Alan Prosser.
Alison Carter Tai writes: As a jazz musician his work outfit is
intended to be the epitome of muso cool: tailored black suit,
and combinations of white shirt and black bow tie or single colour tie,
with shiny black leather shoes. For rehearsals, jeans and black tee shirt are worn.
Photograph by Andrew Dewar.
Alison Carter Tai writes: Is an artist's clothing practical and comfortable, loose-fitting, not thought about,
always a variation on a theme, perhaps chosen at random from a pile of shirts and jeans? Or is it made of materials that can
take the wiping down of a sticky hand or a paint-loaded palette knife onto its surface, with impunity? And with practical
features like a pouch or pockets, for the artist's tool kit, whatever that comprises on the day?
Perhaps it is 'not always the same thing', donned on a whim, as the mood takes the artist, at dusk or dawn?
Does this allow an arsenal of personas? Or is it to do with wearing different outfits, according to what one is working on?
Clean clothes, messy clothes.
Is the 'artist's clothing' ever just a single over-layer, covering 'respectable' day clothes, as in the past with artists'
smocks or overalls? Taken off for a trip to the supermarket (or not)?
Maybe you would argue that artists are typically so impoverished that they don't have many clothes? Does this mean
they take great efforts to remove the paint and stains, or is that a step too far? Do charity shops play their part
in providing this wardrobe? So is last year's/decade/century's fashion 'in fashion' with artists? If so, I wonder if this
is, perversely, quite a statement in itself. Or are clothes important to the artist in another way, part of the comfort zone
that allows them to work in solitary state, a refuge, perhaps with specific tactile qualities or layers? Are there favourite
pieces that have stories attached ('worn when I painted the first piece that I sold'), or with personal connections (family's
or friends' items)?
If the artist is 'messy' i.e. gets paint and glue and clay (and other debris?) from the studio on their clothes,
is this in any way done in a self-conscious manner?
So is what an artist wears ever studied, part of an act, what the artist thinks an artist ought to wear?
Is it perhaps integral to the personality of the artist, unselfconsciously reflecting and revealing information about
their way of being, and way of working?
What about the private versus the public artist? An artist working in an open studio space might dress differently
from an artist in the privacy of their own home, perhaps (discuss!). A private view of an artist's work might involve
them dressing in something appropriate to their work on exhibit, or a self-conscious 'dressing for the occasion',
to meet their peers and admirers. What is the decision-making process here (to wear something memorable and striking,
or bland and self-effacing)?
Joan Skelton Smith writes: I think that this is a very interesting project; as a costumer, I know how
important clothes are in depicting a character's persona. When I grew up in the Dallas in the 1950's to 1960's what
one wore was extremely important. My mother would never have allowed me to go into downtown Dallas without the proper
attire.
I am always aware of what I am wearing and how that will relate to the setting where I will be. When I went for my
interview at university I wore a grey t shirt and dark jeans in order to be as nondescript as possible, so as not to detract
from my artwork. At exhibitions I think it is likewise advisable not to detract from the work. Visiting exhibitions and galleries
in London I still feel a certain degree of sophistication is appropriate even though many people would wear jeans and t shirts,
I suppose this is a holdover from my upbringing. Also what is appropriate for a twenty year old art student is not so appropriate
for a 60 year old.
Alison Carter Tai adds: This was a thoroughly worthwhile investigation for me, as a dress historian, and provoked
quite a bit of discussion and debate, but was best summarised in the set of photographs on this webpage. It developed out
of my initial question 'What is an artist?' which started as a naive attempt to define the label that artists apply to themselves
and/or have applied to them by others.
Alison Carter Tai
Claire Deniau
Philip Lee
Roger Perkins
Cally Trench
Tineke Bruijnzeels
Sophie Loss
Theodore Hill
Jane Grisewood
Judy Goldhill
Joan Skelton Smith
Patrick Jeffs
Steve Perfect
Linda Francis
Lynne Grace
Alan Prosser
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