Tyree Guyton Lecture

So this lecture was more of a presentation and a Q & A session.  Basically, it had to do with a man who decided to pretty up his neighborhood by trying to make art out of junk, the abandoned buildings around him, and paint.  For Detroit, I think what he had done to add some color is wonderful.  I also think that what he has done for the people of his community is equally awesome.

That said, it's only because it's Detroit that I think this idea works so well (that city is on it's way out).  In all honesty, if it were anywhere else, I don't think I would want to see junk piled up everywhere and polka-dots on everything.  Someone said his art is "always changing," but I have to step back and disagree in a way.  You see, for every thing that changes, there is always an element that stays the same.  The fact that he paints everything with large round circles is never going to change.  Also the "shoes in trees" thing, I will never quite understand.  I get that maybe he wanted to pay homage to the African Americans who were lynched several decades ago, but I believe if that's the point, he should find one place, and stick with that one place.

He says that: "Art is everything... things I see, things I don't see."  Well when you put it that way, why am I in school?  After all, since art is "everything," couldn't I just film the sky and call it a piece?

I'll let people think on that.  But my point is, you don't want me to film the sky.  Why?  Because you don't give a flip about it.  It doesn't interest you.  In fact, it doesn't even interest me.  So, you can see why I disagree with his point of view.  Given, religiously, he would have a point, but we're not profits.  We're just artists that want our art to speak to people.  So maybe, is art something that speaks to someone?  You tell me.

I do believe that art is owned by the community.  Though, rather than continued by them (like he does), I think the community owns art more because it keeps going to see it where ever it is.

So, while I don't believe in Guyton's views really, I do think that his project has done something for the population of Detroit.  For that reason alone, I think it was a success.  As an artist, though, he comes off as egotistical and opinionated.  I think I much rather would have listened to someone else speak instead (especially someone that might actually relate in the slightest to my field).