{"id":5858,"date":"2020-03-22T15:30:51","date_gmt":"2020-03-22T19:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/?p=5858"},"modified":"2020-03-22T16:21:32","modified_gmt":"2020-03-22T20:21:32","slug":"get-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/articles\/get-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Together"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"kolaj19-p4-5\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

EDITORIAL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the Myth of the Lonely Artist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Too often we talk about art as the product of independent genius. The artist, as mythical figure, toils alone in their studio to weave a golden thread of creativity into a magnificent oeuvre. In only the rarest, most tragic instances is this true. Most artists, and in particular most great artists, surround themselves with smart, intuitive, thoughtful people with whom they engage on a regular basis. Good art is inherently social and the production of art is a community-based activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Act Like You\u2019re Not Hurting<\/em> by Jay Riggio
15\u201dx11\u201d; ink and glue on cold press paper; 2017. Courtesy of the artist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This editorial originally appeared in Kolaj #19<\/a>. For more news from the world of collage, Subscribe<\/a> or Get a Copy<\/a> of the print magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mythology carries over to how we show art. The solo exhibition, the retrospective, is the art world\u2019s way of announcing that an artist has achieved some standing. It signals that a gallery believes enough in an individual artist that they are willing to invest a month\u2019s worth of rent, utilities, and staffing. Critics are biased towards covering a solo show and use it to frame an artist for their reader, to tell the story of the artist\u2019s evolution, process, or journey. Rarely do we acknowledge the professors, friends, family, benefactors, professional peers, mentors, occasional acquaintances, and drinking buddies, all of whom, in small (and sometimes large) ways contribute to the artist\u2019s efforts. If it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly takes a village to make good art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rarely do we acknowledge the professors, friends, family, benefactors, professional peers, mentors, occasional acquaintances, and drinking buddies, all of whom, in small (and sometimes large) ways contribute to the artist\u2019s efforts.<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Paolozzi-Klokvormig-Masker\"
Klokvormig Masker<\/em> by Eduardo Paolozzi
9″x7.5″; collage on paper; 1946-1947
Courtesy of Flowers Gallery, London. \u00a9Trustees of the Paolozzi Foundation, licensed by DACS <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Astute viewers can tell when an artist is too isolated. The art becomes idiosyncratic, self-involved. The visual language becomes a sort of cryptophasia, understandable only to the artist and their inner self. Certainly, there are times when aesthetics and mystery mingle to make savant-like output and the art world is more than willing to indulge such characters, but more often than not, such endeavours are fueled more by bravado, flash, and ego (and some good marketing) than meaningful artwork that speaks to and moves other people.

Eduardo Paolozzi, whose retrospective at Whitechapel Gallery is discussed in this issue, reminded me of all this. Whitechapel offers a brilliant exhibition and reflection on this important 20th century artist whose work went a long way to legitimizing collage as a valid, contemporary medium. Throughout Paolozzi\u2019s life, he worked in community with other artists, writers, and thinkers. In Paris in the late 1940s, he spent time with Alberto Giacometti, Jean Arp, Constantin Brancusi, Georges Braque and Fernand L\u00e9ger. On returning to London, he chose Chelsea, that influential borough of artists, as the location for his studio. In 1952, he, along with others, founded The Independent Group and organized exhibitions with artists working in diverse array of media: Richard Hamilton, Toni del Renzio, William Turnbull, Nigel Henderson and John McHale. He taught sculpture and ceramics at institutions that gave him access to academic communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paolozzi engaged, corresponded with, and lifted up other artists. We can choose to see the body of art he left behind as one man\u2019s product or we can choose to see it as one man\u2019s ability to build a community of people around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collage artists in particular seem drawn to each other. At Kolaj Magazine<\/em>, we routinely see the output of artists in cities around the world who come together to collage together or to exhibit their art. Hundreds of groups online organize, plan, and share work with one another. In September, some of these \u201cbeautiful monsters\u201d will gather in Milan for the 4th edition of the Collagistas Festival. This is a beautiful thing. If this magazine has made its way to you and you don\u2019t count yourself as part of one of these communities, what are you waiting for? The doors are open. You and your art will be better off if you walk through them.
