Art Changes Things...

An Art Endeavor

The Aesop Project started as an art endeavor I was working on with a group of artists I’d worked with in the past. The Republican National Convention was on its way to Jacksonville. One of the artists I’d worked with previously called me up and said she felt like we needed to do something; something to present Jacksonville artists to the world. She was hoping to use the spotlight that would be shined on Jacksonville to showcase us as artists. I agreed but added that the political nature of the timing couldn’t be escaped. I didn’t want us to squander an opportunity to speak up on several important cultural, civil rights, and human rights moments that had taken place over not just the past year but spanning the entirety of the Trump administration (and further back honestly). I felt we should speak on these issues specifically and not generalize and coalesce into a unity/kumbaya moment. Not that there is no place for it, but it is simply wasn’t the right time. It is because America has eschewed discussing the difficult things, talking around race and other important topics, I believe that we are where we are right now.

…art changes things is my point. It not only changes spaces and surfaces but it also changes perspectives, mindsets, and relationships.

To make a very long and overly dramatic story short, the rest of the group disagreed and in the most disrespectful of ways. I thought it ironic considering they wanted a show of unity. Sad. Considering at that point I’d already shared a number of my project ideas with the group.

Still Compelled

Though a little salty, I still felt compelled to continue forward to complete a project that spoke to current events. I still wanted to work collaboratively with an art crew, so I reached out to other art friends whose work and ideas I’d loved over the years but hadn’t had or created the opportunity to work together and a few folks said yes. Some felt, I’m guessing, that to create artwork in this way would be too political, polarizing, or negative. I didn’t take their desire to not participate personally, simply a manifestation of the culture we live in. People are so often ostracized for their personal opinions; right, wrong, or indifferent. I understood. None of those designations really matter though. To stand up and use your voice for what is right is never a comfortable position. This election is like no other I’ve ever seen. There is no sitting on a fence this time. There is no decision not to participate. We are in a fight for our democracy. This isn’t about politics at all.

My biggest reason for facilitating this collaborative project is because I truly believe that art changes things. I believe that when artists approach a problem or concern they see things from such a unique perspective.

This project to me and the way I have chosen to disseminate the message isn’t about speaking in an echo chamber with those I know who already agree with me, it is about reaching out to those who may be looking at things with an obscured viewpoint.

Dissemination Is The Way

The ways I’ve chosen to share what Aesop has created:

• Asking people to share the first video of a video diptych, I Can’t Believe This Is Happening with their friends, family, and network.

• Projecting I Can’t Believe This Is Happening on abandoned and dilapidated structures (intentionally symbolic of how we’ve abandoned who we say we are as Americans) also changing these spaces where we project the video with art. Which is also kind of my thing.

• Live-streaming I Can’t Believe This Is Happening on Facebook and Instagram

• Asking others to join the movement to not only vote in this election but to be more engaged civically and as humans.

There are other things I’m doing as well, but I digress, art changes things is my point. It not only changes spaces and surfaces but it also changes perspectives, mindsets, and relationships.

See for Yourself

Take a look at “I Can’t Believe This Is Happening”

Established Establishment

Oh. Hey.

Hello there.

Maybe I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere.

I thought I was applying for funding alongside those who are emerging and established artists that hadn’t yet been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Obviously I took a way the f**k left instead of going the way I was supposed to…whatever way that was.

Well.

Since I’m here. Can you tell me if it’s truly possible not to be biased in favor of someone putting in a grant app right next to me who’s already done a show at Carnegie Hall and a group that made a movie with Spike Lee?

Me? Oh. No movies yet or documentaries. Or articles published about me by BBC or New York Magazine. Yet.

Ill just keep working on that grant app…

Share Some More. For Real This Time.

Share Some More. For Real This Time.

So, one time, I was talking to this other artist who'd become wonderfully successful. This person did really great work and I was wondering what their secret was other than having great work. It seemed like sourcing funding was a big part of their success. At the time I didn't know much about finding my own funding and such things were foreign to me. As most of us artists have probably said at some point in time to each other longingly: “I wish I’d been taught grant writing in school…”

That Razzamatazz That You Do So Well.

So, I said (to this artist who was also someone I felt was a friend): "How do you do that grant and funding razzamatazz that you do so well?" (Nah, I didn't really say 'razzamatazz' but how can I pass up using that word?) So I asked what I believed was a relatively benign question. I was blown away by their response. Want to know what their response was? Dead air. Blank space. Silence. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Rien. And I quote: “I just look around.” That was all I got. So I pushed a little for more detail and still I got nothing.

