Swarms

In the Same Boat

It's good weather for ducks and I'm still contemplating relevance.

How do some artists stand out in a crowd and influence other artists?

I mentioned the wikipedia effect last post. Simply put, it is a group

effort that collaborates on a project. Usually the result is a 'good

enough' but not necessarily the best solution. Good for the group.

I use wikipedia in my links on occasion so I don't knock it, but the

content is optimized in search engines such that its 'solutions'

seem authoritarian. Museums act in much the same way in that

they filter the background chatter and come up with a pretty

good consensus. Great for the art community; some-

times bad for individuals or groups out of favor.

Wiki Artists Option

For the actual artist our work isn't like this relevance model. We're

not seeking a consensus. Although we're part of the art community

usually art is a lonely process. We're better off as individuals

utilizing that solitude rather than listening to advice of friends,

family or supporters. When we're producing we tend to fight a

variety of roadblocks just to spend a few hours in the studio

working idiosyncratic ideas through.

The Rogue

Our artistic search engines are found not only on the Internet or

museums. Mostly our search is a filtering of our unique

perceptions of the world; observation of nature, other people and

our interactions with social norms. Really we're at our best out

in the world ignoring relevance and finding our own way.

In swarm theory eventually people will check out new options.