Mary Mendell, Picnic, 12 x 12, b/w etching tinted with pastel
Mary Mendell is an artist who works primarily with etching techniques. She is represented by The Collectors Gallery and Archer Exchange.com. This is an Open Letter addressed to AR.
I'd like to urge you to continue with Artsramble.
I haven't been a regular reader, much less contributor. I have had little instinct for viewing art on a computer screen, Perhaps that is because I don't think etchings scan well, and I at least perceive myself as one not much interested in 'talking art'. This morning I was feeling disinclined to go down to the studio or out to work in the garden, and so, I spent some time looking at your site.
Here are some random thoughts.
Your discussion of the artist/gallery relationship was the first piece I read. Having sold exactly 3 pieces of art from galleries, it greatly widened my understanding of a problem I had reduced to: there is not enough money to be had in art to pay both artist and gallery enough for the cost of business.
Doug Stuber's essay on his life and painting was incredibly moving and struck a familiar chord with me on the power of artwork to maintain a threatened mental balance. I posted a totally inadequate one sentence thank-you for his contribution. I don't know what I would think about Stuber's painting, but I will try to find and look at them without the computer between us.
I read your essay on money and art–and found it a useful piece to nudge my own views. To add to my basic: either you're marketing or making work, never both at the same time.
Looking at the gallery of artists, I found works by many of those who have written comments–mostly about your giving up project blog. Perhaps there is a perception of your/the blog's having an inner circle. You probably do, but it might be a reason people read but do not contribute. There are artists who promote themselves and there are wallflowers. Since I know few names of gallery owners and local talking artists, I am not sure how much of a clique this is, but maybe that is an intimidating factor.
Many artists past and present have been articulate about their work (Motherwell, Diebenkorn, Welliver, David Smith are 20th century examples), many others don't want to say a thing. But the Artsrambler is clearly an articulate voice. One I would hope to continue. Its a beautiful website. (You are right, I earlier said I was not a frequent reader and didn't like viewing art on the screen. But I have gotten something from it. I am realizing that.) Perhaps you are ready to get back to making art in your studio, and if so as others on the site have suggested, you should do so, but I don't think you should feel the silent types have failed to appreciate your efforts.
I was amazed enough when I first saw the site to write and ask who you were. You googled me, as I suppose I should have googled you.
[A note to our paranoid readers: Artists are googled routinely as a way of discovering the thousands of us working in North Carolina. Truly we have looked under rocks to seek you out. 'Rambler]
Clearly you are a force–and if you're not bored with the project, just disappointed with the response, I urge you to continue, you have something very good going. I don't have the skills to offer to write for you, but I would offer time for any other work needed to maintain the site.
Mary Mendell
1. Jeanne Rhea Says:
April 17th, 2007 at 6:41 am e
Mary,
I had not seen your work, but it comes across on my screen very well—but I should seek it out to see in person. Definitely has a “pull” to it. I spent too much time looking at Welcome to the Revolution. I “googled” you, too. Love the cat and woman.
So glad you took the time to post many of your thoughts. Maybe, just maybe someone will step forward and lend a hand.
2. Antonio Rivera Says:
April 17th, 2007 at 1:14 pm e
Mary
Welcome to artsramble….your contribution is most welcome and may give this site an impetus to continue. You see, what matters to this community is not how much any of us know, but that all can share whatever they can.
Yes, some of us know each other (the rambler and I do) but we are not exclusive of others. The ramble came out of a felt need for a greater dialogue on all levels and about all the concerns artists have as beings and as artists.
I am a print maker too……I welcome you for that too.
send any thoughts you wish to share with us.
3. Constance Pappalardo Says:
April 18th, 2007 at 2:54 pm e
Mary; I know what you mean about feeling that we here might be a “clique” for I felt the same way when first I discovered this site, but I am a brazen hussy and decided to write to our webmaster and found that I was welcomed warmly after all. I know that we are on our last legs here, but please enjoy our company (as we will enjoy yours…) while you can.
All the Best,
Constance Pappalardo
