Jerry Saltz, Art Critic

2017 NCECA Conference Keynote Speech - Portland, Oregon

WHERE ARE WE NOW? HOW DID WE GET HERE? WHERE ARE WE GOING? AND WHERE DOES CLAY FIT IN? By Jerry Saltz

Something on the scale of a paradigm shift is in the offing. Until Trump the art world lived with the positivist idea that things progress, get better, twisted flaws and all. The old saying about the long arc of history bowing toward justice was true. Obama felt like grace; Hillary Clinton was going to solidify something. All this is out the window. Our inner-flags fly at half-mast. So where does this leave art? And clay? That's like asking "Where does that leave love?"

Artists have always lived on the edge of the village - poor, neglected, commiserating with one-another, optical shamans transforming the world in mythic, mysterious, complicated, crazy ways. Even breeching the infinite. With everything out the window everything is possible, up for grabs. Even the old structures against clay, craft, and other disrespected materials and processes: All of that will seem small minded in the face of this now world.
Artists are already doing what they've always done: Going back to work. A lot of the old walls are down. For the moment. Now is the time to act. This is the crucible of a new generation. We are all voodoo children.

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