Art Made in Adversity

Artist and educator Allison Smith shares her thoughts and library of books about art made in adverse circumstances. Featured are Vladimir Arkhipov's project Home-Made, archiving Russian artifacts made during Perestroika, and Trench Art, or art and objects made during armed conflict, highlighting works from Trench Art: An Illustrated History by Jane A Kimball.

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[Tricksterbelle]

Had to blink back tears a bit at the trench art. My maternal grandad was a cook at a POW camp in WWII Europe. His "war spoils" was personalized art. One of the French soldiers in an ally battalion gave him three beautiful paintings. Seascapes in white, blue, and black. I used to stare at them the living room, transported to their twilight world, or trying to decipher the French inscriptions that included my grandfather's name. His other gift was a handcarved box, made by one of the POWs. His name and a greeting meticulously carved in German on the lid. I've often wondered at the kind of relationship my grandad would have with these artists. My brother, also a soldier, has the box now, and one day the paintings will go to me. I never knew my grandfather, but I know the gifts given to him, and the kind of man he'd have to be. Thank you for the video, and the context.

[sophroniel]

So. I thoughts about this.

In the last decade I've lived through years of earthquakes destroying my home town, a mosque terror attack 2 min from my highschool where I had teenage interfaith meetings, been diagnosed with multiple severe chronic, degenerative diseases that have left me at times unable to eat, move or retain my job due to pain, distress and other such things. In the last year alone I've had 4 surgeries, including one where I nearly died after from sepsis, and one after I was hit by a bus on my bicycle. I'm currently on such strong drugs to try and halt the arthritis eating at my joints I've gone mostly grey at 26 over the period of 2 months--and what hair isn't losing colour is falling out by the handful. I lost a person I considered my second father in a horrific train crash this last christmas eve; I've been bullied, embarassed and ostracized by friends or work colleagues for my opinions, being too young or too willing to not lie down and instead act as whistleblower to high level governmental corruption.

Yes, this is not good stuff, and it could be better or worse--such is life, and there is always someone worse or better off than oneself. This said, the sole constant, unwavering knowledge I have found thru such difficulties is that, no matter what you live thru, the act of creation doesn't lose value, ever. It's immutable, and innate. Discovering such is powerful, and drawing your pain, drawing *from* your pain--whatsoever that might be--is perhaps the one solid gift that can offer a glimmer in dark days, a peek into the keyhole at the happy room, and even if it is only a minute amount it can be enough to ease the burden, however slightly, sufficient to give you the strength to keep going when the things in your life become overwhelming. It's not always the easiest to remember, but there is some comfort, I think, in knowing that this is something we all have access to, and nothing can stop you making, creating and drawing on each experience you live, to pin it to the page, define it, and maybe gain some sort of absolution in doing so, no matter who you are. And honestly, I think that's pretty dang cool.

[Arcadian-Nova]

my idea is that creating is part of the human experience, we crave to create. and our creations will be part of our story we will leave behind

[coverback]

Thank you for sharing Arkhipov's project. I'm from Latvia and I remember the remnants of so many self-made things in my early childhood, when even if you could buy an item, it'd be of horrible quality.

[TheCanvasArtHistory]

Amazing! It's great to see new faces. Allison's presentation was super interesting and comparing our situation today with other major historical events really demonstrates how significant 2020 will be historically.
I love this! I love your channel! I love how we're not only looking back at history, but looking at ourselves in a historical perspective. Thank you!

[juliahaynie]

Now is also a time to make sure to support artists too!

[monifakincaid]

Art making, reading, watching and experiencing art online during this time for me is literally saving my life. Thank you for doing this video.

[TheGFeather]

As a musician, I have been immensely frustrated at my inability to create these last few months. I have found it difficult to find joy in my instruments and where I usually have so many things to say when songwriting, I find myself at a loss for words. Perhaps because it is still too immediate, to big, to grapple with. When I find myself in times of trouble... I default to playing Beatles songs and old favourites, clinging to the comfort of them.

I love seeing the wonderful art that gets created out of adversity. I haven't found a route into it myself, but I suppose that means I have to keep trying.

[lorenabpv]

this is a much needed reminder about perspective and creativity. thank you for teaching us about something so relevant, stay safe.

