'Everyone is an artist'

Jan 23 2009, Written by Andrew Hibbard in Art,Playground, 0 Comments

Following the opening of “Escultura Social” and the Nasher’s family day, this post appeared on the Nasher’s blog.

Complete this sentence:

Everyone is a(n) _______________ .When we asked visitors to fill in the blank at the Nasher on Sunday, Jan. 18, during Family Day, we got some great answers.  Some examples:

…

Everyone is an artist, even bears.

We used the statement “Everyone an artist.” from artist Joseph Beuys as the jumping off point.  This idea serves as a backdrop for the current exhibition Escultura Social: A New Generation of Art from Mexico City.

It’s interesting that children and curators share this idea. Compared to typical museum and gallery art, it’s a contrary notion to think everyone is an artist. What appears in museums and galleries is typically there because, for whatever reason, it is exceptional. Part of the reason I admire art is because it’s something I could never do. It’s a talent and thought process so foreign yet so fascinating to me I can’t help but be transfixed.

So when I walked into the Nasher to see “Escultura Social” Friday, I thought this notion was interesting. It wasn’t until later that day when I met one of the artists featured in the show, Abraham Cruzvillegas, that I really believed it. He too was saying that everyone is an artist. And then I remembered the Anton Ego character from Ratatouille and his end-of-film revelation:

But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.

But then again, we can’t all be Brad Bird either.