The Role of an Artist

In response to the arts open day sponsored by Reeds

By George McKane - The Yellow House

What is the role of an artist?

I must ask a question  -  to everyone involved in sincere and honest arts and cultural activities in this City - what is the role of the artist? Right, an almost impossible question to answer but in my opinion one that each artist must ask themselves on a daily basis, and the answer must be reflected in the work.

It is, in my opinion, the role of the artist to challenge, certainly not cooperate, with organisations such as Reeds, to stand up for their rights to live and work as artists and where possible to stand in Solidarity with other artists against the forces of capitalism and commercialism. Where we see wrong and falseness and, yes, threat to our human partners, we should warn our friends and partners of that threat. It is not our role, as cultural activists, to support and participate in consumerism and commodification but to have the courage in today’s world to stand against it, to actually stand up for art and culture and for artists.

The real task of the creative artist is not merely to copy and go along with the outer appearance of life but to interpret life in all it’s facets to let the spectator look beyond life’s surfaces and meanings. What was the true meaning of Reeds day?

For me the art of Yellow House occupies a place of central importance in the life of our community. Art and culture, and this has never been so underlined as lately in this City, seems no longer to be the province of the artist but has become the tool of the entrepreneur.

The fact that certain organisations seemed to be encouraging people to go along to The Reeds day without knowing anything about it is for me really disturbing but not quite unexpected - we go along with things, if someone says it’s OK, we don’t ask or question - if you question or do not agree you gain a reputation, you are eventually excluded - remember Jarvis ran  New Deal type Theatre Projects in Liverpool before going onto messing up the railways.

Yellow House was never a YTS, CP, New Deal, Back to Work or whatever - administrators living off the backs of poverty, people and artists - we stand up as ourselves and we shout loudly our beliefs and truths and we will not be hushed.

It is the role of the artists to use their eyes to represent the human eye, not one that simply reflects the world but shows what’s hidden from our everyday experience. What was The Hidden Agenda of the Reed’s day and indeed Reeds?