May 9, 2007
What’s In A Name?
An Irreverent Look At The Artist Community
I have noticed recently, through my affiliation with various artist groups, a trend
towards renaming oneself. Help me here, I don’t understand. Is there
something wrong with the person’s given name? If you change your name to
something more “artsy” will you be a better artist? If you have a new “art name”
will your work be more sought after or recognizable? I don’t have the answers to
these important questions. I hope you do.
As an example let’s use me. My name is Scott Lawrence Buttrick. You know
that this has to be my real name because who in their right mind would change
their name to something that had “butt” in it. Yes, I have heard them all, “hey
butt”, “buttman” or my personal favorite, do a “but trick”. In spite of all the
high school jokes, I still have the same name. Get this, I even sign my work
Scott Buttrick or if I’m in an artsy mood Scott L Buttrick.
I took a hard look at my own work and have concluded it would be better if I
start using a new name. What I found was a remarkable improvement when I
signed my work S. Lawrence Buttrick. Take a look at this before and after
example and you will see what I mean. Believe it or not, they are all the same
image.
This is a photograph that I took in 2005 that I thought was junk. Then I
changed my name to something more artsy.
See, the second image is much better with my new name. Now, what if I used
S. Larry Buttrick.
Clearly that name won’t work. My photography now sucks. The beautiful
landscape turned into a dog. I had better go back to my other new name.
In my quest to redefine my photography and myself I did some research on
other great artists and found that many had changed their names also. My
primary reference was from the book, Incredible Non-Artsy Names That Must Be
Changed by Wilbur Webster.
What my research revealed was very enlightening and I must say somewhat
disappointing. So many photographers and artists that we thought we knew,
were (or are) frauds. Let’s take a look at what I have found. CAUTION, please
DO NOT continue if you are near any “real” art authorities (the snobby ones that
always know more than we do). This could be fatal to them. Here is just a
sampling of my research.
The Name We Know
Their Real Name
Ansel Adams
Adam Applewood
Edward Weston
Ed Westoninski
Paul Strand
Harry Strand-O-Hara
Pablo Picasso
Juan Valdez
Alfred Eisenstaedt
Alfred Eisenstaedt (too good to change)
Minor White
Major Black
Brooks Jensen
Derk Stone (such a manly name)
Galen Rowell
Raul Gallant’
Rembrandt
Billy
And my favorite, Vincent Versace. Say it, Vincent Versace; it just rolls
beautifully off the tongue. Now try Vincent’s real name “Vinny Gotti”, it just
doesn’t have the same elegant flow. Say it really fast, it sounds more like a
salad dressing or perhaps cheese. “Waiter, I’ll have a tossed salad with Vinny
Gotti dressing”. But with a name like Gotti, we know why Vinny has changed his
name.
What is the point of this article, well it is definitely not to advance the
metaphysical cosmic essence (art talk), of your existence. Now that I have
wasted my time by writing this article and yours for reading it, the question
remains. What’s in a name? I believe that I have clearly and profoundly
exhibited, changing your name makes you a better artist. Here are a couple
more examples. Can you imagine a publication about photography by a guy
named Derk Stone? I don’t think so, maybe a surfing magazine called “Surf
Work”, but not photography. How about a photograph titled “Moonrise Over Big
Ass Rock” by Adam Applewood, now I buy that one.
I now know for me to become a famous photographer I must change my name.
Content, composition or technical ability are of no real importance. It’s all in the
name. So, from this point forward I will have a new name. A new name is
probably good, as Vinny Gotti or old Derk Stone for this bit of writing will
probably sue me. Pending lawsuits, maybe a new address wouldn’t hurt.
Essay by:
Scott Buttrick
Aka. S. Larry Butterhide