For those of you hating on ski masks.

Another explanation is: I like all of this shit and this is one of the ways the great capitalist system allows me to make a living off of doing shit that makes me feel good.

I dont think that people do it cause its cool or makes them feel like they are 7 again. I think its a genuine step towards doing something because there doesn’t need to be an explanation and is totally natural or organic. What led this to, more or less, look like “monster art?” I think that this came about because its unconventional and new in way. “I say fuck paintings of scenic landscapes and fuck Picasso. I want to do something that makes no sense and has no historical relevance.” And maybe, fuck your art teacher who told you that proportion was wrong and it should have more realistic features..

Overall, the reason I make the shit I do has no purpose other than experimentation. To try shit new and ambitious on my own behalf is what excites me the most. Sometimes, I even do it just to see if I can make mine better than the other persons. My influence comes from all of those places I had mentioned prior.

I think it’s hilarious how you try to make this some big argument. I bet that a lot of people are thinkin, “is this guy just an ignorant red neck with a ski mask, or does he have any evidence to back up his own remarks???”

PS i like your deer drawings

You can have you monster art. There is no movement or bill being passed to make it illegal. There is no reason to not love what you do and what you believe in.

The real question for me with this whole discussion that was brought up by Kevin Lewis is what is your belief system. If you are making art be aware of what you are doing. It adds to our cultural fabric by doing so. If you don’t know why you are doing it admit it. Say I don’t know. Ask questions?

This discussion can continue if you’d like as Mr. Creegan posted more on the subject here.

http://www.jaxcal.org/uncategorized/c-is-for-crux

If you’d like to add to Mark’s discussion Eric I’d be more than happy to discuss it further on his post.

I’ve always been a big fan of monsters, so naturally I’m digging monster art. But seriously, it’s no new phenomenon. Monsters have been popular in art and media pretty much non-stop since the 60’s. Sure, they were popular before then with Nosferatu, and the Universal monster flicks, but it wasn’t until the 60’s that you saw monsters starring in sitcoms and adorning lunchboxes. At its beginnings of being a staple of American pop culture, it started as escapism, to alleviate cold war tensions although many of the films of that time revolved around nuclear warfare or atomic-generated super-beings, humanity always fought the monster and won. But now, a half-century later, it’s become something more than that, it’s become nostalgic, campy, and fun. I love monsters for their pure aesthetics. They can be as scary, as silly, as over-grown, as decomposed as you’d like. They can be anything, and there’s no wrong way to make a monster.

I’m not a big fan of landscapes, but I’m not going to make a video blog about it. Why should I spearhead a movement against something that many other people enjoy just because I don’t like it? I’m sure the monster fad will die off soon enough, as all fads do, but it’ll never totally die because there will still be people like me who love monsters, not because they’re “in,” but because they’re fun, and will continue to create them just for that reason.

As for belief systems…
when the polar icecaps melt, and we are all scrambling for that little speck of grass left at the top of any mountaintop, people like you can explain to our children why belief systems are pointless.

I believe there are no atheist in a foxhole. I believe that to the fullest as I’ve never seen as many people at church on Sunday as I did when in basic training during a time of war, and I’m not “religious”.

I believe when gas becomes 12 dollars a gallon, and someone foolishly drops another nuclear bomb all of the monster artists will begin to find their belief systems very quickly. And the only BS will be that coming out of our overpriced poisoned cattle if there are any left.

I think my urgency to believe in something and to have others too also (the belief that they can change the world through their art) is because I have two children and I want them to live full and healthy lives.

I also believe that these are not times to be taken lightly. This I believe.

I think that explains it all.

http://www.jaxcal.org/globatron/art-coverage-2

Lifter, you still have not defended your work with a point blank statement about why you do it. Art may be impossible to define but why you do it shouldn’t be. That’s the apathy I continue to speak of. Just saying I do it because it’s cool, and it’s a style doesn’t work for me.

I don’t understand why artists can hide behind cool and style and fashion as a reason to be making art. Why are you making the work? It shouldn’t be that hard to answer. I do it because…. It makes me feel…. I believe …. Those are great ways to start an artist statement.

