Thoughts on Scott

In truth, I have mixed feelings following Scott's artist talk. I certainly agree with him on a fair number of points he made, to rattle off a few I noted:

• Some part of art is intuitive
• The darker things tend to be more compelling or create a more inquisitive response
• Do the things you don't like or aren't interested in simply to learn more about them
• GENEROSITY! With your time, your energy, your help, your input when it's requested

All of these beliefs Scott holds, I too hold. I think it's almost as important to hear things that you're in agreement with as it is to hear views that challenge your belief, for me, it keeps my moral path a little straighter, but this is where I stopped agreeing with Scott.

This divide in opinion began towards the end of his talk and only widened upon meeting with him individually as well as seeing his work in Hartnett. When Yang asked a question along the lines of, "Does an artist have to experience difficulties to draw inspiration from/be successful?", Scott's response, which to some degree was "Yes", doesn't line up with my own belief. But my differences aside there, I think Scott's devoutness to personal meaning made quite a bit of his work incomprehensible to the audience. This is not to say I dislike his style or question his ability as a painter, simply that he incorporates a theme so personal that it makes it difficult for a viewer to connect to his work. I also got this sense when I discussed my work with him, the majority of which he drew conclusions and implications I had never even thought of let alone intended. But I think this in of itself was educational to me as I want to create work with more meaning to it, but now I have a better sense of how much is too much.

And lastly, a story made from Scott's piece in Hartnett entitled "Communications", co-written and created by Bella Clemente and Ciarán Spence. The intended narrative will be revealed at a later date but many, many prizes (certainly including, but not limited to, a firm handshake) await the person(s) who write(s) the 'most accurate interpretation' to the original and/or the 'most creative interpretation'. May the odds be ever in your favor (hint: it has nothing to do with The Hunger Games).

-Ciarán