Amen to this: I have fallen out of love with the industrial art complex. In truth, it was an infatuation and I’m over it now. Gallery Open Calls, Instagram, Artist Statements, Art Fairs, Selection Panels, Gatekeeping, White Cubes—all the seduction techniques of the patriarchal, capitalist art complex no longer work on me, I’m done.
I don’t know what this means for my art. I just know I don’t want to be part of THAT system. Watch this space, as they say.
Will be watching and wishing you relief from any anxiety. I’m ten days postpartum and only able to do very tiny projects right now. I understand the feeling of stasis.
Please be kind to yourself Sarah.Just existing and nurturing your new role is enough.To Jacqueline I understand your emotions.This week I been publishing in an international publication under the mentorship of my favorite artist and alongside an amazing group of textile artists.
I still await timeframe to defend my art based dissertation.
Street walk this morning inspired me to make little lavender bags as a project for our community event in September.
You are enough.Pop on Radio 2 and enjoy the garden
Heartily agree Jackie that we should value creativity in all forms as we embrace life, home, family and friends. To be an artist is not only about producing art in a studio. It’s how we see, think, feel and relate to the world. And it’s summer! Time to get outside and smell the roses 🌹 it will be raining soon enough and for me, a good time to be in the studio.
Beautiful reflections, and for bringing to my attention the phrase "industrial art complex," which I'd not heard before, but I know exactly what you're talking about. Will definitely be watching this space!
Truth for me right now is rejecting the idea of being an artist only in terms of production. Looking at art is being an artist. Reading about art is being an artist. Taking long walks and puttering around studio chaos is being an artist, as is entertaining the notion of filling a giant net with my finished collages and sinking it to the bottom of the lake. It's considering how to untangle the commercial aspects of art as the legal business I do incredible amounts of admin for from the purpose of creating it.
Thanks Andrea. I doubt there’s an artist on this planet who hasn’t thought about destroying all their work! Even doubting your art practice is being an artist, right?
Love this post. I’m feeling like the pressure to publish on substack isn’t giving me the space to incubate material and it’s gumming up my gears. I need to reconnect with my own motivations
I've been invited by the Cole to come up for their Edmonds Plein Air Paintout around the first week of September. I don't know which day(s) I will be up there, but it would be good to see you and connect.
Presently, we have Akiko's father, 83, staying at our place off and on, as no one can afford assisted living in its present form. Due to this arrangement, I feel stuck at times in my studio and on call to run around the corner to help Tomio get up, or change his diaper. Life can be strange....
Fallow times are crucial to the creative cycle. I can't do it but I can say it: allow time to pass and the impulse to create will come raging back!
It was brave to write about this, Jacqueline, and comforting too. Sometimes it seems like everyone in the world is making huge strides and being incessantly productive. Everyone, except for me!
Thanks Kathy. I'm a meadow waiting to bloom again! I like how you used "fallow" here - I'm resting in order to re-energise and regain the nutrients I need. I might write more about this.
Amen to this: I have fallen out of love with the industrial art complex. In truth, it was an infatuation and I’m over it now. Gallery Open Calls, Instagram, Artist Statements, Art Fairs, Selection Panels, Gatekeeping, White Cubes—all the seduction techniques of the patriarchal, capitalist art complex no longer work on me, I’m done.
I don’t know what this means for my art. I just know I don’t want to be part of THAT system. Watch this space, as they say.
So good to hear I’m not the only one!
Will be watching and wishing you relief from any anxiety. I’m ten days postpartum and only able to do very tiny projects right now. I understand the feeling of stasis.
Ahhh, you have your hands busy with new life, that’s an art form in itself💕
Please be kind to yourself Sarah.Just existing and nurturing your new role is enough.To Jacqueline I understand your emotions.This week I been publishing in an international publication under the mentorship of my favorite artist and alongside an amazing group of textile artists.
I still await timeframe to defend my art based dissertation.
Street walk this morning inspired me to make little lavender bags as a project for our community event in September.
You are enough.Pop on Radio 2 and enjoy the garden
❤️ Thanks Deb x
Sending love and remembering those times!
Heartily agree Jackie that we should value creativity in all forms as we embrace life, home, family and friends. To be an artist is not only about producing art in a studio. It’s how we see, think, feel and relate to the world. And it’s summer! Time to get outside and smell the roses 🌹 it will be raining soon enough and for me, a good time to be in the studio.
Yes, I think my creative energies have changed. I’m more drawn to the studio in winter now. The weather is just too good in summer not to be outside.
Tip: braid the onions BEFORE they dry.
-Gwen
Oh! *Runs to grab onions that are laid out on the grass* 😂
Beautiful reflections, and for bringing to my attention the phrase "industrial art complex," which I'd not heard before, but I know exactly what you're talking about. Will definitely be watching this space!
I made up that phrase—it’s how the art ‘market’ feels to me.
Those alter egos can be insistent.
Truth for me right now is rejecting the idea of being an artist only in terms of production. Looking at art is being an artist. Reading about art is being an artist. Taking long walks and puttering around studio chaos is being an artist, as is entertaining the notion of filling a giant net with my finished collages and sinking it to the bottom of the lake. It's considering how to untangle the commercial aspects of art as the legal business I do incredible amounts of admin for from the purpose of creating it.
Thanks Andrea. I doubt there’s an artist on this planet who hasn’t thought about destroying all their work! Even doubting your art practice is being an artist, right?
Love this post. I’m feeling like the pressure to publish on substack isn’t giving me the space to incubate material and it’s gumming up my gears. I need to reconnect with my own motivations
Gumming up my gears is a good way to describe how I feel! I need to free my cogs!
Your "haiku" for the day:
Painting and painting;
concentration on the verb,
the noun’s left over.
All the nouns are in my basement. The verb is in my heart. Glad you’re here.
I've been invited by the Cole to come up for their Edmonds Plein Air Paintout around the first week of September. I don't know which day(s) I will be up there, but it would be good to see you and connect.
Presently, we have Akiko's father, 83, staying at our place off and on, as no one can afford assisted living in its present form. Due to this arrangement, I feel stuck at times in my studio and on call to run around the corner to help Tomio get up, or change his diaper. Life can be strange....
Take care, and stay in the verb.
First week of September is good for me—I’ll message you privately closer to the date. What a blessing Akiko’s father has you both to care for him.
"Industrial art complex"... exhausted.
Exactly. It’s unsustainable.
Fallow times are crucial to the creative cycle. I can't do it but I can say it: allow time to pass and the impulse to create will come raging back!
It was brave to write about this, Jacqueline, and comforting too. Sometimes it seems like everyone in the world is making huge strides and being incessantly productive. Everyone, except for me!
Thanks Kathy. I'm a meadow waiting to bloom again! I like how you used "fallow" here - I'm resting in order to re-energise and regain the nutrients I need. I might write more about this.