The ACC Baltimore show was great, we got to meet lots of new artists, galleries, and fans. This was a great opportunity to introduce the Blast Art line of furniture to the public. From the response we got, it's a hit! There was considerable buzz surrounding the work which I am extremely flattered and humbled by. There were so many great artists at this show. The NBC Baltimore affiliate WBALTV did their morning spot from my booth, that was so cool, check it out: http://www.wbaltv.com/r-video/26979887/detail.html I have been busy working on new work and preparing work for galleries that have placed orders. If you have need of some Blast Art please contact me so we can discuss what you need and make sure you have it when you need it. In May I am participating in a sculpture exhibition at the Clemson Art Center in Clemson, SC, this will be featuring area sculptors and their work. In the meantime take a look at some of the pics we took of my Drawn furniture placed in a home, these were purchased and now reside in Baltimore, MD. The Spotted Dog was recently installed at the Paw Spa Bonetique in Wichita Falls, TX.
The Problem:
I often feel as if artists are marginalized, yet revered, by the "normal" world. Visual communication, visual understandings can give us the most information about our surroundings. They tell us the mood of a crowd, what is important, what isn't, they lure us in or repel us away, they can be calming or exciting, or tell us when a situation is safe or we need to move on, but the key is for people to learn to read these visual cues just as they do a great piece of literature. Art class is the only established means that people really seriously learn these cues in order to control them, rather than the cues controlling them. Think about it, would anyone in this country think it would be a good idea to only teach reading, math, social studies or the other "core" subjects once a week for 30-45 minutes and only through grade 5. But that is exactly what has happened to one of the most important skills that humans possess. This neglect of our visual skills is a systematic failure, it creates people who see it as ok, to say "all I can draw is a stick person". Would this very basic, and incorrect, development of skill be considered acceptable in any other subject? I highly doubt it. But yet our nation lets millions of people go through school and be considered "fit for duty" upon graduation while many have not had any serious training in the visual arts.
The Consequences:
I: We have a population that has grown up being filled with images and ideas about the way things are or should be, based on ad wizards who have studied and understand the visual cues that make us crave their products, ideas, or perceptions. Many people have no idea when they are being affected by these messages and are then at the mercy of those who know more about visual language. II: Art is relagated to an extra in many peoples lives, its something that hangs on a wall and matches their sofa. It is something they pick up at Target. Art is not something you buy at Target, or something that matches your sofa, it is something that transforms your understandings, your surroundings, something that you share with another person that speaks beyond words. We have to understand that the art that we like may not appeal to our friends, and that is ok!
My Belief:
I believe that art should be a "core" class in the schools, students should be required to learn about and create visual art throughout their education time. This I believe will create a much more creative population, one that can transform and find new strategies to confront the problems that we face as a country. A better visually educated population will produce more artists and more art lovers, people who see art as essential to life, people who understand their world better. We need to search out original art that goes beyond great craft or a nice image and becomes something new and unique to itself. Art can help us understand who we were, who we are and who we may become, it inspires us to do more and be better, and these are good things, we should cultivate this in every person. The good news is that art can be learned at any age, but it up to each person to seek it out, there are no universal programs out there that are going to teach you art, but you can find the resources online, and in your communities. We can't let another generation fall through the constructed "cracks".
A final thought: Think of all the cultures that have gone before us from the Lascoux caves in France to the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks, the ancient Romans, the Pre-Columbian peoples, and others. Now what did you see, I bet it was their art, the cave paintings, the pyramids, the Greek and Roman statues and the ancient ruins of Mexico and South America. Art is what lasts, for within art is the language, the temperament, the ideas, the soul of a people. Now think about what will be our legacy...
It seems that many people think that artists get to "play" all the time. This is one aspect of the creative process, but I have found that if you play all the time and don't network, meet people or go to important meetings you will soon be "playing" in the poor house. Much of being a successful artist depends on your ability to find those people and organizations that you can work with to create your art and place it. This "business" end of things can be time consuming, but it vital to an artists survival.
This week has been busy. It all started out on Monday, I decided I was going to get some new work finished for First Friday this Friday, so off to the basement I went. That was a breath of fresh air for me as it seems that much of my time is tied up with running here or there, doing this or that, and not making art. As an artist I need to be making art so this time was very much appreciated.
On Tuesday I had a meeting that I was able to meet some great people, I ended up talking with JJ Ohlinger, who has organized Caffene in Greenville. They are a group that is dedicated to actively engaging each other and the community in ongoing exploration and development of contemporary artistic themes and idea. This group is interesting to me because they go beyond just making at and have organized to critique each others work and also run forums where they educate the general public about contemporary art.
Today, I had a meeting with and organization the I hope to create a new public artwork for. We talked and I was given a tour of their amazing facilities. I will give more details as things develop further, sorry you will have to wait.
I was supposed to be interviewed for the Greenville News tomorrow but I am sending my wife Sarah instead, she hasn't been able to get in the studio this week so I will send her tomorrow as I need to stay home and finish some work up for First Friday and also be home when our youngest gets home from 4K.
We are looking forward to First Friday and meeting more art friends. Things are looking bright as we continue to make art and make connections in this place that is our new home.
Well here I go... the first blog of my life, HA. Its interesting because I really don't read any blogs but I hear they are a good way for people get to know you and your art. I guess I will start by introducing myself, my name is Matthew (Matt) Kargol, I am an artist, sculptor, public artist, arts advocate, idea man, dreamer, and probably a few other terms, but you get the idea. My life is art. My Wife Sarah is an artist and our 4 sons are artists, its what team Kargol does best. About six months ago we embarked on a wild journey to pursue art full time, I decided to apply all the knowledge that I have acquired through my time as an art student, art teacher, grad student, art professor, public artist etc... So the journey begins, we have set up a small studio in Greenville, SC at Art Crossing at River Place, we are in Studio 201. It's nice and the other artists are really great, we work together to promote and support each other in our artistic careers.
It hasn't been easy but I feel that things are starting to get going. I am adding architectural signage to my offerings as it allows me to use my design and sculpture skills to help others promote their businesses. I have also been working on developing my painting. So what happens when a sculptor paints, a big mess... being a sculptor I respond to the physicality of material, so its a natural extension for me to use paint in the same way, using gravity and forces to create my paintings. I have also extended these techniques to include patinas on metal.
I am continuing to work on large scale public artworks and hope to be commissioned for some shortly. Blast Art has developed another branch that helps others plan and carry out the planning, selection, and acquisition of artwork for their home, business, campus, city or anywhere that art needs to be placed.
Through this blog I hope to keep y'all informed about whats happening in the studio and beyond, I hope to interview other artists, and people connected to the arts. I will let you know when we have events going on so you can all come and be a part of it. I will also probably do a fair bit of rambling about my thoughts and contemplations about art and life. Please feel free to contact me with any ideas or questions that you may have and I will try to either answer it here or in a personal e-mail. I look forward to getting to know more of you out there and spreading the work about Blast Art!