Let's Break The Wheel!! For Reals This Time.

Photo Credit: Katie Awad

An Artist By Any Other Media.

Last summer after I finished up my last show, Play Play, I came across an announcement for another visual art show. It was a group show. Many people doing several different kinds of work were included. Group shows are always interesting at least for that reason alone. I was caught off guard when I saw they were charging a $10 entry fee. Ten dollars? Who pays to get into a visual arts show? There’s no performance right? I checked the announcement again and saw that there wasn’t. Even though I wasn’t planning to go, I was annoyed.

First I was annoyed at the audacity: Charge for a visual arts show ? Pffffffft!! (Imagine me doing this with a dramatic flick of my hand.) Then I was annoyed with myself: why shouldn’t a visual artist charge to see their work? Musicians do. Dancers do. In various places and spaces they even have tip jars present. Why shouldn’t a visual artist charge for the privilege of seeing their work? I commend these artists for not only banding together to show their work, but also asking to be compensated in a way that visual artists aren’t usually. I can admit when I”m wrong. I was.

Though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t necessarily their aim, but they should also be acknowledged for their efforts to break the wheel.

What’s This “Break the Wheel” Nonsense?

''Break the wheel” is a Game of Thrones reference. Though the show has ended there is still so much that has been learned from it! So good! But I digress. Just in case you’re not into GOT I will spare you a long synopsis of the show by saying the phrase is shorthand for changing a broken, ailing, and corrupt system that benefits only a few. Especially if it isn’t working really. I can definitely say that artists not being compensated for their work but still expected to do it for free and with a flourish is not even a real system at all. It’s not just artists that have to work to break the wheel but anyone who loves art and wants to support the artists who make it.

But It’s Not My Fault, Is It? Actually It Is.

The same society that teaches us that artists should be poor, that artists should be starving, and still have 5 jobs to cobble together an income is the same one that tells us there is no reason to compensate an artist for their work. More often than not we pay to see work in museums. I paid to get into individual shows when I attended Art Basel a couple years ago. Why shouldn’t gallery shows or any other type of show where you see work on the walls or sculpture in the room charge entry? I freely admit I had been brainwashed by the same system. I’d participated in the system that said I don’t need to get paid because I love my work. Shouldn’t we all love our work though (a topic for another day!)?

Though it’s scary, I’ve decided that I am changing the way I think about my work. It’s about to get a little crazy probably. But that’s ok right? We are breaking the wheel!!! I want you to join me for the ride.

I Want You, Yes YOU!

I LOVE MY WORK!!!! Sometimes it’s like being in love and I want to shout it from a rooftop. I want everyone to be a part of it. I want my own art tribe. I want to be able to talk to people about my work. Share what I’m up to! All of the facets of my work and know I’m sharing with my crew, people who care!

Patreon (a site that houses the space where you can support me directly) and creating an opportunity for fans of my work to become a member of my tribe is one way I am working to change things. Fans of my work who want to see me finally finish a project I’ve been working on for the past two years can support me directly and mark my progress on various projects. This is a part of me breaking the wheel. This could be the first step for a lot of us. Take a look at my page here. Become a member of my art tribe.

Let’s Do This!

Finding Your Focus.

Ever sit down to do work and find that you are anxious, easily distracted or simply can’t sit still and focus long enough to get anything done. After an hour or so of pretending to do ‘research’ playing Candy Crush Saga then you just give up all together.

Did I just blow your mind with my telepathic skills? How do I know you so well you ask? I admit I am not telepathic, but I can relate because most of us do the same thing at some point in time or another [though simple tv is my procrastination weapon of choice]. I’ve had days where all that I have to do positively overwhelms me and stops me before I even get started. So how does one keep moving when their brain is on lockdown?

How to fix your brain when it feels broken.

I have a few things that work for me when I need to force myself to work. Some are kooky and some are more acceptable to the masses and a bit more traditional. No matter how you label these suggestions they are here and ripe for the picking. The key is to choose what works best for you so that you can get what you got to do DONE!

