[jfrancis]

I came across an old article in LA Weekly that hit a number of interesting topics:

http://laweekly.com/ink/02/08/art-harvey.php

On Lowbrow Art...

"One of the dark secrets of The Art World is that a majority of art students beginning their professional training, when asked who their favorite contemporary artists are, will name one Lowbrow practitioner or another. A great deal of energy is invested in disabusing them of such notions"

On Figurative Art...

"Many arguments that rage on the fringes of The Art World are central to Lowbrow: most conspicuously the polarization of the figurative versus the . . . well, the non-figurative. People want to look at pictures of people doing stuff."

On Making Money...

"Not only do Lowbrow shows seem to sell out faster and more frequently than their TAW equivalents, but Lowbrow artists routinely move lithographs in quantities and at prices unthinkable to most printmakers in TAW. They often get illustration gigs based on their signature styles, and there is an entire industry imprinting their imagery onto T-shirts, purses, Zippo lighters, appointment books, calendars, jewelry, light fixtures, furniture, dishware, etc."

http://laweekly.com/ink/02/08/art-harvey.php

[Impaler]

Reminds me of the art happenings around Santa Fe. You can't sell anything unless it's a rip-off of Georgia O' Keefe, or a cutesy rendering of some Pueblo indian scene, or some austere monochromatic landscape photo.

Oh, and lots of turquoise. Nothing says Northern New Mexico (and thereby, Southwestern United States) like literally pounds of turquoise hanging from your neck.
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QED, sort of.

[Nathos]

Personally, I find it to be intensely interesting how that in pretty much any field, you end up with self organizaing factions that seem to only exist to dislike anyone that doesn't think like they do.

It seems pretty universal that the "factions" refer to the "others" using some sort of emotionally charged (and frequently derogatory) name, while their name for themselves is usually a little more...respectful. Even if it all is really tongue in cheek in the first place.

Maybe I'm just wierd, but I find names like "lowbrow" and "The Art World" amusing.