One of the best series out today on NPR is the This I Believe series where folks write about what they believe in.
Take a listen:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138

I think we all should define what we believe in yearly or quarterly. Especially artists. If you aren’t then it’s really hard for some folks to take your art seriously.

Byron, Im not sure what you think you need to here in order for any of these readers to “defend” their ideas. Monster art isn’t any different than any other movement or style. It’s just an evolution of people’s interest or an objective interpretation of another style. Art is basically impossible to define. Everyone thinks of it differently. I hate Polluck. I used to hate Warhol. Now I like flat vector, tomorrow I might like your stuff. Who knows… Thats just how shit works.

I wonder exactly what you are referring to?

Other than actually purchasing local art, (of which like a few others I have a substantial collection) and volunteering my space for several years for shows, charging NO COMMISSION for any sales, I don’t believe that I resemble your sentiment expressed above. Certainly the implied viewpoint has never been mine, although I don’t doubt that people are very willing to project their own perceptions and insecurities so strongly that I apparently neednt be present for them to occur.

I do think its childish to get angry at someone like Byron or JaxCal, simply on the basis that their opinion might not be flattering.

Art simply cannot be one huge round of circle jerking, and unless there is a difference of opinion there isnt much fucking reason to create any art more challenging that watercolor daisies is there?

I think it is a reasonable and expected thing for the commentors on this thread to disagree with the opinions expressed, but certainly not disagree with the right, need, and calling that to actually express them.

As it happens, I disagree with Byron’s opinions on the particular show. I love the Monster Art. Why not?

But people arent taking on Byron’s opinion in this thread, they are taking on Byron as a person simply for expressing the opinion.

Which kind of defeats the whole purpose of creating art, I think.

Thankfully there is a difference of opinions and taste. No one, obviously, can be an arbiter of Absolute Value for all aesthetics. If so, then all outsider artists would be forever destroyed and we would never reinvent the world around us.

Art and criticism are the mother and father of the culture. Without art, criticism is simply vicious, without criticism, art is simply bland and usually meaningless.

Of course there is always the occasional asshole that decrys and insults works that they cant reproduce our of jealousy, spite, malice or just simply because mocking someone is so much cooler than looking eager or helpful.

Does anyone really think that any of those motivations are in operation here?

I for one don’t.

So if Byron doesnt like squid dust’s work, great.

You can’t please everyone all the time.

Not everyone can be the Mayor of Awesometown at the Supercool Rodeo all the time.

Obviously other people feel differently.

Like stefanie (who I don’t believe I have ever met) and her unsolicited remark about me—even though I certainly wasnt a writer, videographer, scripter or artist in the Monster show—, you just have to realize that. People are entitled to think whatever they like.

And thats ok. Most people are pretty decent, I have found over the years, and they just are excited about the prospect of getting into a conversation about something that interests them.

It would be insane to kill that basic thing by making everyone afraid to speak wouldnt it?

it’s the monster crowd who hasn’t backed their case up in any educated manner yet.

read the whole thread Sean. that wasn’t a safe response at all. I’ve gone pretty in depth explaining my opinion on the matter and now you guys are just sort of beating a dead horse.

there are no winners here man. it’s not a contest. And I didn’t ATTACK anyone. It was a generalized question about a art movement of sorts. One that doesn’t seem to be able to take any criticism.

My opinion was completely expressed in the video post. I don’t feel there are any concepts behind the majority of the work and the fact that you guys can’t back it up that there is by going into the actual concepts is some proof of that.

So it’s not me who needs to back anything up.

And… naming ten artists who you relate to is not backing up your concepts.

Why not answer for yourself? I know your video was created “in good fun” and “to stimulate dialogue” but why let James answer all your questions with his opinions? Why say “what WE’RE talking about.”
So far its James Greene I’m hearing the most logic from, not Byron King. Try to personally compose a response as cohesive, mature, logical and educated as his — rather than saying “amen! thats what I was saying!”

If its “we” talking, do some MORE talking.
THIS is a true dialogue.
As I said before, YOU attacked Squid Dust.
Back your shit up too.