I DVRed the new television show "Work of Art" because I was curious about what sort of show Sarah Jessica Parker would executive produce, especially on the cable channel Bravo.  I like many of the shows on Bravo because of the sensibility they share with SATC--flashy, dramatic, and a lot of eye candy.  Throw in a hissy fit or two, and you're all set.

However, this new show, "Work of Art" gave me the impression it could be a little bit more serious, with the goal of actually highlighting art, and not just the drama of the artists.  In ads, the show seemed to be an artist version of Top Chef or the old Bravo fare of Project Runway.  However, one thing I couldn't figure out is that both of these shows, and the clones that have been on this and other channels, tend to be geared towards the ultimate goal of making products, whether food or clothes--art, instead, didn't seem it could be a product.  But in watching the debut episode of SJP's brainchild, I realized that, in fact, the premise of this show is that art is a product, and that the judging would not be based on any esoteric notion of what is great art, but what will sell.

 It is important to note that I discovered in the first few moments of watching this show that I had a strange connection to it.  The host, China Chow, and I went to the same college.  This might not seem that big of a deal, but you have to understand we were in the same class (1996) at a women's college called Scripps College, in Claremont, CA, which had around a hundred or so students in that class. If I remember correctly, we even lived in the same dorm at one point.  I vaguely remembered her--we didn't run in the same circles--but remembered that after I graduated that she was considered a distinguished alumnae because of her later success. 

Anyways, what is interesting about this tidbit is that Scripps College has a curriculum and history of teaching its students not only about the liberal arts, but the arts in general.  I took a number of art classes and was exposed to the philosophy of conceptual art, avante-garde art, art which was about ideas, and art that was not geared towards being a product.  The Williamson Gallery, showing both student work and world-renowned artists, at Scripps reflected this mentality.  Art was serious business at Scripps, but it was never promoted as a business.

Now here were have the first episode, with the Scripps educated host, China Chow, agreeing with the judges who argue that portraits should portray the physical representation of the subject, and criticize any artist work on the show that dealt with abstractions.  In fact, I realized that art was being shown as a product when a judge criticized an abstract representation and said, "I couldn't sell that in my gallery." This view of art shocked me--this is not the Scripps idea of art that I was taught.  Of course, Chow also majored in psychology, so I suppose she might have skipped some of the lessons I learned (although I took enough psychology classes to get a minor in the subject).  

I don't have many hopes for this show now--I have a feeling it will annoy my sensibilities about what art is, what art should be, and what art should do--challenge the boundaries of representation and ultimately make us think, not just look pretty.  

 Check out the cast of "Work of Art" or my article about what "Work of Art" might teach real artists....