Ash Tanasiychuk

A Great Discussion

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On perspectives and respectful listening.

The request to remove the documentation formerly housed at this url has prompted a great discussion amongst the artistic community. 

At VANDOC, we have always operated with the best intentions: to celebrate Vancouver based emerging artists. (read more about our mission https://vandocument.com/about/)

While some of the articles you’ll read on VANDOC happened because we were asked by the artist/curator/gallery to be there, some were self-initiated. VANDOC contributors would have a show on their radar and go document it of their own initiative; doing it pro bono because they thought the show looked great and they wanted to increase exposure of it.

But the question has now come up among the artistic community: if we are not asked to be there, should we go? One perspective is that, yes, of course – the event is open to the public and there are no signs saying “no photography allowed.”

Another perspective, though, is that before documentation is published, it should receive the approval of the artist(s).

Which is actually something we’ve done a lot of at VANDOC. Even with many of our pro bono documentation, we worked closely with the artists to get their approval, and at times, creative opinion of how they are presented.

I’ll admit that when VANDOC was at its busiest (2013-2015), we did not always do this. Due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from artists, curators, gallery and artist run centre operators and the public, in the form of social media comments and sharing, emails and in person accolades, we felt we were on the right path, conducting our mission statement with efficiency and respect for everyone at all stages of the process.

This request to remove the documentation formerly housed at this url is a great reminder, though, that good intentions may not sit well with everyone, as of course, people have different perspectives on the same subject. When this happens, as long as respectful listening and patient discussion is always adhered to, we can continue to learn from one another.

Let’s keep this discussion flowing. As someone said to me recently (in an unrelated discussion), it is a dangerous and ugly path to censor each other; open discussion from all parts of the spectrum are needed in a respectful society.

As always, until the end of time, love and respect.
Ash 
VANDOC founder, editor in chief, admittedly naive at times in my passion to support the arts.