Bravo, Sarah Jessica Parker launching art-themed reality series

It was only a matter of time for art to jump on TV's reality bandwagon. A cable series focusing on the contemporary art scene is in the works at Bravo. The show (whose title has not yet been announced) is being produced by Sarah Jessica Parker through her company Pretty Matches, along with the Magical Elves production company ("Top Chef," "Project Runway") and "Runway" producer Eli Holzman.

In the series, 13 contestants will compete for a gallery exhibition, a cash prize and a sponsored national tour. The artists will create works in the fields of sculpture, painting, photography, industrial design and more. Their completed works will be judged by a panel of art world figures including gallerists, collectors, curators, critics and fellow artists. The finalists' work will be featured in a nationwide museum tour.

Bravo, which is owned by NBC Universal, is in the casting phase of the show. Open casting calls are scheduled this month for Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and New York. According to the application instructions for potential contestants, the show's producers are looking for "emerging or mid-career" artists who work in any number of the following fields: painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography and mixed-media.

No air dates have been announced for the hourlong series. Keep reading for a list of the open casting call venues ...

Los Angeles
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 11-12
LA><ART
www.laxart.org

Miami
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 14
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
www.Snitzer.com

Chicago
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 16

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sullivan Galleries, 33 State St.
www.saic.edu  

New York
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 18-19
White Columns
www.whitecolumns.org

— David Ng

Photo: Sarah Jessica Parker. Credit: WireImage

Comments

[Mike]

I'd like to win Sarah Jessica Parker, will trade all my paintings.

[Vicki Teague-Cooper]

I really applaud Sarah Jessica Parker for doing this--visual artists in particular could use a boost--we tend to get lowest rung on the ladder of the arts.

But, speaking as a 'just-past-mid-career artist', why does it have to be 'emerging mid-career' artists?!! Why not anyone who's an artist?! Are they afraid of people that aren't telegenic? look too old? Is this another case of ageism in television? Maybe it's not intentional but the effect is the same. The focus should be on the work, not the age. (I so look forward to the day when human beings evolve beyond this...)

And if anyone reads this who has a connection with the show--please consider this point and expand the parameters!

[Manuela Valenti]

WOW! I must be telepathic or something! I've been looking on ways to propose this same idea (in a different way) to a TV producer, so this sure is quite a surprise!

It was about time visual artists get to have some recognition! thank you!. I hope you guys get to identify the real ones from the con artists though.

So huge thank you Sarah Jessica Parker!

[Tim Gagnon]

I love this idea. I would like to try and be on the show, but I think I might wait and see how the show's first season goes first. http://www.timgagnon.com

I can't wait to see how well art is accepted in the Main Stream.

-Tim

[dedicatedartistsagainstexploitation]

This is the definition of lame, making a show like this is like making a show about writers struggling to get their books published. Every artists work is different and their process and struggles are even more so, how could they possibly judge this?
Galleries judge work on more than talent, it's mostly about commerce (markets) and saleability, the general popularity = the market for the artist kinda like how they decide to fund stilted TV shows like this. Thank god they were way off on this one because the general non-elitist public (everyone that likes tv) thinks visual art is a waste of time, snobby and pretentious. There is a reason Thomas Kinkade is America's favorite visual artist.. No self respecting artist would participate in this except for the ones that believe Andy Warhol is the start and stop of "art history". How would they allow certain art to be viewed on tv? Is the FCC going to take a chill pill for this show? What about nudes or blasphemous works like "Piss Christ" (Andre Serrano) ?
My prediction is that artists who apply will stunt their learning process early in their work, crippling them (like giving a first year student a big show), and the only ones with reason to apply are media and performing artists that will view it as another forum of spectacle.
Will this show bomb??

[g3 studios]

I love, love, love SJP. I got to meet her in Pontiac, MI, when she introduced Bitten. I gave her one of our handcrafted wood pepper mills. I was so nervous, I think I scared her. I am typically a very shy person, so for me to do that it was huge in my book. I think she is amazing and so beautiful, far more beautiful in person. I was on cloud nine the rest of the day and I was not the only one, as some person almost smacked into my car in the parking lot. I would submit an application for this if I thought we had a chance to win. Like most jurors I am sure they are looking for visual, not functional, or both. I agree with Vicki, art needs a boost in today's economy. People forget that artist are the people that started this country eons ago. Good Luck everyone... Yvonne from g3studios.net

[Anon Y. Mous]

I have some reservations about this show.

A) What affect will this show have on the perception of art in this country (not only the work itself, but also the process)? The art will likely be judged according to criteria that won't be pertinent outside of the show; but the populace won't know that.

B) In the field of commercial art, this kind of competition would be shunned by professionals because it would potentially cross the line of spec work, which would ultimately devalue not only the work of an individual on this show, but all artwork yet to be created. Granted, the participants will (hopefully) be paid for appearing on the show, but any work created on the show could potentially be claimed as "work for hire" by the studio.

