Globacleanslate
10 September 2008
23 Comments
So to anyone interested, apparently I am taking the reigns of this blog. I have no plans for it (in keeping with my ever-improvisational, ambiguous artistic self) other than to make an effort to engage with it and with others regularly, creatively, honestly and forthrightly, whatever that means.
If you are wondering, Byron has asked me to do this as a possible solution to solve his own personal dilemma of juggling a job, family, his art, etc. I am glad to help with this and hope and look forward to his continued involvement on this blog- really his creation, his baby.
Mucho thanks to Byron for all his hard work at getting this quirky little site up and running. I am continually amazed at the effort he has put into this, and excited by the majority of the content he has contributed and inspired others to as well. I am continually impressed and humbled by the degree of outreach to other artists. My favorite moments when he interviewed former students of mine and those of my colleagues, the other interviews. I appreciate his passion for art, admire his creative energy and breadth of expression, and share most of his ideas, frustrations, and dreams for this community. For those and many other reasons, I tip my hat to Byron King.
I know his passions about art have angered some, but I know he means well and wants a vibrant art community just like I do, even if that community is 3 or 4 odd stiffs who share a strange gene that makes them want to look at and talk about new things and experiences.
Here’s an idear…I say we all give each other some slack, especially here in this smallish of small art communities. I just dont think we can afford to alienate or throw people under the bus just because they grate us the wrong way. That would be fine in a larger community where you can find another group of artists as easily as pie. We all have faults and we all have strengths, we are all saints and sinners. This basic philosophy has allowed me to befriend and enjoy the talents of and conversation with the likes of Mr. Lee Harvey (I mention him because he has always been controversial in these parts). Not to say I have been perfect in this endeavor, I am sure there are many acquaintances I have written off due to my own prejudices. I know some folks just don’t get along and that’s okay too. I am not suggesting forcing a love-fest here.
I regret if anything expressed on this blog has turned anyone off or upset anyone. That was never my intention nor my style. I am totally down with the virtue of telling it like it is, honestly, cuttin to the bone, all that, i just wonder if the internet is the best medium for that. I mean, how does one relay subtlety and sarcasm without the face 2 face?
I really like Kurt Polkey’s idea of regular face-to face meetings. Perhaps these could be video taped and uploaded to the blog as well. I think virtual space is fine for some things but not all. We lose subtlety of communication in many ways, no facial gestures, body-language, that sort of thing. We could open up the floor to anyone in the community who wants to present a topic or their work, etc. And air out any stuff in informal group discussions.
I know many of you out there disagree with this idea but I basically think this is a community blog- the fact that the conversation is published, the fact that it is available and referenced in various other sources like the Folio or other blogs, essentially makes this so. I realize its narrow in focus, it will never be as expansive and address the broad concerns and interests that other excellent blogs are engaged in (see urban jax, urban core, metrojax, etc) I know some have felt slighted because we do not post about all the local shows anymore. Joey, Madeleine, Tony, Brian and others cover that extensively and well. I think we are basically following our whims (see recent trend to post about politics and the wacky avant-garde music scene -thanks to Morrison!) and provide a service to the community in a different way than others (i.e. interviewing artists outside of the community). Not better, different.
Just like anything else, this is an evolving process, but i do think it could both service the community AND be true to our own quirky tastes. My main desire with this is, ultimately, i don’t want this to be about ME(quirky artist) but about US quirky artists (channeling Obama here, ‘scuse me) I admit I am not the most community minded dood round here, given the choice to go to to the artwalk last wednesday or watch dvd of the Wire, i did the latter. SO I personally come at this idea of “community” very flawed and half-hearted in many ways i have to admit.
I know this blog, this medium, this human (me) are flawed and will be into the future. Those of you currently down on Byron for one reason or another will soon be down on me for my (oh, let me count the ways) 1. Laziness 2. wishy-washiness, 3. not following thru on promises (so many times I promised Byron I would video tape a show, and not!) 4. and other personality defects I am self-delusional-y and gleefully blind too. Byron has in the past gotten my lazy butt in gear. I am so grateful for that. Basically Byron and I make a great team because we shore up each others flaws I think. I am sure this dynamic will continue. I know I need his help and expertise since my poor compooter skills..well hell i cant even SPELL cumpootir!
bear with me. Or bare? with me?… hmm, i seem to be asking us to join a nudist colony? strange.
wut say u??
Looking forward to the new direction you develop Globatron. Thanks for this post Mark. Very kind words. I really appreciate it.
Really wish we could all get along. Under your direction I’m sure we can make some very positive steps towards that goal.
Director Creegan has spoken. Thank you.
Today, director of an artblog,
tomorrow, vice-president of the United States!!
You’re a uniter,
Not a divider.
yes salvo, and lets hope that I am half as successful as GW!
