Re: A question of artistry and experience
Posted by Catherine cartwright Jones on March 08, 1998 at 16:43:17:
In Reply to: A question of artistry and experience posted by jennifer on March 06, 1998 at 23:34:15:
I've supported myself as an artist craftsman since 1970...and I've
seen several art forms suddenly spread through the American
scene...and at the beginning of the spread, there are always some
people doing appalling work and offering it for sale, mostly because
they don't know better. Actually, in 1970 I was selling my art in
Venice beach, and often went back to my apartment weary because
sellers and buyers both seemed pretty clueless about excellence. In
any art form, though, as it spreads, people become more knowledgeable
and sophisticated, and the discriminating people will seek the best
quality and will be willing to pay for it. I'm sure this will apply
to the art of henna painting. It's a shame not everyone is born
striving for the best, in business practices, scholarship and the
arts...but....I'm regularly accused of being an elitist snob because I
don't gladly tolerate fools. Such is life in the arts, not only in
henna and on Venice Beach.
For my part, I teach mehandi every Saturday, and walk in armed with a
pile of books, make sure every student gets chemistry, history,
anthropology, sociology, religion, geography and linguistics as is
relevant to henna in the class. I run it on the same level as I do
when I teach at University, with as much care as my husband and I put
into the last three books we wrote. (not on henna...)( but that's
coming along nicely).
I feel comfortable making sure that a dozen people a week really
understand and appreciate the rich history of henna, and know that now
that will be a part of their life hereafter...and at our website, we
try to make it educational in regards to henna as well as commercial.
Every month we have up new lore on henna, and free patterns for
anyone to print out and use...in the hopes that that will raise the
general level of understanding and artistry. ( www.mehandi.com )
Yes, I'm arrogant about artistic standards and scholarship. That is,
after all. what's kept the bills paid.....
I suppose my point is...crummy art happens...especially when a new
form is expanding. There are a lot of dreadful garage bands at open
mike nights, but that's the spawning ground for future Bono Voxes. I
hope Venice Beach spawns some brilliant hennaeists....some other
wonderful artists have cut their teeth on that boardwalk since the
Beat generation hung out there....