I came across an interesting couple of people today. They were 2 gentlemen who are currently hosting an exhibition at the Moores Building in Fremantle. Writing an article for uni sent me down there, and I confessed to them my ignorance when it comes to art but they both facinated me.
They didn't strike me as the "artsy" type of people that I usually associate with what I like to call "proper" art (stuff thats not music, photography, writing etc), art you can hang on a wall, or walk around. One gentleman was a bricklayer when he wasn't an artist and to be frank, he sounded like he was living the dream. He had bought a block of land and built a house on it about 12 years ago so now, because he has a trade, he can basically work one week to earn some money to spend the next few weeks painting. The second fellow had a similar job working at the wharf in Fremantle. I ended up spending a lot longer than I expected standing and talking to these two men. I liked their accessibility as both people, and artists. They were aware of the fact that lots of people don't understand art and don't understand how artists work- but they weren't sarcastic or hardened toward people like that at all. Quite the opposite in fact.
They both spoke of a sense of frustration at the fact that ultimately when you present an exhibition, you as an artist are hoping that people not only like your work, but buy your work. Commercialism in art is a reality, and one of the gentlemen explained to me the differences between showing work at a private gallery, and using a space like the Moores Building where there is a lot more control from the artist themselves about what work goes in and how it is presented.
They were both very warm and charming people and I enjoyed the talk I had with them immensely.
If you read this before the 15th of May, go in and see the Milk exhibition.
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