And yer the decider, too! On that note, can I still post, boss? I swear I’ll do more relevant and less for the helluvit content, honest! I’m pumped!
(insert Howard Dean screeeech here!)
pump up he jam jimmy james!… uh i mean, yes indeed!
who else out there wants to join in? If i digs what ya gots I will let ya on da air!
ideas people!?
What now? I’m not sure if Mark has enough experience for this?
well, he makes a speech like a leader, he he.
i am glad we have a new leader, just because that is exciting, and this will free BK up to let his inner globatron go freaky to the 10th power.
but i do think we should have a term limit of 4 years, that way we won’t be stuck with this Creegan character forever. and in that spirit i am announcing my plans to run for Globatron president 2012, when I plan to free this blog from the corruption and special-interest groups that are currently plaguing it.
no seriously folks, if anything, this blog seems to be a blog devoted to the question of what a blog is, what the definition of ‘is’ is. is. is. and that is awesome.
good luck Creegan and you can count on me to make you regret this decision, for I am Akbar LIghtning and it is my nature to resist authority, it’s not personal.
peace, love and all hail him.
oh yeah, i had an idea. if you Director get an idea for a post and you think one of the posters, i.e. AKbar, or Globatron, etc. would fit the post, perhaps you could send out assignments, of course, they would be suggestions, but that might be a way of giving feedback on the front end. like ‘hey akbar, do some lightning about messianic lesbianism!’ and I would be like ‘ok, that sounds fun.’ just an idea
all hail,
akbar
akbar eh? And just wut dark medrassa did you crawl out of, hmmm? ANd wuts this “Lightning” bizness? Not too veiled references to both fundamentalist Islam AND climate change!? smooth!
Im on to you mister (If mister is your REAL orientation!)! Get out yer flag pen cuz Im gonna be all up in ya like a Karl Rovian colonoscopy! ANd the camera STAYS!
Yes sirhan!
But for now I will listen to your suggestions and take credit for them..uh , i mean put them into action. Expect assignments very soon, once i get my art shit up in that museum house.
ANd as my first decree/ assignment I ask Kurt to decide on a date and time for first meeting.. no votes, just say it and we will be there (unless im teaching).
PS isnt my baby’s baby-daddy so hawt!?
[...] Marks post at Globatron/Jaxcal.org [...]
Hey there Mark. WOW, I havent posted a comment on Jaxcal(Globatron) in forever. Just wanted to drop you a line to say congrats. I typed up a long post over at http://www.theouterbox.com about you taking “the reigns” at the ol’blog here. I have always had much respect for you and how you handle yourself and your commentary. Keep up the good work Mark! The slate is clean sir.
If all we needed was Mark to take on a title as Director for us all to get along then I’m all for it.
I’ll be posting regularly as always but this will help me breathe a little better with my two children and other responsibilities. I felt as if globatron was my third child and it was getting way too much for me to handle without letting the stress get to me.
I’m looking forward to what Mark does as the Director and the concept for this was for it to be a rotating position to share the responsibility among members. So when Mark’s done with it we can pass that role onto another member.
the bus is loaded with hacks and their commy friends, i will throw them under when ever i see fit. fuck it most are hollow and the content shows, but you guys are my art friends so be the future…
hey thanks Brian,
And yes this is a rotating thing. Not that much will change each time but i think it will make things lively. And since multiple people contribute it just makes sense to share the load.
Plus i am really glad to help Byron out and i feel it will get my buttocks in gear since i feel a little more responsible with Byron’s baby here. Hopefully i wont muck it up too much.
yes, i will be careful with its fontanel!
My past few years with JaxCal/Globatron.
This site was really charming when it was JaxCal: The Jacksonville Contemporary Arts League. The idea of an arts league sounded so wonderful. Artists talking, dialoguing, working together, all that good stuff. Just charming.
It was of course, “run” by Byron, who happened to be a strongly opinionated fellow who was quick to get hot under the collar and really not afraid to ruffle a few feathers.
In its heyday, there were quite a few “contributors.” This obviously became quite the clusterfuck of advertisements and useless crap. So Byron – in a rare brilliant move – cut it down to the core. Some of the members of this core got in what I like to call “kick ass internet fights” with Byron and were promptly, if not angrily removed from the site. So it goes.
This site became a lot less charming and a lot more frightening when the core was cut further down and it became all about Byron. Instead of just stating his opinion, he looked to really get people going – calling it “dialogue” or “just my opinion, man.” Seeing the backlash (see: squiddust) fueled Byron. He created a whole new “character” and even – in what I would consider his worst move – changed the name and focus of the site. Suddenly for about a month, it was all about Byron/Globatron.
