“Bad Painting” with Jamian Juliano-Villani
Mar 14, 2016
Jamian Juliano-Villani discusses her work in Flatlands. Photograph by Andrew Kist
They should give Jamian Juliano-Villani a TV show. She would make an excellent candidate if PBS decides to finally fill the Bob Ross hole in their programming.
Jamian Juliano-Villani and teens create a list of things that are in “bad art”. Photograph by Andrew Kist
If you had walked in on the “Bad Painting” Workshop on March 11, you probably would have been confused as to why "Jesus", "Dora the Explorer", yin yangs, and peace signs were displayed on the Artspace walls, and why a room full of teens were shouting "Kanye" across the room. But for us teens at the Whitney, it was just another Friday afternoon (no biggie).
Teens work collaboratively on a “bad painting”. Photograph by Andrew Kist
Unlike Bob Ross, Jamian provided a fresh perspective on the oldest form of art making. She asked us to investigate all the clichés that make up a "bad painting," then use them intentionally in the paintings we created collaboratively. The paintings were fun, humorous, spontaneous, and a bit uncomfortable. Jamian challenged us to part with antiquated approaches, themes, and angles. She disregards the traditions of painting and follows none of the rules that art classes drill into our young eager minds.
Teens pose with their finished work. Photograph by Andrew Kist
Now back to the proposal of giving Jamian her own show—let’s call it "The Potty Mouth Paint Program for the Kanye Generation."
By Shao, YI Leader