Art Problems

EP 32: Do We Need Art Criticism?

Does anyone even read art criticism any more?
For years, the prevailing wisdom told us that the art industry needs art criticism to grow. And yet, today, the industry is larger than ever; the number of professional art critics in the country is dwindling, and those writing reviews aren't having them read.
So, do we need art criticism? Is art criticism itself the problem? Is it too positive to be taken seriously or too negative to qualify as anything more than clickbait?
In this episode of Art Problems, Paddy Johnson summarizes the recent online discussions about criticism, focusing on Sean Tatol's "Negative Criticism" and Ben Davis's "Is Criticism Too Positive" and explains why this conversation is relevant to artists.
If you struggle to understand the media landscape, this podcast will help you understand the stakes so you can make better decisions about where to spend your time.
Professionals discussed: Jerry Saltz, Sean Tatol, Ben Davis, Jason Farago, Joanna Freeman, Jackson Arn, Josh Baer, Jeff Poe
 
Relevant links:
https://www.thebaerfaxtpodcast.com/e/jerry-saltz/
https://news.artnet.com/opinion/sean-tatol-negative-reviews-part-1-2353302
https://news.artnet.com/opinion/sean-tatol-negative-criticism-part-2-2353305
https://news.artnet.com/multimedia/the-art-angle-podcast-state-of-art-criticism-2358970
https://thepointmag.com/criticism/negative-criticism/
http://19933.biz/manhattanartreview.html

EP 31: Managing Self Doubt

In this podcast, Paddy Johnson discusses how you can participate in the art world at the level you want to participate when you are afraid that your work isn't at that level. 
What are the symptoms of self doubt?
How can simple avoidance behaviors be mitigated?
And how can more complex fear-driven avoidance be tackled?
The answers to all that and more inside today's podcast.
 
Relevant links:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-25-how-to-work-an-opening/id1591933339?i=1000561557530
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moving-towards-self-acceptance-with-julie-peppito/id1646991472?i=1000601638275

EP 30: How to Combat The Rising Cost of Being an Artist

In this podcast, Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida discuss the increasing cost of museums, art fairs, application fees, and travel impacting artists and how to beat them.
You'll learn:
Where to stay when visiting New York that won't cost $500 or more a night
How to avoid a large fair entrance fee
And how to lower the cost of museum fees

EP 29: Every Networking Tip You Need for the Fall Art Season

The start of the fall season is upon us!
And with all fall events, so too comes feelings of excitement, mixed with overwhelm and sometimes even dread.
You might be asking yourself questions like,
"How do I get my art seen when there is so little press to cover the five million shows now open across the country?"
"How do I network at openings and fairs when no one wants to see my work unless I am the exhibiting artist?"
"How do I attend these events without bankrupting myself in the process?"
In this episode, I provide answers.
 
Relevant links:
Hyperallergic art fair discounts:
https://hyperallergic.com/841510/your-a-z-guide-to-new-york-city-september-2023-art-fairs/
Two Coats of Paint:
https://twocoatsofpaint.com/2023/09/nyc-selected-gallery-guide-september-2023.html
Art Haps Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17XFl-TJwmEMvdFPAfwUDVnwSDS6W7tMvdxu94vpmV00/edit#gid=0
Gallery Platform LA
https://galleryplatform.la/events

EP 28: Your Complete Guggenheim Fellowship Guide

In this episode, Paddy gives you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards for mid-career artists. The talk contains tips and strategies you won't find on their website, including knowing when to apply and how often. You won't find this information anywhere else, so have a listen. Even if you're not planning to apply, this episode will give you strategies for ALL grant applications.
 
Relevant links:
https://www.gf.org/

EP 27: Are You A Hunter or Trapper?

In this episode I talk with artist Eric LoPresti about defining success inside an industry that has few markers to gage it. LoPresti talks about his goals for his work, his approach to securing the opportunities he's gained, and a work strategy that identifies artists as either hunters or trappers. Listen to the podcast to learn more!
 
Relevant links:
http://www.ericlopresti.com/

EP 26: The Future of Social Media is Email

Welcome to the future where down is up, up is down, and email isn't just a spam storage service.
In this podcast, I share the news that many artists aren't going to like—email is back, baby! In many ways, it never left us, but in this episode, I discuss the recent media shift to newsletters and why artists should be placing their focus there as well.
 
If you haven't been building your mailing list, now is the time to start. It can transform your career.
Relevant links:
https://www.threads.net/@ezraklein/post/CvlcRaWuO21?hl=en
https://substack.com/
https://convertkit.com/

EP 25: The New Gallery Model Every Artist Needs to Know About

A gallery with an incredible curatorial record, a publishing wing, a 90% sales split to the artist AND 5% resale royalties may sound like an artist's fantasy, but it exists! Enter Testudo, a new online-first gallery dedicated to inclusivity, transparency and security.
In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with John Dennehy of Testudo, the gallery he co-founded with his partner Kirby Voigtman in 2021. We discuss the gallery model, its importance to artists and collectors, and the company's goals.
 
Relevant links:
https://testudomkt.com/
https://testudomkt.com/editorial
https://testudomkt.com/editorial/about-testudo
https://testudomkt.com/artist/courtney-puckett
https://www.vvrkshop.art/blog/is-site-specificity-relevant-to-a-generation-of-nomads-not-really

EP 24: How Has The Art World Changed?

In this episode, William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to talk about the changes in the art world, since 2017. Powhida and Johnson focus on Upstate Art Weekend and a recent New Yorker profile of Larry Gagosian to examine these changes, and use Powhida's 2017 show, "After the Contemporary" at the Aldrich Museum of Art, which imagines the art world of the future, as a starting point. 
 
Relevant Links: 
The World According to Larry Gagosian. FT.com
Upstate Art Weekend
How Larry Gagosian Reshaped the Art World. The New Yorker
After the Contemporary -The Aldrich Museum of Art

EP 23: How Netvvrk Helped Secure Close to a Million Dollars in Grant Funding For Artists

Oh, this episode is a doozy! In it, Paddy discusses how Netvvrk artists secured nearly a million dollars in grant funding for artists in just two years. The breakdown is in this episode if you want to know what Netvvrk artists are doing to secure awards like the Guggenheim Foundation Grant, The Pollock Krasner, JMF funding, and more. 
The tally, currently at $755,000, represents the dedication of the artists who join Netvvrk and the strength of the membership. And if you want to know more about the membership, I'll talk about it live Tuesday, July 18th, at 7:30 PM EST. 
Register Here