User:TheGrza/Bum Art

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Bum Art is an art movement with roots in the ideals of the Dada movements of the early 20th century, elements of Taoism, Absurdism, Anarchist Economics, and the works of Mose Tolliver.

[edit] History

Formed in response to the larger design and post-modern art movements that populated the landscape at the time, Bum Art as a movement reflected the creative and spiritual movements of the creators. The signature of Bum Art is the sole use of cardboard and house paint. The initial physical parameters were due to economic constraints on the artists themselves, but soon grew into philosophical ideas, virulently opposed to the idea of valued art.

[edit] Bum Art Philosophy

As a physical property, the art is not supposed to cost the artist anything but their time and creativity, and will never be sold to anyone or hoarded. The name "Bum Art" comes from the act of bumming money from strangers in order to finance your next piece. The artist is not supposed to pay for anything he can get for free, however, which is why the use of cardboard canvas achieved dominance. After the painting of the piece, the piece should be given away, with the understanding that at some point in the future it will have to leave this temporary holder to a new person, etc. This prevents any wealth from accumulating in anyone's hands as a direct result of the possession of this art. At this point, the philosophy takes a metaphysical turn. Bum Art claims that the piece of art is not a creation of the artist, but an idea that had always existed, waiting for the time and place to become physical. This yeilded a strange paradox in Bum Art, where it is the artist's duty to bring these ideas to fruition, yet they must preserve them from their own biases and ideas. The final tier of the philosophy of Bum Art is the rejection of the post-modern world and the idea that the universe is what we see. The paintings themselves represent nothing; they are only the objects that are seen. This final aspect reflects the tyranny of the Bum Art philosophy. As a rigid and unchanging philosophy, it also puts demands on the patron, deciding what can and cannot be taken from a painting.

==Mose Toliver==

Mose Tolliver, a poor black artist from Alabama, is the biggest figure in the realm of Bum Art. His art and philosophy of using only available materials (in his case house paint and wood) as well as his deliberate act of defiance against modern visual standard were precursors to the Bum Art movement.