Response to, "Finished Work is a Thing of the Past"

Article by Tom Shermann, 1995

In this article, Shermann relates artists as "knowledge-workers" (those who produce information, turn data into information, while "distinguishing key aspects of disorder through the discovery and/or imposition of form." He touches on how a at the end of the past century, material wealth is seen as more valuable than wealth of information. He notes that in order for art to be economically successful, art must be regarded as valuable information. This article provoked my thoughts of how art is a learned creative process and a skill set. Many mediums have been handed down through the ages and have evolved into what they are today and will continue to change with the times. Thinking about the way photography, for example, has changed as an art form from the most basic Camera Obscura to such capabilities as the new digital SLR Nikon D90 model. The need for traditional silver based chemical processing is almost completely obsolete (aside from those of us who take an artistic interest in the medium) which can be applied to Shermann's implication that if an artform process is no longer regarded as valuable information as the years progress, it will be completely lost in time.
Also, Shermann writes of what classifies a piece as "finished." He claims that a living artist's work will always remain unfinished as a work-in-progress. He notes that only death can cross a piece over into classification of complete. He also writes that, "Contemporary works of art are valued most if they appear to be up-to-date." I agree that the most innovative concepts and works are revered as most valued in the contemporary art realm, people are most interested in the new and different. Though, I also think Shermann discounts the value of the Contemporary art that is not focused completely on being new and of the moment. It is important to address that while a valued piece of Contemporary art may be thought of as new and fresh, the age-old processes used to create the work is the root of the piece. Very few, if any, art out there can be 100% fresh and untied to a long past in the processes that lead to its creation. For example, the poshist photograph on digital camera technology should not be considered unnattached to the historic rooted evolution it took to get photography where it is today. I personally see all Contemporary art as not only having value for its cutting-edge impact, but as having value for its extension from obsolete practices as well.