scope

I've recently been renting season DVDs of the PBS show art:21, which has never been carried in my area, but I like it a lot. Not least because I'm familiar with a lot of the artists they profile and so can feel good about my level of knowledge. (Alternatively, if I pick up a copy of Art in America or ArtForum, I invariably feel worse about my level of knowledge).

I make a conscious effort while watching these programs (usually while I'm using my exercise bike downstairs) to stay as open-minded as possible, and listen to the artists speak about their work and their concepts without judging. During my coursework as an undergraduate painting and art history major, I became quick to dismiss certain types of art. It was a survival technique developed by someone entirely overwhelmed by the range and scope of what was out there. I had to narrow the field, so that I could begin to comprehend it.

But the field became too narrow, and for the past few years I've been relatively uninspired by contemporary art, save for a few favorite artists. Now it is time to broaden the field by becoming more open-minded. That is something I have to work on.