\u2014Ric Kasini Kadour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This editorial originally appeared in Kolaj #19<\/a>. For more news from the world of collage, Subscribe<\/a> or Get a Copy<\/a> of the print magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EDITORIAL Against the Myth of the Lonely Artist Too often we talk about art as the product of independent genius. The artist, as mythical figure, toils alone in their studio to weave a golden thread of creativity into a magnificent…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5860,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-ric-kasini-kadour","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Paolozzi-Klokvormig-Masker.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2QTD7-1wu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7349,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/news\/selections-from-the-artist-directory\/","url_meta":{"origin":5858,"position":0},"title":"Selections from the Artist Directory","author":"kasini","date":"18 August 2018","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Selections from the Kolaj Magazine Artist Directory Kolaj Magazine\u2018s Artist Directory is a tool for organizing and cataloguing artists who work in the medium of collage. Its audience includes the general public as well as independent curators, art venues, and writers. The editorial staff of\u00a0Kolaj Magazine\u00a0uses the Artist Directory to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Artists","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/david-bellard-forest-portals.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/david-bellard-forest-portals.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/david-bellard-forest-portals.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/david-bellard-forest-portals.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":604,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/news\/kolaj-magazine-launches-artist-directory\/","url_meta":{"origin":5858,"position":1},"title":"Kolaj Magazine Launches Artist Directory","author":"kasini","date":"30 July 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Kolaj Magazine has announced the creation of an artist directory that will serve as a tool for organizing and cataloguing artists who work in the medium of collage. Its audience includes the general public as well as independent curators, art venues, and writers. The editorial staff of Kolaj Magazine will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artist-Directory.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artist-Directory.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artist-Directory.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2296,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/news\/call-artists-collage-artist-trading-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":5858,"position":2},"title":"Call to Artists: Collage Artist Trading Cards","author":"kasini","date":"1 April 2014","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Maison Kasini seeks collage artists for Collage Artist Trading Cards.","rel":"","context":"In "Calls for Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Calls for Artists","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/calls-for-artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pack-21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pack-21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pack-21.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7671,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/kolaj-fest-new-orleans\/get-your-art-together\/","url_meta":{"origin":5858,"position":3},"title":"Get Your ART Together","author":"kasini","date":"26 May 2019","format":"gallery","excerpt":"AT KOLAJ FEST NEW ORLEANS Get Your ART Together at Cafe Istanbul, Wednesday, July 10th, 2019, 11AM to 3PM How to make a living as an artist? 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Courtesy of the artist and Blouin Division, Montreal. FROM KOLAJ 29 Collage & Assemblage Artists Longlisted for Sobey Art Award 2020 Annually, the prestigious Sobey Art Award is presented jointly with the National Gallery of Canada to a Canadian artist under\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/caroline-monnet-r-value.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/caroline-monnet-r-value.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/caroline-monnet-r-value.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/caroline-monnet-r-value.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18471,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/calls-for-artists\/call-to-artists-montreal-city-as-archive-artist-lab\/","url_meta":{"origin":5858,"position":5},"title":"Call to Artists: Montreal: City as Archive Artist Lab","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"1 June 2026","format":"gallery","excerpt":"CALL TO ARTISTS Montreal: City as Archive Artist Lab A five-day, in-person Artist Lab at Atelier Galerie 2112 in Montreal, Quebec, CanadaTuesday, 28 July to Sunday, 2 August 2026 with two virtual meetings on Zoom (dates to be determined) Early Deadline to Apply: Sunday, 14 June 2026Final Deadline to Apply:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Calls for Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Calls for Artists","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/calls-for-artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Montreal-City-as-Archive-5x4b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Montreal-City-as-Archive-5x4b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Montreal-City-as-Archive-5x4b.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Montreal-City-as-Archive-5x4b.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5858"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5858\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}