What do I think the role of the artists should be in society?
I know I've been asked this question a lot of times since I entered college and every time my answer changes. At first I thought the role of an artist was, obviously, to make art. Afterwards, I thought the role definitely must be to help others through art. Finally, I thought it was to educate others along with art. In the end I'm sorry to say I was completely confused as to what the role of an artist is.
I always thought every single person was an artist. My mom pulling two jobs is art to me. My sister's ability of always getting her way is an amazing art. The way people can enslave others is a horrifying art. So I guess as "artists" we're the ones that hold the mirror up to everyone else. The role of an artist is to show people what we have created. I feel as I would like to be a messenger; like I should show the world our art. In this way I can account for all the art in the on the planet - the ugly and the beautiful.
When I was in Sociology class and already saw the video we watched in Concepts and Practices, it inspired me. I made drawings and a clay statue based on that video. I was trying to show people themselves. How we were corrupting humanity and the world. One of my peaces, made of clay, was a beautiful woman covered in names like "Texaco" or "Wal-Mart". She was leaning over a box of mirrors looking at herself. From the back of this woman was emerging a monster. The whole time I was wondering what my role as an artist was, it was right in front of me. I was doing it. I was showing the people themselves. Showing the fake beauty we create, stained with our powerful "corporations" while on the inside we were creating an ugly monster. So in the end I guess I answered my own question, I want to be the one to show the world what we've become.
