As an artist, I have always been interested in the intersection of technology and art. In the past I wrote progressive, interactive fiction using Twitter as a creative constraint (when it still only allowed 140 characters.) I authored DVDs with my own Choose Your Own Adventure stories readers could play on their televisions, using DVD menus to make narrative decisions. I wrote webtoons. I created 3D animations. I only began painting with oils seriously after I had spent years painting in Photoshop, using a Wacom interactive pen display.
My philosophy—if you haven’t already figured it out—has always been that technology, instead of something to be feared or snubbed, is something intrinsic to the human act of creativity and therefore must be embraced or, at the least, explored with the same level of curiosity and open-mindedness with which any artist approaches their traditional mediums (after all, brushes and pigments are a form of technology too. More on that to come!)
Upon reflection, it’s clear to me that my creative relationship with new technology has been lacking for several years. Instead, my practice has been firmly rooted in tradition, largely because it seemed like that was the way to become a “proper” artist, and largely because it was the only way to gain industry support or recognition (particularly in Wyoming and the regional West at large.) But while I enjoy painting in oils, drawing in charcoal, and sketching in ink, I came to realize a practice limited to such traditional mediums will never truly reflect the extent of my creative nature or creative vision. I also realized that the art industry as it stands is desperately in need of reform, that it is structurally unsound, and that it is wholly unprepared for the future that lies ahead—and my amenability was serving only to perpetuate its bad practices. Indeed, my passive participation could very well have been interpreted as approval for processes I knew to be toxic. (I’ll be writing more about industry issues in the future, so stay tuned to learn more about that.) Clearly, something needed to change, and I needed to step up and take ownership of it. Part of that would have to come in the form of an embrace of new technology as well as a commitment to a growth-and-reform-minded approach to my career in the arts.
Heading into 2022, things are certainly going to change. Let me tell you how:
- I will no longer engage with art institutions who do not meaningfully support artists creating exhibitions for them (for example, with stipends) simply because such opportunities look good on a CV and supposedly increase artists’ legitimacy (a.k.a., the free labor for “exposure” racket.) Instead, I will only engage with institutions that demonstrate a commitment to forward-thinking, industry reform, and professionalism.
- I will no longer constrain my creativity by holding to expectations that are firmly rooted in the past. Art and creativity, by definition, are meant to push us in directions we never knew possible. Therefore, I will be introducing new work in the coming months that will embrace new technology in ways that will help advance our understanding of what regional western art is and what it can be.
- I will embrace the move to Web3 in a way that will bring increased value to my followers and collectors, improve the sustainability of my art practice and business, and help liberate other creative professionals by modeling a new approach to building a creative career.
So, what does that mean for you?
In the coming months I’ll be instituting new protocols, releasing new innovative work, and unveiling new offerings that are sure to be of interest to my followers and collectors. I’ll be taking a more egalitarian approach to my work by designing projects that more people will have a chance to collect and enjoy; I’ll be increasing access and improving transparency; I’ll be dedicating time and effort to thought leadership in the industry, engaging with other leaders within the space—all of which will serve to increase the value I provide to the overall public. In a nutshell, 2022 is going to be an interesting year.
I hope you’ll stick around. Let’s see it through together.
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Nick Thornburg is a multidisciplinary artist and writer. Subscribe to his mailing list to keep up-to-date with upcoming features and other news.
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