This Just In: Art is Dead.

"Truth (Art is Dead)" Featured in the new book "Art is Dead: A Manifesto for Revolution in the Visual Arts" by Ted Mikulski

Art is Dead. Bet you didn’t know that. Well, it’s not so much dead as it is missing in action. Then after a while, we just assumed it’s dead. In his new book “Art is Dead: A Manifesto for Revolution in the Visual Arts”, Ted Mikulski illustrates this point perfectly by asking the audience a key question: Who is your favorite living artist? This may not be a tough question for an artist to answer as most artists live inside the “art bubble”. But the astounding thing is that most people that are not artists themselves do not have an answer to that question. They simply do not know their favorite living artist. That my friends, is bad news bears from the point of view of an artist.

This book leads us down the path towards revolution in the arts community as it illustrates contemporary American society’s dis-interest in the visual arts. The replacement of fine arts with commercial arts is listed as one of the main culprits behind the vandalization of the art world.

Featuring the commentary of 16 other artists as well as drawing from Mikulski’s personal experiences in the art world, “Art is Dead” brings up the proverbial “elephant in the gallery”. The main issue that is in the back of most artist’s minds is “Why am I doing this if nobody cares”. This dis-interest leads many away from the path of fine arts and towards the path of commercial art. So much skill is wasted on pushing product and as the interest in fine art continues to wane, so many more skilled artists will find themselves selling product instead of ideas. This then would mean that art as we know it… is dead.

A description from the Artoholic Publishing website:

If you were asked to name your favorite living visual artist what would you say? Unfortunately, the average American does not have an answer to that question, nor can they rationalize a piece of art beyond the Mona Lisa. Intriguing and entertaining, Art is Dead takes a profound look at visual art in America through the eyes of artist and art professor Ted Mikulski. This book steps outside of the conventional art bubble and rationalizes how we in America perceive both art and the artists creating it. Art Is Dead takes a stab at the question, why don?t Americans know more about art? Drawing on interviews with artists, gallery owners, curators, and those not involved in the art world, Mikulski takes the reader on a journey into visual arts current status in society. Artists will always be around, but are they revered? Are they appreciated? And more importantly, are they figureheads in society?

I just finished reading my copy and I will give you this: Be sure to check out this book! It’s a “Hell Yea!” kind of book for artists and a “Hmmmm” for everyone else. Thoughtful and idealistic, “Art is Dead” holds a knife to the throat of the stale -bread art scene of today’s America. And it does it with class.

This book can be ordered directly from the publisher at http://artoholicpublishing.com. Read a book! It’s good for you!