marty
02-01-2005, 01:56 AM
In a project that spiritually resembles the work of Studds Turkel, Martin Garcia, a Chicago painter, has traveled the city from the Northside to the Southside and from the Lakefront to the Westside doing portraits free of charge of, and for, people he meets in Chicago. Marty’s project, which received a CAAP Grant, spans race, religion, and socio economic backgrounds bringing fine art into the homes of people one at a time, ultimately 1000 times.
“I choose portraiture because of its accessibility across class,” he said in his promotional booklet, which one would find at Quimby’s bookstore on North Avenue. This project allows the sitter to become emotionally but not financially invested because Martin believes that financial investment in a work of art actually prevents emotional investment and that, since many people cannot afford a portrait, it is inherently exclusionary.
Beliefs that assigning a monetary value to a work of art may diminish the work’s psychological and social value started Martin working towards projects such as this. This project is attempting to break the code of high art and bring it to the doorstep of anyone who invites it. In this case, process supercedes product, and questions the very notion of ownership. It often engenders a deep understanding of what it means to have, and to have not.
Please respond with any questions, comments, or criticisms you'd like, you could also take the poll it would be appreciated
Thank you
Marty
“I choose portraiture because of its accessibility across class,” he said in his promotional booklet, which one would find at Quimby’s bookstore on North Avenue. This project allows the sitter to become emotionally but not financially invested because Martin believes that financial investment in a work of art actually prevents emotional investment and that, since many people cannot afford a portrait, it is inherently exclusionary.
Beliefs that assigning a monetary value to a work of art may diminish the work’s psychological and social value started Martin working towards projects such as this. This project is attempting to break the code of high art and bring it to the doorstep of anyone who invites it. In this case, process supercedes product, and questions the very notion of ownership. It often engenders a deep understanding of what it means to have, and to have not.
Please respond with any questions, comments, or criticisms you'd like, you could also take the poll it would be appreciated
Thank you
Marty