Dianna Cates Dunn » Blog

How do you describe a piece of art? Ask the average viewer and they well may freeze with their mouths hanging open, their eyes opened wide with a more than a bit of deer-in-the-headlight look to them. Their brain goes into a panic as it frantically searches for the art terms it once heard in the Art Appreciation 101 class they were forced to take as a freshman back in "02! "Is it 'impressionism'? No? Could it be "cubism"? Don't really think so. Let me see.....oh I know, it must be an 'abstract'! Ugh, that doesn't seem right either. Uh-oh, I can see a cow -sort of- so it might it be "animalism"? Gosh, I'd just better say I don't understand art, that way I won't seem foolish."

Actually, no matter what your art confidence is, you know how true the above can be. Viewers of art are very apt to believe that they don't have the 'proper language' with which to 'correctly'  describe the work they see hanging in front of them.  Or they fear they will make a mistake in trying to describe their reaction to it. That doesn't mean that they don't have a reaction to the work, it just means that they feel verbally inadequate when asked to express it! And why? Well, that is what I now term as "SNOBBISH ART DESCRIPTION SYNDROME". A mysterious and cruel malady hoisted upon the general populace by many in the "biz"  in order to make art exclusive, unique, unattainable and meant only for the chicest of the chic. (These are the same people who want their artist statements to be full of elusive references, arcane words, and obscure references which end up meaning nothing to the reader.) Elitist? Oh, heck yes! 

In this day and age, all working artists should be striving to engage as many viewers as possible. Getting our audiences to engage with and relate to our art is paramount, not only for our own survival and success as artists but, for our entire reason for being artists in the first place! It was artist Edward Hopper who ever so succinctly said:

                                        “If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.”

And most artists, including myself, would agree with Mr. Hopper on this. So, if logic follows that we who are painting can't find the words to express what we feel and want to express, how can we expect those who view our works to be able to express in words what they see and feel in kind?  Sort of a double standard, don't you think? Would it not serve a much better purpose if we in the trade would make it our goal to reach out and engage the viewers of our work with open, egalitarian altruism? 

I pose this question in order to beg for your thoughts on the matter...... please share what you think.