Flash on the Beach 2008

(Draft Text. Final Post can be found at: http://jot.eriknatzke.com/?p=139)

Hard to believe, but the 3rd year of Flash on the Beach has now come and gone and by all accounts John Davey and crew have done a excellent job at keeping the same spirit and energy as in years past. This was evident not only in the increased numbers of those in attendance, at over 1000, but also through the renewed sense of family that inevitably emerges from seeing familiar faces in familiar surroundings.

The format was  similar to the previous years with three tracks to choose from throughout the day, a closing day session in the dome, and an "inspired session" on the first 2 evenings. James Paterson and Robert Hodgin took turns doing the honors of inspiring all that attended. The conference closer went to Jonathan Harris who undeniably swept up the most controversy with his closing remarks that he prepared special for the "Flash Community".

Before I get into exactly what was said, allow me to bring you up to date on my own experiences with Jonathan Harris.

The first time I met Jonathan was at the 2006 OFFF in Barcelona. Unfortunately I had not seen his presentation, but I had heard/seen the "we feel fine" and "10x10" pieces that he had done. So I had a certain amount of respect the work he had produced. Not blown away, but I remembered them enough to know that I liked them. Unfortunately after the first 10 minutes of conversation with him I had lost all respect for him and had gained a slight tarnish for the work. He had a childish pretentiousness with a level of arrogance that quickly turned me off. Whatever though. He looked and acted quite young too, so I chalked it up as inexperience and politely removed myself from the conversation.

Jump ahead to this past spring I find out he is also presenting at a Conference in Norway where he is set to present before me. The organizer is gushing at how fortunate he felt to get someone like Jonathan. Having not heard anything about him since my first encounter I figure he must have changed and thus deserving of another chance. 

BUT when I actually attended his talk I came to find out that his persona and arrogance are only amplified when fed an audience. It's a very odd juxtaposition given the subject matter he tends to gravitate toward has to do with feelings and matters of the heart. You'd honestly think, not having met him, that he was a humanitarian in search of a greater emotional connection with his fellow man. But rather it feels all too evident that he is doing it all largely for praise and acknowledgement. Void of his own emotional capacity he exploits the emotions and lives of his subject matter. Regardless, when Tobey asked me about it (since she wasn't able to make it to the presentation) I told her "The work starts in the right place, but the motives and demeanor of the creator/presenter do a lot to undermine the whole experience". 

Basically I like where the ideas start, but they loose value once you discover the motives are disingenuous. It's like anything, once you discover the formula it's never hard to replicate. When you know what Art looks like it's not hard to replicate. Finding a voice that is completely new, however, is what makes great Art great. My overall feeling with Jonathan, at this moment in time(he is only 29), is that he so desperately wants to achieve the status of a living Artist that he forgot that the Art is more important than the Artist. 

Now advance a few more months and I find out that he is going to be a Flash on the Beach and will be doing the closing presentation. I roll my eyes but give it little thought. My philosophy is that this is a great big world we live in and the more people we have willing to share their ideas the better. I also think I am a lot more sensitive when it comes to that type of personality then probably most others so it's better to be inclusive and appreciate the diversity that others have to offer regardless of how the personality might effect you.

So I end up showing up with about 20 minutes left in his regular presentation. I do my best to enjoy the rest of his talk. He has a good sense of design and even photography. I like where he is trying to go with the stories. Very reminiscent of Born Magazine and some of the stories I'd expect to see from Second Story.

Now to the part that he states is for the Flash Community. The part that he says "will be a little hard for some of you to take".

We start with a screen that says "Beyond Flash, Jonathan Harris"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27304253@N08/2906978791/

Stating he's not one to go to "these Flash conferences", but remarks how he has witnessed through the presentations that he has seen that he finds in to be largely a community of tinkerers.

Then he rails into the whole metaphor that Flash is just another language.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schobi/2907188062/

Essentially saying that those currently most capable to yield the
strength of that language aren't actually saying anything with it.
Specifically calling mention to the "presenters we've seen idolized"

"Like someone trying to memorize the dictionary blurting out words
with little understanding of their meaning. Occasionally making a sentence
but incapable of making even a paragraph"
(this may not be word for word. but as close as I can recall)

Then it goes to the whole putting your heart into it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schobi/2906343101/

For those that weren't in attendance you need to imagine a very condescending academic snobbery tone.
The messages themselves are not bad things to consider. And they could easily be something that I might include in my own presentations were I speaking to a group that was actually concerned with the creation of works that had a longevity to them.

And then he goes on to the advice. As though they were commandments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schobi/2907189694/

As if we had not already been exposed to these ideas in previous talks at this conference as well as others.

Already 10 minutes over on his initial talk, so this additional 10 or so minutes
brought at least 25 minutes beyond where he was supposed to finish. So this caused an unnatural rush to the closer remarks by John Davey (The organizer ). Who I still am undecided about whether he should have let him run long at all. Harris has presented too many times to not realize that his special segment would run him long, which is another control move. I couldn't help but feel that he had effectively taken all the energy out of the room leaving people with a sour taste in their mouths. Something I feel he still quite contented in having done.

My initial reaction wasn't so much about the message, but rather the messenger.

As I mentioned I've heard many of these similar themes from James, Robert, Joshua, etc. But in this instance there was some obvious malicious intent in the way it was delivered.

I always like to look at motive.

He is very much trying to be taken seriously in the Art world.

Distancing himself from a commercial tool like Flash is a big step. You can't be taken seriously if could also get paid by a brand for the same work. Oddly enough I could see most of his approaches fit better for clients than galleries.

we feel fine - by Prozac
whale hunt - by Nikon
want you to want me - by matchmake.com

The two points that really made me shake my head were these that he tried to underscore:

Virtuosos & Masterpieces

Two very odd points to even bring up. They probably speak more about his own maturity and motivation. But I still found it odd the amount of attention he gave to them.

When specifically calling out the presenters he made a point of saying there are a lot of misguided but extremely capable individuals. Motivated more by advancing the technology and the ability to make a lot of money then actually creating something meaningful. "There are no Virtuosos" was the phrase he repeated a number of times with the added "but there could be"

Combine that with a slide and statement that there are "No Masterpieces". He also goes on to say that this includes his work as well. (One can only infer he is still looking to create a great Masterpiece)

Really the only person I see struggling to make meaningful work is Jonathan. His motivation to create work that garners praise and recognition from the established Art world is doing his work and process an injustice. Masterpieces and Virtuosos are historical reflections on movements and eras that have long since passed. It is one thing to aspire for greatness, but it is a completely different thing to seek it out.

Awards are for whores. 

Tombstones are for dead people. 

A humble strong work ethic is a far greater thing to aspire towards.