C) This is most likely driven not by the idea that art is interesting, but by the myth that artists are weird, reclusive, bohemian types. It's difficult to not to assume prurience with reality shows. Hopefully, the contestants will buck the stereotype.

D) Sculpture, painting, photography, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN? AND MORE?! How about Ikebana, bridge architecture, and firework displays? Don't forget fingerpainting, hairstyling, back-end Web programming, font design, napkin doodling and DNA recombitance.

[dedicatedartistsagainstexploitation]

g3 studios, can you explain what you mean by art needs a boost in this economy?

[A Fan]

Just the fact that Bravo Networks is doing this is a guarantee that the quality will suck. Bravo used to be about art and now it's all about reality TV at all cost no matter how bad. This won't be any different.

[artbyjo]

I can not wait too wait in line for my chance for my "GIRLS" to be seen. I just hope they know how many artist there are in New York alone.

[Donald Frazell]

I most certainly was NOT there. Fashion and art should never mix, they are opposed. At least creative arts, fine arts to pleasure the rich, the self absorbed laughably self regarding Mr Bigs of the world, yeah. Its brown nosing. Good luck, but bravo plus elves plus wannabe fashion maven equals trash.

art collegia delenda est

[sylvie]

Look, kids - let's say it like it is... it is a TV SHOW about "art," not an art show on TV.

Although Project Runway and Top Chef are not as bad as other reality shows, what keeps us watching is not the fashion or the food - it's the drama.

It is obvious the producers are picking 13 "types" to fill out their cast - a couple of outlandish types, a couple of cute girls, a couple of gay guys, a bitch or two... not to mention a range of races... and of course, a few plants.

If there's a challenge show about cakes, hair cuts, dog groomers or even people willing to "fall in love," - it's just another formula show. Will the winner [or contestants] ever make a career or money out of this? Who knows... it's just their 15 minutes.

[Donald Frazell]

I wonder if Bruno will show? He would make an excellent third judge.

[Patty Rodgers]

After I saw the application for this reality show I said forget it. It'll be more about entertaining viewers than about art. It won't be real at all, it'll be fake, because you have to agree to let them alter your art, face, figure, words. Sounds fake to me.

[Adrianna Mack]

My boyfriend is trying out for this reallity show in New York Tomorrow! I wish him the best of luck, he is so amazing I can barely describe his talent. He has made art his career for the last decade of his life, and deserves to have the chance to see this thing through to the end!

[Jo Owens Murray]

I was number 78 in NY 7 hours and 1 minute, but I made The Wall Street Journal: Do starving artist look like this, By: Kelly Crow
and the NY Times: "GIRL" her real name is Side Show.
artbyjo

[nee breslin]

I have to agree with Patty, I read the write up on this to give my husband a "second opinion" on what it really is and basically told him, yeah, just another reality show where they will tear everyone to shreds and may the biggest vindictive win, whomever he/she is!

It's definitely something you want to see the first season of before you even consider applying. Most will think the art world is oh so boring, wait until they see how brutally backbiting it really is!

[Mick]

Sounds like a great idea to me! I think whoever has the guts to try out and stand in the lime light should do it. for those that want to do closet art and are too shy to speak up and have no social skills - stay at home and brute over your craft. I actually can paint, draw, sculpt, etc. and wouldn't mind to blast my word out to this world. true, it's hard to work under time constrains, but for those that went to art school - it's nothing new, we are used to this. ...so shape up self-taught artists.
I believe that the first season would be the most memorable one and most beneficial one if you are out to make an impression and a name for yourself. this can only benefit your sales and future art career. what gallery won't want your work after this show?! everybody knows you and everybody wants a piece of you. your work will sell!
peace and good luck! thx SJP, good idea ;)

[dedicatedartistsagainstexploitation]

I met with many New York art dealers at a party last week. The topic of this show came up and they all agreed for any unknown artist this show would do nothing for their art career except turn them from an unknown into a known- joke.

Essentially it would be referred to as career suicide.
They also were talking about dealers as well, the only people that will get something out of this are the judges actually because this is really about the spectacle. "I got to judge that crazy show". They would get most of the attention. The artists that participate will be laughed at by other artists and anyone in the commerce based art community.

Shepard Fairy made the Obama (change) image. He isn't even well respected by the elitist art community because his work is regarded as too commercial and only existing to promote the name of the artist. Imagine what an artist that wins a TV competition to validate their career will be seen as.....
This show will help the winner begin their acting career.... If you want to get into TV then this show might help (prob not). It will certainly NOT help your career as an artist. Only making work and creating something that pushes boundaries will achieve that.

[Charles]

To dedicatedartistsagainstexploitation: Hey, be careful not to judge the judges even before the show starts. How do you know they won't give recognition to artists that 'create something that pushes boundaries'? And how can anyone say it won't help someone's career as an artist, or that it will turn them into a 'joke'?? Careers have taken off, and bombed, for weirder reasons than being highlighted, or bashed, on a tv show.
Bottom line: This show might add an interesting new dimension to art, or it might bomb...