[Jens_Art]

Very good topic! This shows that art is everywhere, all the time. Even with limited resources, people somehow feel the need to leave their own mark to everyday objects and create art☺️

[coreysolorioloduca]

I’m coming out of a depressive episode and finally ready to start creating again. I’ve been being really hard on myself for not being able to channel my emotions into art during this difficult time. So many artists are taking advantage of quarantine and for so long I have felt like a failure for being so drained and unmotivated. The Art Assignment is constantly encouraging me to expand my notions of what art can be and continues to help me have more confidence in my work. As a fiber artist I would like to humbly suggest a “The Case for Fiber Arts” video. I find it really powerful that what was traditionally considered “woman’s work”, and subsequently devalued, was reclaimed and elevated to the status of “art” by feminist creators. Fiber arts definitely don’t get enough love (even today), but I loved your inclusion of Sheila Hicks in your recent art book

[Beryllahawk]

I wish I had learned more about this kind of art when learning history. Somehow it makes these events and places and people all the more "real." I've made stuff from necessity before, I make items from found materials, and so seeing the work of others, doing the same, it's like my hands know them. I already have a vivid imagination, but this just really did a number on me.
I never knew soldiers did needlepoint while recuperating, never thought about what someone might do during the long hours of incarceration. There's this strange sense that people in war zones and people in prisons just...stop. As if they don't exist outside of news footage or photos, they just...are static, somehow. Motionless, emotionless, with no personalities of their own, only what we as the viewer of that footage, those photos, project onto them.
This is art that hurts and yet somehow uplifts the spirit at the same time. This is art that has no price, really, because it is a little piece of someone's soul. Maybe not a dramatic piece - the man just needed a working pen. But a fragment nonetheless of one human's experience. The ephemeral made - if not eternal - at least enduring beyond one life. What else makes us more connected with each other and our world than this?

[via]

I have never been disappointed by an Art Assignment video. Thank you to the entire team for making these. This is especially comforting in January 2022.

Today I had my 10-year-old cat, Sócrates, euthanized. The last few days I've felt terrible and today I'm devastated, but still trying to cope. I'm a photograher who's gone through a bit of a hard time during the last year, which has almost killed my will to even stare at the world as one, but I feel the need to do something with the memories and photographs I have of him. Do you have any favorite works on the subject of loss and grieving? Thank you.

[licoricebrain]

For any of you watching, if you’re interested in seeing more things like the ones in the “Home-Made” book, look up “очумелые ручки” on youtube. It was a popular segment of a Russian tv-show that aired mostly in the 90s. They are probably an inspiration for a channel “5 minute crafts” and are famous for their ability to create almost anything out of plastic bottles and tin cans. I hope you’ll find them as entertaining to watch as I did when I was a kid.

[SexyBakanishi]

I've never heard of or thought of most of these ways of making art. This was really interesting

[AgentIzzy]

Great talk Allison Smith. I have been experiencing this in my own home while sheltering in place- trying to lower my consumption and making with what I have. Researching materials and process is a lot easier than making a pen or basket during war times.

[KravKernow]

That was really interesting; thank you. Re: soldiers in captivity - I used to go the the Freemasons' museum at the main lodge in London a lot (not a mason; just a nice building). They have a collection of 'jewels'. Jewels are a sort of masonic arty thing usually encased in glass. The had ones made by POWs dating back to the Napoleonic Wars. Well worth checking out if you ever get the chance. The work that went into them is staggering.

[Angels-xist]

No matter what suffering you are going through, there is always a response. In taoism there is a story of a man losing his wife who begins drumming as a response to his sadness. His friend who sees him drumming can’t understand how he can do it after what he has been through, but he understands that his action of creation is life. Creation affirms life during suffering when there may be no other response and it is a vastly beautiful response no matter what you go through to get there and these works show you that whatever you do matters and there is always a way forward however you need to get through the eye of the needle. There is a short video from the poet and novelist Ben Okri on the day he became a writer after a harsh experience on an art channel called Louisiana Channel. Anyone suffering who needs a little motivation should look it up.

[Technofish]

This is so interesting. I’m amazed with the creativity that ranges across all kinds of neat items.