Visual Arts

Jim Mott’s Itinerant Artist Project Comes to Utah

In ancient Ireland, as I learned from a recent trip to the Emerald Isle, poets were revered, and in some respects regarded as the equals of kings. The greatest honor a man of substance could have would be to host a bard and accompanying entourage in his home. This practice became so widespread, and the poets so numerous, that at various times the expense of hosting the poets almost bankrupted kingdoms. With his Itinerant Artist Project, New York artist Jim Mott has created something reminiscent of the Irish sense of hospitality, traveling from home to home, exchanging his artistic gifts for the hospitality of his hosts (but, thankfully, posing no financial threat).

Mott stays with a host for 2 to 5 days. While there, the artist goes into neighborhoods and surrounding areas creating several small oil paintings each day. As he interacts with his hosts, he shares his philosophy, his creative process, and, before he leaves, a painting. Touring the country and staying in the homes of strangers, Mott has spent a total of six months on the road, stayed in 50 households in 23 states, and completed more than 300 small landscape paintings since 2000. His fall 2007 tour began in Seattle and will take him through Washington, Idaho, and parts of Utah before heading eastward to his home near Rochester, NY. It is the most extensive tour he has made since the original cross country tour in 2000.

“White Car”

Some have compared the itinerant artist to performers and other itinerant types of past centuries. Mott thinks of it this way: “It has been more a case of an artist living life at full capacity, in a context that is artfully and collaboratively arranged to support that end, but which is all the better for being real life, not something separate.”

As he explains on his website, Mott was strongly influenced to start the project by Lewis Hyde’s book, The Gift, “a fascinating fusion of cultural anthropology and literary criticism which poses the question: can art be true to itself, can it have life as a gift or be seen as the expression of a sacred gift…in a market economy?”

Using art as a currency for getting around the country and producing more art has been more than an expression of Mott’s gift for painting. He has come to appreciate the “gifts” large and small he receives from others along the way — from shelter to a cup of coffee and conversation. Through his practice of art, he is connecting people and culture and nurturing the notion of “hospitality,” which he “didn’t see happening much in the US, where, increasingly, distrust and fear and the desire not to be inconvenienced seem to dominate our interactions with strangers… where ‘visiting’ is something we do on the Internet.”

Local artist and regular 15 Bytes contributor, Sue Martin, will host Mott while he is in Salt Lake. She learned about Mott’s project through creativity coach Eric Maisel, when both she and Mott were participating in Maisel’s online research on “making meaning” through art. After reading about the project, Martin says she “became intrigued by the notion of ‘art as currency.’ In fact, I made it a practice to gift party hostesses during the last Christmas holiday season with small original paintings. I think they appreciated it more than another plate full of cookies.”

“Lake Pine”

Martin looks forward to some practical painting tips, such as a look at Mott’s plein air gear and some tips on how to pack for a long trip. And, of course, she’s also eager to hear about his reception — good or not-so-good — in various households.

The public is also invited to hear Mott speak about his experiences. While here, the artist will give a public presentation on his work and his practice of gifting art for hospitality at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 3rd floor conference room, on Monday, October 8, at 7 p.m. For more information, contact: Sue Martin, 801-209-3062 or visit www.jimmott.com.

Categories: Visual Arts

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