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| Stuck Stuck Stuck |
...alone in the desert
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“No man is an island,” or so says John Donne. It’s a statement that is particularly true for
artists. While artists may work in solitude, most crave the input, support and praise of a larger
community. I suppose it was that need that drove me to try and associate myself with the
“Stuckist” movement.
artists. While artists may work in solitude, most crave the input, support and praise of a larger
community. I suppose it was that need that drove me to try and associate myself with the
“Stuckist” movement.
The Stuckist Movement emerged in Great Britain as a radical response to Britart, the "official
salon", that was dominated by the advocates for post-modern and conceptual art. Stuckism
was co-founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish along with eleven other
artists. It has since grown into an international art movement with over eighty groups around
the world. At its core, Stuckism both confronts the spiritually bankrupt –shock for the sake of
shocking- culture of instant celebrity that has come to dominate post-modern/conceptual art
scene and advocates a return to more traditional values that emphasize an artist’s personal
struggles, failures, discoveries and triumphs.
salon", that was dominated by the advocates for post-modern and conceptual art. Stuckism
was co-founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish along with eleven other
artists. It has since grown into an international art movement with over eighty groups around
the world. At its core, Stuckism both confronts the spiritually bankrupt –shock for the sake of
shocking- culture of instant celebrity that has come to dominate post-modern/conceptual art
scene and advocates a return to more traditional values that emphasize an artist’s personal
struggles, failures, discoveries and triumphs.
As an American living in the southwest there is much about the birth of Stuckism that is
foreign and unknowable to me. The founding members are rebelling against an arts
establishment which I will never interact with. It’s unlikely I’ll ever visit the Tate Gallery in
London. I don’t know what the Turner Prize is. And, I will never cross paths with Sir
Nicholas Serota, or anyone else bearing the title of “Sir” for that matter. The fact is I would
have remained forever ignorant of Stuckism if I didn’t hear an interview with Charles
Thomson regarding the Tate Museum’s recent slide “art” installation on National Public Radio.
Listening to Thomson’s unapologetic criticism of the Tate’s attempt to elevate playground
equipment to the level of fine art was somewhat reassuring. Like Thomson I don’t consider a
great deal of today’s conceptual art to be art at all. It is theater, and second rate at that.
Smearing your own feces on the floor of an art gallery isn’t art; it’s a talent less immature cry
for attention.
Intrigued by Thomson’s comments I visited the Stuckusts’ website at the first available
opportunity. It was there that I found the Stuckist Manifesto, written in 1999 by Billy Childish
and Charles Thomson. Their twenty points captured, and re-affirmed many of my own
opinions regarding the contemporary art world and my own creative struggles.
foreign and unknowable to me. The founding members are rebelling against an arts
establishment which I will never interact with. It’s unlikely I’ll ever visit the Tate Gallery in
London. I don’t know what the Turner Prize is. And, I will never cross paths with Sir
Nicholas Serota, or anyone else bearing the title of “Sir” for that matter. The fact is I would
have remained forever ignorant of Stuckism if I didn’t hear an interview with Charles
Thomson regarding the Tate Museum’s recent slide “art” installation on National Public Radio.
Listening to Thomson’s unapologetic criticism of the Tate’s attempt to elevate playground
equipment to the level of fine art was somewhat reassuring. Like Thomson I don’t consider a
great deal of today’s conceptual art to be art at all. It is theater, and second rate at that.
Smearing your own feces on the floor of an art gallery isn’t art; it’s a talent less immature cry
for attention.
Intrigued by Thomson’s comments I visited the Stuckusts’ website at the first available
opportunity. It was there that I found the Stuckist Manifesto, written in 1999 by Billy Childish
and Charles Thomson. Their twenty points captured, and re-affirmed many of my own
opinions regarding the contemporary art world and my own creative struggles.
Point 7 - “The Stuckist is not mesmerised by the glittering prizes, but is wholeheartedly
engaged in the process of painting. Success to the Stuckist is to get out of bed in the morning
and paint.”
