John Baldessari (1931-2020) was a California-based Conceptual artist and educator known for his work with appropriated images, video, and text-based work. Famously, he’s known for saying that “Every artist should have a cheap line,” but the actual quote is more nuanced and was in response to a 1976 poll about artist-made books in Art-Rite magazine no. 14.
Here’s Baldessari’s full quote:
“Re. your request for statements on books: I enjoy giving books I have made to others. Art seems pure for a moment and disconnected from money. And since a lot of people can own the book, nobody owns it. Every artist should have a cheap line. It keeps art ordinary and away from being overblown.”
While I’ve heard the shorter Baldessari statement for years, I didn’t know that it was made in the context of artists books. While it’s my belief that when possible, art should be affordable and accessible to all, it’s interesting to learn that he was speaking specifically about books.
What do you think about artists having a cheap line to go with more expensive work? Let us know in the comments.
Two pages of the Art-Rite Idea Poll on artists books, from Publishing Manifestos.
The entire Idea Poll on artists books is republished on page 56-65 of Publishing Manifestos, a 2019 anthology of statements on book making from artists and writers. Or look for the entire run of Art-Rite magazine republished in a 2019 facsimile edition.
Publishing Manifestos includes lots of great stuff, including manifestos from Takashi Murakami, Allen Ruppersberg, Gertrude Stein, Kathleen Hanna, Mladen Stilinovic, and more.
The cover of Publishing Manifestos
Shop Publishing Manifestos Abebooks | Amazon | Bookshop.org
Shop the Art-Rite anthology Abebooks | Amazon | Bookshop.org
