Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2008 > January > 18
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Art Guys answer
Earlier this week, the Art Guys blasted the Texas media with notice of their latest project, “Forever Yours.” The Houston-based duo of Jack Massing and Michael Galbreth are hoping an art collector will ante up $1 million or more for the artist’s cremated remains — which won’t be acquired by the collector until the artists’ deaths of course.
See the most recent post below for more info on “Forever Yours.”
Naturally, we just had to ask the Art Guys a few questions. First, what do their families think of the project? And secondly, how do the Art Guys see “Forever Yours” as an extension of all their previous work and its mix of art/commerce?
Though they may work collaboratively, Galbreth and Massing are two very separate people and they were kind enough to each send their thoughts. Enquiring minds do want to know, after all.
MICHAEL GALBRETH
My wife, Rainey, was, to put it in so many words, not pleased or excited about the idea of my ashes being sold and passed along as part of an Art Guys project. When we married, she knew, or at least thought she knew full well what she was getting into. She knew The Art Guys have a habit of kicking up dust and doing things that people consider out of the ordinary. I think that with this idea she probably thought it was getting a little too personal. But, she’ great and knows and understands the concept fully so she’s supportive even though she’d prefer we not do this. But, I keep telling her, “Think about the money…”
I think that “Forever Yours: will be seen and studied as one of those ‘ultimate’ kind of pieces because there are some aspects that some may see as extreme. In this regard I see it compared to works like Chris Burden’s “Shoot” piece or other works like that. And this is fair, I suppose. There is a “Oh, i’s another Art Guys stunt” quality to it which we obviously intend but also, as with all of our work, we’d like to think there’s a little bit more to consider.
As far as the art/commercet aspect, we’ve always been interested in this phenomenon and this may be best exemplified in our SUITS project of 10 years ago. Marketing, commerce, media are dominant forces in our culture and as artists we can’t ignore them. I think the SUITS project is far more meaningful today for people than when we were in the middle of it. Then, people just didnt know what to make of it. But as art and as an important and interesting idea, I think it holds up well today. And I think the same could be said of “Forever Yours.” It takes our interest in art/commerce and stretches it to the nth degree. Comparatively, Damien HirsT’s “For the Love of God” recently received an enormous amount of attention, and rightly so. But what interested people so much about that piece, what makes it so powerful, is it’s association with money. People were interested in it because the asking price was $100 million, not so much because it’s a compelling art object in and of itself. And this is the real art with his piece - money and its power. It’s not even a real skull. And both “Forever Yours” and “For the Love of God” are carbon, when you get right down to it. But I suggest that as an idea, “Forever Yours” is more compelling. Because the asking price is $1 million, people’s attention gets focused on that but because the inherent nature of the piece, the material used — the actual remains of the artist/s as material — the element of the power of money is superceded by the power of the idea. And that, in the end, is what we’re aiming for.
JACK MASSING
My wife was a bit shocked at first. So, I told her that I would join a bowling team if she didn’t let me do what I wanted. And if she keeps bugging me half of the project may be finished real soon. I explained that the wishes of the deceased should be met. I gave some examples from the Egyptians to some of the popes, some saints and all those folks burning above the Ganges. I spoke about my friends Lucas Johnson and Ed Keinholz whom I assisted somewhat with their “funerals.” I reminded her of Hunter S. Thompson’s parting shot. She started to come around even more after I explained that it is a bit like inverted life insurance wherein I get the money while alive. I might just give her some too.
It is a logical extension and very Art Guysian. It is a mixture of all sorts of ideas and does push some buttons. You could say that we are dying to complete this piece. That is good place to be. Out of the comfort zone as they say. Outside the box. And in this case we will be inside our own sculpted heads. What would you do with a couple of burned out artists anyway?