1. Create your own ritual. Short definition of ritual: Any act or procedure that is consistently followed. Key word: consistent. This tip is by far, I feel, is the most effective for a lot of people so we shall start here.

Can’t complete a sentence until you’ve had a cup of coffee, tea, or bowl of ice cream? No work until you’ve had a good meal and a shower? Thirty minutes of reading and a good workout to start your day off right?

All of those sound like good ways to get your workday started. Recognize when you have a ritual and a way of starting your day. Don’t fight it. Honor it by completing your daily practice and get going. If you haven’t noticed what you do to get your day going, start paying a little more attention to yourself. Use what you discover to make your work time productive time every day.

2. Exercise.  If you are fidgeting and anxious sometimes a quick burst of activity is just the right thing to get the ants out of your pants.10-15 Jumping jacks.1-2 minutes of      jumping rope. Running in place for 30 seconds. 5 push-ups. Don’t do them all, just pick one or two. The key isn’t to get you tired. The goal is to get your mind and body to focus on the primary activity that you want to perform. This also works if you are feeling a bit sluggish and need to wake up a bit.

3. Pick A Place. Anyplace.  Sometimes you need to get started plain and simple.      Often times we sabotage ourselves by saying we must complete a specific task before we complete another. Not for any reason in particular, just because you have it in your head that it needs to be done that way. Maybe you should start with the task that you most dread.Or start in the middle instead of the beginning. Go ahead and do it. Get it out of the way so that you aren’t dragging your feet to avoid getting to it.

4. Go to sleep.  Are you procrastinating or are you exhausted? Know the difference. If you’ve been working way past your bedtime lately maybe the best thing to do is go      to sleep. No one gets any medals or trophies for passing out at their computer, just a nasty kink in your neck. There is a lot to be said for going to sleep for a few hours [or at least an hour nap if you must work]  and getting up with a fresh [and rested] perspective.

5. Play a singing bowl. I can just hear you now: “A what??” Before you start saying how crazy I am, read more about it.  A singing bowl is known primarily a tool used for      meditation. It has also been thought to be a tool for healing. It is played by running a wooden dowel known as a striker around the rim of the bowl. It is one of the purest, clearest sounds you will ever hear. I love them because whenever I play it feels as if the sound resonates through me  clearing out all the cobwebs. Sounds all cheesy and new agey, but it works for me. Regular meditation without the bowl to focus or clear your mind works pretty well too.

6. Write in a journal. There’s nothing better to clear your mind than getting all those thoughts rolling around in your head out of your head.  Sometimes when you choose to write down those problems, concerns, and ideas cluttering your psyche you actually have the opportunity to work through them or flesh out the idea while simultaneously freeing up space to think about something else! Perfect.

7. Find the best time. Discovering where and what time of day you work best is essential to being productive and keeping focused on your work.  Can you really work with music or the tv on? Are you more alert in the morning or in the evenings? Do you have to hide in a secret place at a library or at home to work effectively? Making these types of personal  assessments will ensure that you are going to be successful when it comes to getting your work done.

8. Go to a movie. ...[or listen to some new music, or go dancing, or go to a concert, or read a book] This tip is two-fold; if you are trying to focus or jumpstart your creative brain. This is definitely my favorite tip for obvious and not so obvious reasons. Sure it seems like a procrastination tool, but just listen to my logic. When you go to an event or happening where other people are being creative it literally refills your creative well when it is reaching critical status. I find that when I am looking at someone else being creative I, myself, end up feeling more inspired and creative. Therefore helping me to think a little out of the box when it comes to problem solving. See! That wrapped up nicely with a bow.

9. Make a list. Last but not least, you should make a list of what you need to do. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the 100 things you believe that you have to do. Make a list. Lists help you fully define what it is that you need to accomplish. There are times when you believe you have lots to do, you make a list only to discover that a number of      your tasks can be combined, streamlined, or eliminated all together. You might find that the 100 things you have to do is actually just 50. Don’t you just love it when that happens?