Advice from John Baldessari

I saw this video of John Baldessari singing Sol LeWitt's statements on Conceptual Art at the Art Institute of Chicago Museum. Here is Sol LeWitt's statments on Conceptual Art (I'm only listing ten of them and you can listen to John Baldessari singing until #8; to read more lists of the statement, go to http://spitballarmy.com/?p=292):

1. Conceptual artists are mystics rather than rationalists. They leap to conclusions that logic cannot reach.
2. Rational judgements repeat rational judgements.
3. Irrational judgements lead to new experience.
4. Formal art is essentially rational.
5. Irrational thoughts should be followed absolutely and logically.
6. If the artist changes his mind midway through the execution of the piece he compromises the result and repeats past results.
7. The artist’s will is secondary to the process he initiates from idea to completion. His wilfulness may only be ego.
8. When words such as painting and sculpture are used, they connote a whole tradition and imply a consequent acceptance of this tradition, thus placing limitations on the artist who would be reluctant to make art that goes beyond the limitations.
9. The concept and idea are different. The former implies a general direction while the latter is the component. Ideas implement the concept.
10. Ideas can be works of art; they are in a chain of development that may eventually find some form. All ideas need not be made physical.

Wall Drawing No. 146 (1972) by Sol LeWitt
[blue crayon]

So here is an excerpt letter John Baldessari writes to a young artist. Soak up his wise words!

Dear Young Artist,

I started my career as a young artist in 1957. Then, there was not the money in art that there is today. Therefore, one made art because one needed to do so. I taught public school five days a week and painted when I could. I got married and participated in having two children, which made it more difficult to make art. I lived in National City, California, not an art center.

  My advice? Don't go into art for fame or fortune. Do it because you cannot not do it. Being an artist is a combination of talent and obsession. Live in New York, LA, Koln, or London. As for money: If you're talented and obsessed, you'll find a solution.

Yrs in art,

 John Baldessari

Beethoven's Trumpet (With Ear), Opus 127 2007

The Pencil Story 1972 - 1973