Feedback-is it better to give or receive?

“Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art. ”― Susan Sontag

 A recent quite long Facebook thread on a painters' need to get feedback on their artwork and the perception that there was no real way to do that effectively got me thinking about the subject. I commented a couple of times and thought I might start a dialog on the subject here. 

 The initiator of the topic expressed an interest in getting feedback from gallerists that review their work as part of a submission process, and the frustration of the rejection without comment that is a common  occurrence. One suggestion was to get that criticism as part of a fee charged for the art review. That just seems like the wrong approach to me, unless you are looking for feedback about the potential for sales in that gallery or market. Or, you are interested in the gallerists' opinion about where you might show the work you are creating. Once an artist starts working to a specific market or or venue it seems likely that innovation would be stifled. That is not the gallerists' intention perhaps but rather a result of the market forces applying the pressure.

It seems much more useful to get criticism from a respected artist friend, or mentor if you are lucky enough to have one. Bring them over to your workspace to look at the work together, talk about your work, talk about their work, and mull over where to go from where you are now. I have had the great fortune to have trusted people in my life to talk art with, and have people that will give me the bad news with the good. The tough crit can be the best one. 

A friend was considering setting up a Facebook group that would allow and encourage critique from artists around the web. I am interested in the idea. I wonder if we could get beyond the bland "like" phase. What do you think?

Are there more ideas out there for feedback on our artwork?

Apalachian Fall 3, oil on board

 

When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.”― Henry J. Kaiser