Reality Television Tackles Art World

Reality television will soon confront its latest victim: art. Bravo is now casting for "The Untitled Art Project," which brings Sarah Jessica Parker and her production company, Pretty Matches, together with the Emmy-nominated Magical Elves ("Top Chef," "Project Runway") and Eli Holzman, to produce an hour long creative competition series among contemporary artists. It's just like how all the great artists were discovered. There will be thirteen total aspiring artists competing for a gallery show, money, and more. Each episode will have the artists creating "unique pieces highlighting art's role in everyday life" in everything from sculpture to photography. Get your portfolio together and your beret perfectly situation atop your head, the NYC casting call is July 18th and 19th at White Columns.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on June 30, 2009 5:19 PM

Comments [rss]

Big Little Wolf

It may not be ideal for the artists involved, but anything that brings visibility to the visual arts - preferably "fine art" - is a small step in the right direction. We all know that collectors (private and corporate) are buying less (and more judiciously), galleries are closing, museums and art centers are slashing budgets, programming, and staff. Artists and those who work in related professions (museum staff, curators, art writers, art educators) are in a world of hurt.

Ideally, the show's producers would understand that painting does not = sculpture, which does not = photography, which does not = industrial design, and so on. Ideally, as success has come to the "Housewives" franchise, and Bravo has replicated the format by geographic market (OC, NY, NJ, etc.), there would be no single "art" project, but one that follows along lines that suit the art world - painters competing with painters, sculptors with sculptors, and so on. (What can I say... I'm a dreamer.)

If it takes a REALITY COMPETITION to create a bit of awareness about contemporary art, then I'm for it, even though we KNOW this is a different animal.

That said, may Bravo TV (and producers) exercise a modicum of good sense in this new arena. But the jury will be out until we see for ourselves.