It happened again. I have missed another even more important exhibition than the Hopkins International: the MMoCA Triennial, the deadline of October 24, 2024. Of course like the Hopkins Center for the Arts, this is a major disappointment, taking away my positive attitude for the day. Yes, I mentioned this and got advice, but what I did was to add my email to their newsletter. That means in fall 2027, once again I will apply for the MMoCA 2028 Triennial. I had also found that I had submitted to the triennial back in 2019. The image I submitted surprised me and changed my thinking about missing this show.

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is exactly what its name applies. Here is a peak at their current exhibition schedule. My initial thought was that my art style back in 2019 was very differed then to now, with the addition of playable music and lighting, thinking this would improve my chances. Then I looked at the artwork I submitted. This surprised me. I had sent them a stunning, five-foot-long piece, Giant Steps, by the legendary jazz artist John Coltrane. They turn this work down. That tells me the MMoCA is probably not where this art belongs. Their Contemporary art scene is probably also not my scene. Obviously, I see this art as ahead of its time, ahead of what is the current MMoCA Contemporary Art. Even more so now than it was back in 2019. So it goes. So do I. The MMoCA and I may never cross paths, may not be in the cards, may not have a ghost of a chance. And yet 2028 is not that far away. Considering how fast time passes, and the average lifespan in American is 79 years and I am currently 76. I probably take that one more last shot.

Today, I have moved on from yesterday’s words stated above. I am back to focusing on applying to the ARC gallery that is located somewhere in or around Chicago. Women run this gallery, and while it welcomes all artists and skill sets, I still wonder if it prioritizes women artists over older white men like me. I could be entirely wrong once I learn more, but this feeling altered my approach to this application. My plan is to submit only artworks performed by women.

I have painted artworks sung by women. But surprisingly, not as many as I should have, considering how many female artists there are on my Spotify Like list (a quick third on my first 300 songs). But it was my early musical comfort, influence and direction that came from growing up with The Beatles that set my course. Back then, I liked boy music, and boys singing about girls. Unexpectantly, and good timing, I completed four projects featuring women artists: Tylor Swifts All too Well, Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, Dance Monkey my Tones and I, Cheap Thrills by Sia, but only one song from 2023, What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes. I feel, to add more credibility, to this good start I moved to seek a couple of other songs made popular by women. I came with a short list of songs.

The two songs I thought of were Adele’s version of the classic Dylan piece, Make you feel my love, and the other is Love Me Like You Do sung by Ellie Goulding (two songs on my Spotfiy Like List). The Dylan song that was a simple choice, but I hesitated on Love Me Like you Do. I have always liked this song, but the lyrics I could not find a connection. I then looked at Myley Cyrus, finding this instrumental of her song Flowers, preform by Brooklyn Duo. This cover would help in creating my cover, so I went for it. And yet, after putting together my first draft of this music, I felt disappointed. This music reminded me of much of today’s pop hits: they all sound the same. That got me wondering if I was compromising my standards for this art.

The answer is probably yes, but this has been rare, mostly past commissioned art, and a Marvin Gaye song Ecology I did specifically for an exhibition, that rejected it. I vow never again to do that. But here I am and time is on the move and I need to push out this art. The application deadline is January 4th. Therefore, this decision is about gaining some recognition of this art after 18 plus years. If this popular hit would help that cause, why not? Besides, what surprised me following up on this choice was that Miley Cyrus’s song “Flowers” currently has 2,328,701,301 Spotify plays, 922,520,240 YouTube views, and spent 8-weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100. To quote the Wikipedia article, this 2023 hit was “a massive commercial success.” Oh, I see. Okay, this song is a worthy challenge to my cover music skills.

Miley Cyrus “Flowers” (Official Video)

So it goes,

Scott Von Holzen