Point 1 – “Stuckism is the quest for authenticity. By removing the mask of cleverness and
admitting where we are, the Stuckist allows him/herself uncensored expression.”
Point 6 – “The Stuckist paints pictures because painting pictures is what matters.”
7-1-6, three numbers, three points when taken as a whole express so many of my own feelings
regarding what it means to be an artist.
engaged in the process of painting. Success to the Stuckist is to get out of bed in the morning
and paint.”
Point 1 – “Stuckism is the quest for authenticity. By removing the mask of cleverness and
admitting where we are, the Stuckist allows him/herself uncensored expression.”
Point 6 – “The Stuckist paints pictures because painting pictures is what matters.”
7-1-6, three numbers, three points when taken as a whole express so many of my own feelings
regarding what it means to be an artist.
At that moment I let my enthusiasm get the better of me. I saw that by submitting a request
along with an example of your work you could establish your own self-governing Stuckist
chapter. I submitted the requested info and spent several days fantasizing about establishing a
group, or a school, of like minded artists here in the “valley of the sun”.
My passion for this notion was fueled when I received a reply from Charles Thomson stating
that he would add my newly founded group (consisting of me and only me) to those listed on
the Stuckist website. Yet, the weeks passed and my group’s information never materialized
on the site. My request probably just got lost in daily shuffle. Or, maybe Charles Thomson
visited my site and decided my work wasn't sufficiently stuck. I didn’t take it personally and
let the matter slide. It’s just a small, almost anonymous, link on a website.
Yet, my link’s “failure to materialize” reminded me of the one great, an inescapable, weakness
in my plan to form an artistic clique. Establishing a group would require that others find value
in your work, personality and plans. And this is where I fail. For all the effort I put into
everything I do - everything about me; my art, writings and personality (with a very few
exceptions) never seem to make a lasting or meaningful impression on anyone. My stuckist
chapter would most likely consist of me drinking alone at some bar. Hey, maybe not such a
bad fate.
Even though my effort to form a group never got past the theoretical stage, I guess at some
level I’ll always think of myself as a stuckist. I know all my work, my writings, my life, is
destined for obscurity. My breakthrough one man show will take place at the local landfill
shortly after my death. Yet, ever determined I march on even in the face of my ultimate
failure, because “success to the stuckist is to get out of bed in the morning and paint.”
along with an example of your work you could establish your own self-governing Stuckist
chapter. I submitted the requested info and spent several days fantasizing about establishing a
group, or a school, of like minded artists here in the “valley of the sun”.
My passion for this notion was fueled when I received a reply from Charles Thomson stating
that he would add my newly founded group (consisting of me and only me) to those listed on
the Stuckist website. Yet, the weeks passed and my group’s information never materialized
on the site. My request probably just got lost in daily shuffle. Or, maybe Charles Thomson
visited my site and decided my work wasn't sufficiently stuck. I didn’t take it personally and
let the matter slide. It’s just a small, almost anonymous, link on a website.
Yet, my link’s “failure to materialize” reminded me of the one great, an inescapable, weakness
in my plan to form an artistic clique. Establishing a group would require that others find value
in your work, personality and plans. And this is where I fail. For all the effort I put into
everything I do - everything about me; my art, writings and personality (with a very few
exceptions) never seem to make a lasting or meaningful impression on anyone. My stuckist
chapter would most likely consist of me drinking alone at some bar. Hey, maybe not such a
bad fate.
Even though my effort to form a group never got past the theoretical stage, I guess at some
level I’ll always think of myself as a stuckist. I know all my work, my writings, my life, is
destined for obscurity. My breakthrough one man show will take place at the local landfill
shortly after my death. Yet, ever determined I march on even in the face of my ultimate
failure, because “success to the stuckist is to get out of bed in the morning and paint.”
P.S. This essay captures a single moment in my thinking. In reality, The Stuckists did reply
and I did establish a local chapter, which though small is thriving.
and I did establish a local chapter, which though small is thriving.
