, that this isn’t going to be a gathering about art as action. of creation as uncovering. no, this is a corporate gathering without sponsors, but with controls up to and including a door monitor. this is a friendship cruise, complete with all the standard crew. an event with a theme, monitored by the owner, a small hobbyist gathering of people seeking friendship, even if they would have to follow along in the failure footsteps of generations of imagination free meetings. There won’t be questions. Certainly not ones that ask us to examine our spine, the plinth of our ideas.

failing to question is the ending stage of the only creator that exist. Artists.

i despair of the generations achievements. as an experiment. go to the creatives, the centers they gather. this is as far as your world will ever be. these are the people who will create beyond themselves, and beyond you. this is where the making of the future, the reflection of the past and the sense of the present issues. if it feels like a corporate retreat, then turn around, turn away, and beat a retreat to save your very soul. don’t sit in the dark, jump up and flee to the light. follow the exit sign to freedom.

sometimes not seeing is good. sometimes not hearing is better. And, sadly, sometimes not going is best.

sometimes you save time by not wasting time, by not going just to get where you’ve already been, many times before.