by TASI Executive Director, Greg Busceme, Sr.
Our first step in TASI’s long journey was taken in 1983. Looking back, it was the right time and the right place. Reagan won a second term, and we knew right then that it would be a rough ride ahead. Because of the NEA controversies of 1986 with Mapplethorpe’s homoerotic art and Serrano’s, Piss Christ selected by the National Endowment for the Arts, funding took a nosedive as everyone ran for cover. Corporations developed stringent guidelines as to what they would fund and would not and the NEA has a clause that prohibited any NEA recipient from making art “of a sexual or excretory nature”. Artists were put on notice that our freedom of expression ticket had expired. Funding for programs in the NEA continues, yet the cutting-edge work of deserving artists and the deep and thoughtful exploration of human issues – that insightful, brilliant and shocking work – was no longer considered. Why does visual art have such an adverse impact on people so much so that it makes them angry, insulted, disturbed, or revulsed? I think it’s because the work confronts issues within the viewer that they do not want to recognize, therefore the violent attack to preserve their own view of the world. Books have the same impact, but you can choose to stop reading the book before confronting the whole story. Once you see a work of art it cannot be unseen and this creates a reaction, good or bad. When I see a piece of art that disturbs me (and very few do) I try to understand the artist’s perspective and what could be the point of the work. I am more incensed with video games that encourage killing each other as real humans, but I’m not here to limit or censor our diverse interests. They can choose to kill each other as much as they want until it imposes on others freedom through acting out these fantasies. Art cannot kill anyone anymore than videos or books can.
Few of us will make work that causes controversy outside of our art community. That could be a plus or a negative as we try to skirt the edges of societal norms. Artists have been using their work to commemorate events, call for change and call to action throughout history; this is not the time to hold back.
Our 40th year is approaching and I hope everyone comes to celebrate with us on this momentous occasion. Nearly 400 exhibitions presented and over 300 Band Nites that shook our walls, offering classes for everyone, studios for artists, and advocates for the art community, The Art Studio has your artistic and creative back.