Where is Art Going?

This is the title of an article in the March issue of ARTnews. It poses such questions as, how will artists survive? How will the market change? And, on a deeper level, how will creativity be affected? Artists, curators and other Art World people are interviewed, and I find a lot of hope in what they say. For instance, Gary Garrels of SF MOMA says, “We’re going to see a shift toward work that is more psychological and introspective”. This is good, right???

As we artists find the ground shifting beneath our feet, one option is to come up less expensive ways to make art. A woman in the article, Ellen Harvey, is working her way through all the materials she has in her studio. That effort will not only save money, it will no doubt result in many “happy accidents” of creativity.

For me, making more and smaller things seems to be a good option right now. I believe that in these uncertain times, there is a general longing for hand made work. People are consuming less, and my hope is that rather than buy that big new TV and feeding the “big box” store, some might consider buying a piece of local, original art. Something to feed the soul.

I am determined to continue to see the upside of this recession, to trust that in the long run we will build a stronger community. And to do all I can to remain true to myself while working harder every day to be smart, practical, compassionate and, of course, creative.

Rocco Loves a Picnic!

(I never said I wouldn't post an occasional cat photo!)

Making a Living in 2009

My friend Katarina Wong (http://www.innerworkings.net) has started an online discussion about the artist’s relationship to his/her day job. The thing that sparked this inquiry was a NY Times article by Holland Cotter called, “The Boom Is Over: Long Live the Art! “ In the article, Cotter looks at how past down markets have creatively-fueled artists by allowing them a freedom that being tied to the marketplace may not. He writes, “It’s day-job time again in America, and that’s O.K. Artists have always had them — van Gogh the preacher, Pollock the busboy, Henry Darger the janitor — and will again. The trick is to try to make them an energy source, not a chore.”

Wouldn’t THAT be nice – to have a day job that actually fed the creative and contributed to the ones energy level in the studio. Maybe teaching. Artists I know who teach certainly talk about how much they get from teaching, how it keeps their “edge” up, how much they learn from students, etc. But a majority of us who have day jobs are not teaching. When I decided I wanted to ditch the 9 to 5 and get serious about making art, I did what a lot of creative people do: I became a waitress. A fine job for someone in her late 20’s or early 30’s, but not for much longer. After that, I bit the bullet and trained to be a paralegal. This made sense to me since I had once been accepted to law school (though I quickly got over that idea). I landed a great part time job with full benefits (hard to imagine that now). Though I used to complain about working half of every day, a lot of my artist friends were envious of the security I had. I did paralegal work for many years, for four years full time. During those four long years I didn’t do very much art. It felt impossible. I had a studio but eventually gave it up and worked some at home. The irony was,
I could easily afford a studio, but I couldn’t find time to paint.

When I moved to Asheville NC in 1998, I assumed I would find a part time job. Imagine my surprise when I was offered work at one third of the pay I had gotten on the West Coast. Subsequently I found contract work running art shows at gaming/sci fi conventions. I still do this, but it is limited and at this point only involves one show a year. (I had the pleasure ha ha of running three “Star Wars Celebration convention” art shows.) For most of the past ten years, I have made a decent income selling my work. I’m not rich, but I didn’t have to look for other work.

Fast forward to 2009. Like a lot of creative people I know, I am trying to keep my head above water by increasing my online presence, networking, and increasing my visibility in various ways.
I am also painting smaller pieces and making linocuts. These pursuits are good; they do not feel like a compromise. Being creative about being creative is always a good thing, even if it is spurred on by a decrease in sales.

Now to explain the graphic: I have been thinking about what I am good at that not many others are. I have come up with two things: trimming cat toenails and reading Tarot cards. I can see the logo now: a paw holding a card. I joke about this, but I may end up doing one or the other before this recession is over. People are finding solace in their pets, and everyone wants to know what the future holds, so maybe m crazy idea isn’t so crazy. Stay tuned.

Artist Interview with Yours Truly

My friend Constance is featuring an artist monthly on her blog, "Step like a Giant. I am "Miss March", and there is a short interview with me posted there. "Step like a Giant" is always worth reading - Constance writes about art, living simply and activism.

Art for Food Benefit

Art for Food is a benefit being held this weekend. I am one of nine artists exhibiting and selling work. 50% of sales will go to Manna Food Bank in Asheville NC. 50% will go to the artists. It's a win-win! Follow the link for more information. I hope to see many of you Ashevillians at the opening tonight, 6-9pm at the Cotton Mill Studios in the River Arts District.

A Few Words about Lent on Ash Wednesday

The old Teutonic word “Lent” meant simply the Spring season. But like a lot of other things, the Catholics robbed the Pagans and changed its meaning. Some of us who have never been Catholic choose to honor the season by giving something up. The idea is to do without one thing you love for the 40-day period, symbolizing the Lenten season's return to simplicity and purity. It doesn't matter what you give up - chocolate, television, Facebook - as long as the meaning of its absence holds significant value to you. I traditionally chose chocolate, which is actually a lot easily to forgo than a lot of other “significant” things (like March Madness). For me, it’s about mindfulness: when I say no to that Cadbury Fruit and Nut bar, I am reminded to be more present. It’s that simple. And then on Easter I can bite off the heads of all the chocolate bunnies I want.

Drawing Dreams Foundation

Recently I was asked to contribute a painting image to the Drawing Dreams Foundation. This non-profit based in Berkeley CA provides art supplies to children's hospitals Artist-in-Residence

art programs. This is a cause near and dear to my heart, and I was happy to donate an image. In appreciation of their support, donors receive note cards featuring art made by children who participate in these programs - as well as from professional artists, architects, scientists, and other visionaries from around the world. The above Drawing is by a 5 year old named Mateo, and it's title is "Happy Dancer". There are two galleries on the site: Children Helping Children, which displays kids' art and Artists Helping Children, which features donated images. Check it out - these kids' drawings and paintings will take the edge off the chill of a gray February day.