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