PINKIE is my favorite Velvet Elvis

This post is part of a continued series distinguishing individuals and groups by presenting a DaVinci award or a Velvet Elvis award for their role in promoting Charlottesville as the "cultural and creative capital of Central Virginia".

 

There is a website/blog/chat room based here in Charlottesville called Cvillain. It’s part of the Spicy Bear network which boasts that it "reaches over 50,000 visitors each month and engages more users than any other media publication in central Virginia." A spin-off from Cvillain is a site called CvilleMUSE which claims to feature discussions and the promotion of the Charlottesville and Central Virginia arts. Here is their own description:

Whether we in Charlottesville explore the arts through the actors on a stage, the lens or line of a brushstroke, or the raising of voices in song, cvilleMUSE is here to promote, connect, and celebrate the artists and audiences of our community.

This is your place to discover new music, to find out about the performers and performances in our area, and to share your thoughts and opinions on what’s happening in and around Charlottesville. And if we happen to have a little fun along the way, we’ll consider it icing on the cake.

So, as I read it, CvilleMUSE has taken it upon itself to promote the arts and artists in Charlottesville. Through the writings and postings of Shaun Harvey, it seems to do good job with the music scene. But for the visual arts… ugh. It is falling painfully short.

Cville MUSE’s correspondent for the visual arts is a woman who goes by the online name Pinkie (writer’s note: I honestly have no idea who this person’s real identity is). Initially, I was amused by Pinkie’s quaint posts. They were regular, covered a variety of quirky subjects, and I could see she was really trying hard. But then I realized if CvilleMUSE is reaching even half as many people as it claims it does, Pinkie’s posts were not making the grade in the promotion and relevant discussion of the visual arts in Charlottesville. More and more, her inexperience and naiveté was exposed in her… er… musings and quips.

    

If Pinkie is unable to adequately handle the job, fine. But, hey, Spicy Bear, get someone who can do it some justice. Please! You have taken it upon yourself to promote the arts to your thousands of readers - now do it. At no point have I seen a consistent compilation of exhibit listings; there are virtually no compelling reviews of exhibits or artists; and, you have completely missed the recent headline worthy news that has affected this town’s arts (e.g. the juicy firing of Jill Hartz, the unceremonious dismissal of Leah Stoddard, and the boot given to Les Yeux du Monde). Charlottesville’s visual arts landscape is changing right before our eyes. And, instead of thoughtful comments and insights about exhibitions, artists and news, we get discussions about the "awesomeness" of something found on a local restaurant’s wall or painted on a chunk of cardboard. To me, CvilleMUSE and Pinkie appear to be out of the loop.

For this, I honor Pinkie and CvilleMuse with a Velvet Elvis. Maybe if they find a visual arts correspondent who can devote the necessary time and energy into giving a fair shake at really promoting the visual arts and artists in this town, then I’ll consider it for a DaVinci award.

[Above left image: untitled drawing by Pinkie.]

SCORECARD, thus far:

DaVinci – Beryl Solla

Velvet Elvis – University of Virginia Art Museum

DaVinci – Elizabeth Breeden

Velvet Elvis – Charlottesville City Council

DaVinci – Rob Tarbell

Comments

[Kyle]

Rob or whoever wrote this, thanks for the analysis. Perhaps you don't understand that our sites are a volunteer/community effort. The reason we asked you to participate in the past was that you obviously have an expertise, although biased, that would benefit Charlottesville.

If Art is merely tied to a bunch of experts and deep, formal critics, I think that makes it less approachable and doesn't speak well to Charlottesville or the mission behind our Company.

We're all in support of formal art analysis, news and discussion but the truth is, we haven't seen the people, the businesses and the galleries support it in the way you desire. I'm very happy with Pinkie's contributions because they are meaningful in a way that reach our audience. Incidentally, I am talking to a very experienced art world friend on Monday (MFA, NYC Galleries, etc) who can help in the direction you mention.

Personally, I think it's a disconnect between the people spending $1,000+ on art pieces and those who use the internet to consume media, but it could be a variety of other factors.

[squidtank]

Damn... elitist much?

[Pinkie]

Ouch. I was asked to help out with CvilleMuse by a friend and I work for free, writing when I have time, which I haven't had much of lately between moving and work 60 hours a week. I am an artist but I guess I'm not in enough on the juicy art gossip around town. That was never my goal anyways, I think a lot of the scene is stuffy and boring and I'd rather view things with a simpler eye and focus on simple posts about being an artist in town and my experiences. Sorry I'm not giving enough listings or interviews for your liking but I simply do not have the time right now and I have asked the people running the site to see if they could find other artists in other mediums who would like to contribute.
I'm glad you think the site could be btter but genuinely disappointed in your feeling you needed to point out my shortcomings.

[Rob Jones]

I look forward to the improved content.
-Rob