I mean I get it, Globatron represents so much for Byron…but what did it mean for our “art scene” and this site? It wasn’t the healthy arts dialogue he wanted…it wasn’t a league. It was a scary one man show.
Thankfully, deep in the comments, Mark Creegan was grabbing onto the steering wheel and pulling as hard as he could. Mark doesn’t want to piss people off. Mark’s about unity. As stated in this post even, “I just dont think we can afford to alienate or throw people under the bus just because they grate us the wrong way.” I think passing the reigns onto Mark is the best thing Byron King could do for our community. Byron is free to be Byron, have his opinion, post his videos, wear his mask, and do is thing. Its really fun to watch, and seeing you open up behind that mask is fascinating and enlightening. Its just not the best idea to call your site a “community” and lump all your “friends” into your set of skewed opinions. I don’t think you’ve ever really wanted this to be “Byron King’s Blog” ya know?
I’ve never met Mark Creegan or Byron King in person, but I will say based on loosely following this blog for the past few years: Mark Creegan can provide level-headed relevant arts discussion.
Maybe even a little unity.
Here’s to you Mark.
Can you turn this site back into an Arts League?
Sean the historian, that is how i wrap the package.
It’s all true.
fallen prophets make great party guests.
the gospel of sean is a good one, as fucked up as Akbar.
keep on commenting on it as ‘moves’, no seriously, take that further.
keep on finding purpose in this madness.
there is a back door somewhere, and there is a key.
there is a back yard and a grill.
there is me, there is the thunder rolling in dem hills.
Sean, all hail him, our historian. such minds are valuable to the lightning who is a flasher, one who strikes quickly but impulsively, and wipes out all detail, akbar appreciates this.
bushes need birds, cheneys need bushes, palin eats babies
akbar lightning strikes again.
Thanks Sean.
You validate Mark’s point. You and a small group who have held a grudge over a few posts. Really appreciate it. I knew that. You validate it.
I appreciate the kind words Mark said about me. Thank you Mark.
But what should I expect but the same. Even when trying to change it up a bit, another negative comment about a post several months ago.
Thanks for casting me in such a bad light Sean. I hope your opinion of me changes because you seem to have put a really lot of thought into it. And that’s not healthy my friend.
And if you want to play the historian this blog is just a year and a half old but it does seem like a few years doesn’t it? And it was not my idea to change the blog to globatron but the consenus of the group.
What have you contributed to the local art scene Sean? I think that’s what we should be talking about. What are you going to do to make it better my friend? What are we all doing? I don’t think dwelling on a couple of posts from several months ago and demonizing me for them is helping things much. Do you?
I for one am stoked to be doing Globatron and I know it’s made a hell of a lot of difference for me. I hope it has for others too. Just yesterday our Jerstin Crosby interview was linked up at the Nasher Museum’s blog at Duke University. I thought that was pretty neato.
And I have outgoing interviews with a Raleigh artist/musician, and a video artist from Mexico City.
Not throwing stones, just expressing my hope that Mark can bring this “blog” back to its full potential.
Observations.
Calm down.
Clean slate, remember?
I have participated, and will continue to participate.
Albeit not in your frightening “art scene”
Hugs and Kisses, you’ll never hear from me again.
Here’s to trying!
okay, i dont have much time but i want to put this out there. It is perfectly fine for people to flame out or argue. The mistake to my mind is when the result is shutting all engagement or conversation down. We all acknowledge different opinions and some expect and thrive on that, the key is not letting feelings get in the way or letting a sense of superiority take hold.
I must point out the SAME disageements existed in artist generations before ours (both locally and otherwise). Still today there are artists that for whatever reason do not speak to each other, do not respect each other, all that.
All this is for very human, tribalistic, emotional reasons, that cant be helped very much.
But I think, as individuals, we have a choice of how those dissagreements affect us. And how it affects our engagement with each other.
I have taken a HARD look at the generation before me/us and learned alot. Peoples careers have been affected negatively due to nothing more than petty crap.
I dont want to repeat that in either way (being a victim or victimizer).
This isnt about holding hands and singing cumbaya, its just the way one choses to interact and deal with others.
SEan is wRong and the Contributor is Right!
oooh, I think I ment the uther way arizound.
i like it, i like it.
i think it would be good to have a critic, a critic of the critics. perhaps he could make regular posts that are meant to criticize the Globetrotting tron.
Contributor is wrong and Creegan is right, i mean Akbar is confused and Palin eats babies.
peace, love and genetic engineering
akbar
This is obviously a smear campaign targeted at Palin. Sexism abounds.
Does Biden eat babies too Akbar? If that’s the case then I apologize.
Is eating babies legal in Alaska?
we need to have a tag team artist wrestling match for charity downtown, the parking lot of london bridge would do, put some excitement into a scene that needs an ass whooping.
Why don’t we just have some beers and talk it out.
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