Critics: Still In the Picture

Is there a crisis in art writing? Does the American Midwest need more art writing? More art criticism? And if so, why? For whom? And what roles do different types of art writing play?

Curator and art historian Indra Lācis, PhD, has observed that urgency around the subject seems to come up every ten years or so. The rhythm may not be that precise, but in Northeast Ohio, you could see it in the launch of Dialogue, a publication that came out of Akron University and the Akron Art Museum, running from the late 1970s to 2002; then Angle Magazine, which lasted from 2003 to 2007; followed a few years later by CAN Journal, and various others shortly before and after—such as the online journal Art Hopper, and the print publications Pink Eye, KEEN, and BLACK (Black Local Artists of Cleveland, Kuumba). New issues of KEEN and BLACK are anticipated later this year. All these sought to fill a perceived need—to highlight the neglected, to provide reference and documentation, to offer critical insight, to report news. Even gathering exhibit and event listings is an important role.

On the one hand, that sequence of new publications, especially in the age of blogs and podcasts, makes any concern for the lack of art writing and especially art criticism sound like crying wolf. On the other, the motivations and causes behind so many art magazines’ rise and fall only highlight the struggle. No matter how many bloggers may take up art writing, there’s no changing the fact that the Plain Dealer just a few years ago had full-time, dedicated professional critics on staff in every discipline, and now all that is gone via retirements, buyouts, and cuts. And of course the PD is far from unique. As Mary Louise Schumacher’s film, Out of the Picture, showed when it screened at Cinematheque in January, the same thing has happened at all kinds of publications all across the country.

This issue of CAN calls attention to the importance of writing about art, and also to the range of different types of art writing, both on these printed pages and online. While all issues of CAN Journal are dedicated to a variety of styles of art writing, this one puts the subject front and center, in a meta kind of way.

First, you’ll find Indra’s essay, considering the state of art writing in the Midwest. Then you’ll find a selection of excerpts from reviews published on CAN Blog in the last six months. Because of our quarterly print schedule and the need to be timely, CAN’s exhibition reviews almost never appear in print. We’re highlighting them here to remind you that CAN publishes that kind of writing, too. Then you’ll find artist and project profiles and other features, as CAN publishes in every issue. And finally, the Members Report section, the heart of CAN Journal, wherein galleries in their own words tell you about their own upcoming events and projects.

In that context, CAN is especially interested in more regional connections for writers, and more critical writing. In the coming months you’ll hear more about that, but we’re proud to announce Broadening the Conversation, an initiative to give a platform and mentorship to university-and graduate-level art writers, and by a selection process to offer paid fellowships to two writers each semester of the coming academic year. CAN will work with professors at Northeast Ohio universities to identify interested student writers to learn about art criticism as a writing discipline, and a platform to exercise their skill.

CAN is also part of an online panel discussion in June, organized by CreativeOhio: In the Same Boat: Arts and Media Navigating the New Landscape will explore how art organizations, advocates and media outlets can build stronger, smarter relationships in a time of shrinking resources and shifting audiences. Find information at CreativeOH.org.
Thanks to all of you who supported CAN in our Spring campaign. You’re helping us charge ahead with these important plans.

There’s always plenty more to tell you, had we but world enough and time. For now, watch CAN Blog and the CAN Weekly e-newsletter for more about all of the above. And read on. We look forward to seeing you.