At its most basic definition, contemporary art is simply art made by artists living today. For many people, however, the label is loaded — esoteric, experimental, hard to access, maybe even trying hard to be “high-brow.” Often, the lack of contemporary art offerings in our communities leads us to think of it as something removed from us, not for us, when the opposite couldn’t be more true. It is for us, for the people of today living together in the same moment. Contemporary artists are emerging, creating, and becoming inspired in the same world we share, responding to the same events we are, consuming the same news, living through the same technological advances, and responding to it all through their personal lenses of artistic expression.
When we think of contemporary art at 3S, a sweet spot is when contemporary art intersects with a contemporary issue and contemporary talent. For example, we know people are concerned about, say, climate change, and we know artists are out there responding to that concern too, contributing to the larger conversation, and having a space to center their art allows us the opportunity to engage with that topic in another way.
That being said, art doesn’t always have to be about a social or environmental issue, and here at 3S, we try to stay away from the “always” and “never” mentality. Quite frankly, I hope that love and joy are still contemporary issues that we are concerned with as a society and that spaces that center contemporary art and artists will be spaces of both conversation and celebration for all that it means to be human living today.
But there are so many different ages and legacies of artistic expression, so why has 3S Artspace dedicated itself and its mission solely to the contemporary arts? And why was Portsmouth, NH our chosen home?
Because everything that is now considered classic was once contemporary. Therefore, without contemporary art, there is no artistic culture of the moment and no room to create future classics. If contemporary art fades from our communities, then it means that the arts have not survived, and future generations will feel that loss.
We are fortunate to live in an area with so much history, with many organizations dedicated to understanding, contextualizing, and discussing the past. We need those places, and we need places that are entirely devoted to the present. 3S Artspace viewed its placement here in Portsmouth as seizing an opportunity to add another layer to an already rich artistic offering. We want to be here, celebrating the creativity, the curiosity, and the community of today. We view our role in the Seacoast art scene as complementing the robust historical cultural organizations in the community with a fresh perspective. One that asks the question: what are people and artists interested in, concerned about, and inspired by right now? And what are people thinking about when they look forward to the future?
How does that inform what shows we put on and what art you will see here? We use our contemporary lens as an umbrella that covers our curatorial decisions. It’s why you might see fewer cover bands here than other places in town, or you might not have heard of many of the musical acts and the visual artists before that perform and are exhibited in the space.
That’s because fostering the growth of emerging artists is at the heart of 3S Artspace’s mission. Often, when people hear “emerging,” they think “young,” but talent can emerge at any age in an artist’s life and at any stage in their career. We want to be the place where you came to see Julien Baker, Bahamas, or Big Thief in an intimate room built for big sound right before those acts became too large for small venues like ours. When an artist outgrows us as a venue, it’s exciting! It’s how it is supposed to work. We want to be able to be early supporters of artists and their work — a stop that boosts them further on their artistic trajectory. For example, Carly Glovinski, a visual artist who has since gone on to exhibit in MassMOCA, had one of her first exhibitions in 3S’s gallery. We at 3S love to see the artists that exhibit here grow and be recognized for their value. We find it an important thing to be a part of an artist’s growth trajectory. Another example is Laura Tanner, the artist currently exhibiting in our gallery, who has toured the country with her exhibit, and now she is here in Portsmouth with new original works created for our town. Not only are we adding to her portfolio, but suddenly, we are part of her portfolio, and we get to grow with her in that way.
As a community, it is our engagement with these emerging artists that can make a difference in their careers and lives and may stick out in our memories as special moments of connection, inspiration, and fun!
Contemporary art can shave away some of the “prestige” around art consumption that makes so many people feel like the art world isn’t for them because supporting artists of today focuses you in on process and talent and less on prestige. Often, these emerging artists haven’t been filtered through what we’re all told to like or what has been deemed collectible or valuable. Visitors are welcomed and encouraged to come and see what they respond to without any viewpoint already pushed onto an experience or an artist.
Because of our size and scope, we are able to offer artists room to show works of art that were created for more than just commercial sale. I hope everyone finds art that they want to live with — to hang on their wall or sit on their shelves, but there is something special too about interacting with a piece of art that isn’t necessarily meant to be purchased. It isn’t always about ownership, but about experience.
Luckily, viewing art is a low-risk activity. Especially in our galleries, which are free and open to the public, and our location in Portsmouth enables us to lower those hurdles of admission even more. You don’t have to drive through traffic into a city and pay for all-day parking. You don’t have to commit to a $30 ticket and hours spent quietly moving from room to room through a museum. Our galleries are here to be enjoyed, and we want to encourage our community to add a spark of novelty to their day. Stop by on your lunch break, bring your kids, and ask them what they think, or maybe after a meal, plan to swing by and extend that great first date.
See something that maybe you think isn’t your taste, question that, maybe double down, and investigate your mind, your taste, and your creativity by investing time in it. Maybe you thought you weren’t interested in sculpture, but there was something about the stories behind the sculptures in the Unfixed Concrete Ideal that moved you — to laughter, to contemplation, to tears even! All responses are welcome and encouraged.
Here at 3S, our goal is to support the artists of today to preserve the artistic culture of the future. Come and experience all of the fun to be had for yourselves.