Keep in mind, I didn’t ask this other artist to write a grant for me or hop onto Google and search on my behalf. None of that. I simply wanted a little direction. A smidgen of assistance. See, I had no idea where to start. Up to that point I’d felt that I was floating out in the middle of the great huge ocean that is being a ‘professional artist’. Deciding that you are going to be a professional artist is a frightening enough choice, but to then have a friend ignore a plea (a really desperate one) for help. I was heartbroken…and I was also confused.

Friend or Fear?

Why would my friend not want to help me? As pitiful as it sounds, that is exactly what I asked myself. Just add tears (I’m really sensitive.). It took me a little while to figure it out, but eventually I did. Sadly, after that initial experience, I ran into other artists who exuded the same sentiment: fear. The fear that there isn’t enough to go around is pervasive within the arts community. It stops us from sharing with other artists. There won’t be enough money. Someone is going to take my spot at the show. The judges might think their work is better than mine. I don’t need the competition. All excuses. Fear is an ugly, horrible, corrosive beast (check out my other posting What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid). Don’t get me wrong; I understand where the fear comes from. It can be tough to be an artist and earn a living; not to mention lots and lots of work. Every break you get helps. And I agree that resources are finite. I’m also not saying that my work is so fabulous that it strikes fear into the hearts of other artists, I’m just saying this person would’ve been afraid to share their experience and golden information with anyone.

All The Cool Kids Are Sharing.

If you decide not to help a fellow artist here's what you miss:

• You miss the opportunity to mentor someone.
• You miss the opportunity from stopping someone from going through the same pain and anguish you had to go through to learn your lesson.
• You miss the opportunity to create a sense of community among artists.
• You miss out on the opportunity to be nice and helpful.

So share. Then share some more. I’m not saying become a Wiki for someone trying to bleed you dry of all your knowledge. Sharing should be a two-way street. Just don’t be afraid to help someone obviously in need. You will feel better when you share even just a little bit. Promise.

I'd be interested to hear what you think.

No one likes a pretentious traveler…or artist.

We travel to understand others and to understand ourselves better. I believe the same is true of art: by pursuing, studying and producing art we develop the potential to understand ourselves a little better, if we allow it to happen.

Recently, I was reading the founder’s monthly comment in a travel magazine. Absolutely love the magazine. It’s beautiful as well as informative, but the founder said something that irked me a bit. Here’s the excerpt:

“This summer, I was sitting at a café on the Amalfi Coast, talking with a waiter about what I do for a living. “Did you start a travel magazine just so you could travel the world for business?” he asked. I laughed. That would hardly be a reason to start a travel company. Besides, I traveled for business long before [my magazine] began.”

I know to lots of people this would hardly be offensive. But honestly, why couldn’t ANY reason be a reason to start a company? A smidge condescending. I really had a vision of him patting the waiter on the top of his head. Why not learn something from the question? Love or passion, not money, as a reason to start a business? Hmmm… A novel idea. We should do an article on that. (This is me having the one-sided conversation in the founder’s head by the way). Maybe if he’d seen the waiter in a different light instead of focusing on his ‘more sensible’ reasons to start a business, maybe they would’ve had a different kind of conversation.

Art ≠ Superiority Complex.

This is also the problem with some of us art types: we sometimes see ourselves in a superior position to those who aren’t ‘us’. Our condescending and dismissive attitudes towards those who aren’t artists or even towards other artists can work to alienate us from our potential audience, fans, buyers, and even others within the artist community. It really doesn’t make you look mysterious or interesting when you act like a jerk.

If someone doesn’t understand your concepts, ideas or techniques use it as a teaching opportunity, not as a chance to be snarky. If another artist doesn’t do things the way you do things it doesn’t mean your way is the right way. Talk to people human to human. I don’t mean preach or talk at people either; I mean really have a conversation. Use art as a vehicle to connect to other people. Remove your ego from the equation.

When you are at a show, yours or anyone else’s, to avoid the dangerous pitfall of being a jackass (even an artistic jackass is a bad thing) you should ask questions of those you are speaking to before giving your personal opinions. Here are a couple of examples to get the conversation going:

• What type of art do you find yourself drawn to? Literal images or things more abstract.
• So what do you think about the work? (Simple I know. But it works.)
• Do you know anything about _________ (fill in your media, process or artist name here)? I can share a little bit if you are interested.
• What other interesting shows have you been to recently? This could also be a great opportunity to plug your work or the work of another great artist you know.

Keep your ego in check. Ask a question. Listen to what someone else has to say. You might learn something…or just have a great conversation.

I'm interested in your feedback. Do you enjoy speaking with others about your art or simply art in general?