I have been away from the blog for almost 2 months now and I haven't missed it a bit. Since the last post, my wife and I have bought a new house and begun work renovating it to be exactly what we want. Needless to say, things have been busy.
While I've been away - and to be honest for several months prior to the last post - I've been thinking a lot about the blog medium. For me, the blog thing has run its course. I started this blog in 2004 because I didn't see enough honest opinions about art on the web. I decided to be part of the solution and started Thinking About Art. This post is number 1,199. What has made Thinking About Art successful, I think, is that over the course of five years there have been approximately 4,600 comments left here.
But 5 years later the blog feels more like a burden to me than anything else. Some people (fewer and fewer every day) are able to constantly churn our worthwhile content, but I'm just not able to muster up the energy to spend the necessary time creating content for this site. Part of that makes me feel sad, but at the same time I feel more free as well.
I'm still not 100% sure that this post is the end of the road for Thinking About Art. There are several unfinished projects that have stalled and there is certainly more to say. There is more to learn as well, but the thing I have found is that the blog can really put pressure on some relationships. There are art dealers who were once friends of mine who now ignore me. It has been suggested that some of my reviews from 5 years ago might have played a role in me not getting into some MFA programs. I know for a fact that I've been excluded from shows and other opportunities because of the blog. Knowing this, has the past 5 years been worth it? Absolutely, yes. I've learned so much writing this blog and interacting with you, the reader, that I feel I have grown astronomically as an artist. The relationships I have formed because of this blog have been enriching and I value them immensely.
I'm out of practice writing content for this site and I apologize for the random, stream-of-consciousness style of this post. Like I said, this isn't necessarily the end, but it might be. I need to think on it a little more. Even if the end is near, I will maintain this site so that the archives are available for as long as possible. Several hundred people visit this site per day still so I think there is value in the content.
I'm considering other forms of new media to interact with a readership about art. I may want to start something more studio-focused, or perhaps some other way of sharing thoughts about art shows, art issues, etc. A fairly recent experiment on Facebook was exciting to me. Twitter still irritates me to no end. A work in progress, I guess.
I'll make another post in about a week with my decision. In the meantime, please accept my sincerest thanks for your continued interest, support and dialogue. It means so much to me to have had these past 5 years with you.
Pace wwc, I wouldn't take what I do as an indicator of anything.
It may very well be that the blog phenomenon has run its course, either in general or personally to you. It may also be that the emotional black hole that is buying a house and moving into it is consuming all other attentions, and you'll be itching to write after the feeling of drowning in cardboard boxes subsides. I hope for the latter but wish you the best in any case.
Posted by: Franklin | Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 09:10 PM
I've enjoyed your blog and will be disappointed if it ends but understand that these things run their course. Perhaps you are at the point of just changing the focus. Having a forum like this is a great marketing tool for an artist so you might want to consider starting a different blog or just changing the parameters of this one. For instance, I would love to see what you are up to in the studio. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Posted by: Rob | Thursday, September 03, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Hey JT:
I have really enjoyed reading your blog. Your interactive project "Artists Review Artists" was of particular interest to me, and helped me to feel less shy about putting my work and words out there.
All the best to you, whatever you do.
Pam Farrell
Posted by: pam farrell | Saturday, September 05, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Great article. I have read about tons of photographers and artists complaining now that they spend more time on twitter than their actual work!
Posted by: retoque fotografico | Sunday, September 06, 2009 at 08:45 AM