The Brits are always the best at the acerbic one liner. Kasabian, a great band from Britain, let loose on the music industry moneyboy, Justin Timberlake, with a couple of great shots. My favorite - "Sexyback? More like hairy back. It's the worst title of any record I've ever heard!"
The bigger issue is why this pap is force fed through the MTV airwaves. Once again it is the corporate fear and loathing that makes us all a part of the widget equation. The good news is that it's part of the reason MySpace is about to provide opportunities for anyone with a page to sell their music. It's gonna be anarchy in the music business soon - with every garage band in the country trying to one up each other. Wow - imagine the possibilities for NEW unheard of things happening. Right now there is an unknown Prince somewhere recording in his incense/candle lit basement bedroom - and the chances that he will Myspace his music and get heard by throngs of listeners are phenomenal. Who knows - we might run into a gene pool of little geniuses who are using the technology - many of whom would have been shut out of the system before because some suit thought their music wouldn't make any money or because of how they weren't photogenic or because of the way they dressed.
I believe artists can take this as a sign. Our corporate art model needs to change. I, for one, am tired of the power of the Chelseans. There are more and more galleries opening all the time hoping to make some dough from this current art collecting frenzy. But the work they show and provide as "collectible" is merely fashion - and then most galleries take 50 percent of the sale. Regardles of whether your work is fashionable or not let's look at the realities. That means if you work your ass off trying to come up with something new and different, something real - and don't we all - the gallery that "let's you" put your work on the wall will take half of your reward! Even a Hollywood agent hasn't figured that deal out yet! Most artists don't make Eric Fischl money. If you're selling through a mid level gallery and you're lucky enough to sell out your show of 10 large paintings that has taken you a year to produce - let's be generous and say they go for 10 grand apiece - you've grossed 100 grand. Ok - then the gallery takes HALF - now your salary for the year is down to 50 grand. Then you cover the expenses - studio rental-materials-taxes etc - we'll leave out living expenses. You might net 35 grand for the year - but I doubt it - this is a best case scenario. In NYC, especially, that means the money is coming from some other source. Basically you're teaching or working for a corporation or you're independently wealthy. On top of that because of the fashion factor you may not sell anything next year. In which case the gallery will drop you like a hot potato to pick up this year's selling artist. All this because of "prime wall space" or as I like to call it - God's Country. The days of a Leo Castelli carrying you for a few years until the public catches on are OVER! The art world NEEDS a Myspace - who knows - there might be a genius gene pool to come for us as well!
As far as the fashionable work we've been seeing - that will change - it always does. Don't get me wrong - there are good artists working and being shown, but there is a similarity of style, quality and creativity to all of it. I am anxiously awaiting this seasonal kickoff and I'll be looking for signs of REAL change. I hope I find it!
