Artists Interview Artists: Alexandra Silverthorne

Alexandra Silverthorne, a DC-based artist and blogger, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Alexandra responds to another artist's five questions (Ami Lahoff from Troy, New York). In order to participate, Alexandra had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random. If you're an artist and interested in participating, let me know.

Ilene

1) Do you feel that being an artist implies a level of narcissism? Does it seem to you that narcissism is a requirement for an artist?

I’m not sure if narcissism is the right word. There’s a difference between creating art in your home and keeping it in your home and creating art and exhibiting it and putting yourself out there. To expose yourself like that takes a lot of confidence in both you and your work, and sometimes that comes with large egos, but it also comes with quite amount of risk and vulnerability.

2) Do you find yourself more attracted to work that is not like your own, or work that has similarities to yours?

It depends. Some work, like drawing, I just admire so much, because I never developed that skill. But there are also many photographers I admire as well. On the other hand, there’s some photography that I’m just not attracted to, just like there’s some drawing that I’m not attracted to. Perhaps it is not necessarily about the medium, but more about the subject matter or method. For example, I’m inspired by nearly all political art. Then again, I love abstract painting, but am not a fan of some abstract photography.

3) Do you believe in the "artist class?" In other words, what do you think of the idea that artists are in a higher class because they have a relationship with the academic world, when the majority of artists struggle financially?

I think most artists strive to educate themselves about culture, history and society, but this education is not necessarily formal. You can learn just as much in a public library, as you can in a degree program- it’s all about your dedication to learning. That said, there are some artists who are privileged enough to be able to focus entirely on their art and not work a day job, which one might argue puts them at an advantage. For me, sitting at a desk in a non-profit environment each day fuels my creativity.

4) I recently read an essay/interview with several artists, collectors and curators on the subject of commodification. It was pointed out that a work of art sold is worth more than the monetary value of it. Do you agree with this?

I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest. Monetary value is only one way to value art. In terms of monetary value, I think the value is decided not by the artist who initially assigns the price, but by the collector who chooses whether or not to purchase it. Personally, values, such as sentimental, historical and cultural, are far more significant than monetary value.

5) Which do you think is smarter for an emerging artist: pricing work affordably to make it more accessible, or pricing work high, to make it more precious?

It depends on your goals. I would rather my work to be affordable- not necessarily so I can have more sales, but rather so more people can have the opportunity to collect it if they would like to. I enjoy making art (why else would I do it?) and I enjoy when someone else finds my work interesting enough to hang on their walls. Spreading a political message or showing a moment in time is far more important to me than making a buck. That said, I’m also not financially dependent on sales of my art. I can’t envision myself not having a day job- even if I could afford not to. I enjoy my work. Maybe I would feel different if I were a painter or a sculptor, where each piece of work is unique, or if I destroyed my negatives after the first print.

Congress Street #4 (Portland, ME), June 2004

Previous Interviews:
Juno Doran (questions by James W. Bailey)
Josh Feldman (questions by Joseph Barbaccia)
Lisa Stephenson (questions by Whitney Lynn)
Joseph Barbaccia (questions by Josh Feldman)
James W. Bailey (questions by Matt Hollis)
Matt Hollis (questions by Juno Doran)
Carol Es (questions by James Leonard)