Arts Write-ups And Reviews

THIS letter was written to perhaps cover misconceptions which were exposed in readers letters, ‘Madisia on Mbamba’, March 23 2007.

I do not want to argue any criticisms made by John Sampson’s art reviews per se, but instead would like to foster clarity on statements made by the Editor of The Namibian and Joseph Madisia, the Director of the National Art Gallery of Namibia. Madisia states in his letter ‘we also welcome this initiative of The Namibian newspaper, the bold and brave step taken by Mr Sampson to create at last the long-awaited intellectual dialogue that has been lacking for so long (15 years) on the Namibian art scene’.The Editor of The Namibian agrees with Madisia in one of her closing statements in response to the Mbamba letter.The Editor writes: ‘As you yourself (Madisia) have said, art reviews have been a long time coming in this country and John Sampson is the person who has risen to the challenge”.My question to both is: what have writers like Frederick Philander and Imke Rust been trying to do in 2003 and 2004 with their reviews and informative contributions to the visual arts in Namibia, written for the Weekender? What makes Sampson’s reviews valuable enough to ‘rise to the challenge’ and all other contributions are not? Were they perhaps not controversial enough to evoke sensationalism? I also would like to recall Adelheid Lilienthal’s reviews and contributions to The Namibian.Are they too, not ‘bold’ and ‘intellectual’ enough? I feel that both the Editor’s and J Madisia’s remarks are challenging the competence, integrity and professionalism of the abovementioned contributors to The Namibian.The public is exposed to a multitude of art criticisms and reviews in other Namibian newspapers.(There is no need to mention names).Surely interested persons in the art field need to be more widely read than just The Namibian in order to participate in ‘intellectual dialogue’ (arts).I furthermore would like to state that I too have been approached by The Namibian to write art reviews and inform on art exhibitions and as a result have made several contributions to the Weekender in 2004.The reason why I discontinued writing for the Weekender is not because I was not ‘brave’ enough to face up to the challenge but because I have not been rewarded for my contributions, even after having made three inquiries (one letter included).I may not have been bold enough in fighting for my pay cheque but hope that I am competent now to tell it as it is.I think that the Editor and Madisia need to review their motivations on why there is such a short supply of art critics contributing to The Namibian.Eric Schnack Windhoek Note: The fact that we now have a regular, weekly art critic in the form of John Sampson does not in any way diminish the very valuable contributions made to the Weekender in years past by others involved in the arts, including yourself and many other eminent persons in the arts, and does not detract from their contributions.However, most of those were ad hoc articles of various types.Some were simply ‘art coverage’ and others ‘art criticism’ but we had no consistent review structure.Contributions were also variously volunteered and/or solicited from time to time.The artistic community frequently took issue with me on this fact, but at the same time pointed out to me that not everyone is or can be an art critic.I did approach a number of artists on this point, who affirmed this fact to me, and declined doing regular ‘reviews’ rather than ‘write-ups’ because they felt fellow artists may not take kindly to honest criticism and/or they didn’t feel they have relevant qualifications or competencies and/or couldn’t commit to regular writing.John Sampson came forward with the offer of regular weekly reviews and we have taken him up on it.You may not agree but we do feel this is a step forward.Many of the reactions received by both this newspaper and the reviewer personally show that indeed it is so that the art community in this country is unused to art criticism, something we hope the regular reviews will change! As for your non-payment, please forward relevant invoice to me personally and I will see to it that you are reimbursed.EdMadisia states in his letter ‘we also welcome this initiative of The Namibian newspaper, the bold and brave step taken by Mr Sampson to create at last the long-awaited intellectual dialogue that has been lacking for so long (15 years) on the Namibian art scene’.The Editor of The Namibian agrees with Madisia in one of her closing statements in response to the Mbamba letter.The Editor writes: ‘As you yourself (Madisia) have said, art reviews have been a long time coming in this country and John Sampson is the person who has risen to the challenge”.My question to both is: what have writers like Frederick Philander and Imke Rust been trying to do in 2003 and 2004 with their reviews and informative contributions to the visual arts in Namibia, written for the Weekender? What makes Sampson’s reviews valuable enough to ‘rise to the challenge’ and all other contributions are not? Were they perhaps not controversial enough to evoke sensationalism? I also would like to recall Adelheid Lilienthal’s reviews and contributions to The Namibian.Are they too, not ‘bold’ and ‘intellectual’ enough? I feel that both the Editor’s and J Madisia’s remarks are challenging the competence, integrity and professionalism of the abovementioned contributors to The Namibian.The public is exposed to a multitude of art criticisms and reviews in other Namibian newspapers.(There is no need to mention names).Surely interested persons in the art field need to be more widely read than just The Namibian in order to participate in ‘intellectual dialogue’ (arts).I furthermore would like to state that I too have been approached by The Namibian to write art reviews and inform on art exhibitions and as a result have made several contributions to the Weekender in 2004.The reason why I discontinued writing for the Weekender is not because I was not ‘brave’ enough to face up to the challenge but because I have not been rewarded for my contributions, even after having made three inquiries (one letter included).I may not have been bold enough in fighting for my pay cheque but hope that I am competent now to tell it as it is.I think that the Editor and Madisia need to review their motivations on why there is such a short supply of art critics contributing to The Namibian.Eric Schnack Windhoek Note: The fact that we now have a regular, weekly art critic in the form of John Sampson does not in any way diminish the very valuable contributions made to the Weekender in years past by others involved in the arts, including yourself and many other eminent persons in the arts, and does not detract from their contributions.However, most of those were ad hoc articles of various types.Some were simply ‘art coverage’ and others ‘art criticism’ but we had no consistent review structure.Contributions were also variously volunteered and/or solicited from time to time.The artistic community frequently took issue with me on this fact, but at the same time pointed out to me that not everyone is or can be an art critic.I did approach a number of artists on this point, who affirmed this fact to me, and declined doing regular ‘reviews’ rather than ‘write-ups’ because they felt fellow artists may not take kindly to honest criticism and/or they didn’t feel they have relevant qualifications or competencies and/or couldn’t commit to regular writing.John Sampson came forward with the offer of regular weekly reviews and we have taken him up on it.You may not agree but we do feel this is a step forward.Many of the reactions received by both this newspaper and the reviewer personally show that indeed it is so that the art community in this country is unused to art criticism, something we hope the regular reviews will change! As for your non-payment, please forward relevant invoice to me personally and I will see to it that you are reimbursed.Ed