Taking on the World Alone
In my post, Is There a Market for Art Quilts, a few weeks back Alyson Stanfield said something that I knew and told myself over and over but I needed to hear it from someone outside of that world so I could finally let go:
Lisa, you’re doing a terrific job of trying to get quilt artists to act more professional, but you can’t take on the world alone.
This is so true. Trying to raise the issues to bring awareness is a time consuming and personally draining process. I get a lot of support from people that don’t want to publicly admit they wish SAQA would change and I appreciate the support but I’m tried.
So I’m passing the baton - take it if you’d like. Or don’t. Just don’t expect me to run that race anymore.
Which is part of what I was talking about a few days ago with taking my blog in a new direction. I simply no longer have the energy to worry about the rest of the world.
So goodbye to the complaining. Time to refocus on more positive efforts that will directly support me and my personal career.
Thank you Alyson!
Posted by Lisa in: The Art World
Olga said,
September 1, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Creativity is heavy on energy. Changing the world is heavy on energy. There are only so many hours in the day to provide and replenish energy. I am amazed that you have so much energy to give, and still produce such consistently excellent work.
We are all entitled to a rant from time to time, but major campaigns are a real and perhaps destructive drain on the creative juices. Artists need to be self focussed. After all it is the work which gives so much to all of us, it is rather greedy to ask the artist to give as well. Any crumbs gratefully received, but never expected.
Helen Harris said,
September 2, 2007 @ 6:13 am
Dear Lisa,
You have learned a valuable lesson. The art of saying”no”. The accompanying lesson is to not feel guilty or explain why, just know that the decision was made to pass on that baton and go and do the work on which YOU now need to spend your energy .
I had many years of joining ,heading up committeees ,guilds etc. ..and the time came when I knew it was time for me to pass it on.!This did not keep me from becoming involved , but I became more selective. It simply reaaranged my creative priority . I let others take the lead on issues and I could refocus on my painting.I no longer was the systems support ..it supported me.
BREATHE…quilt…BREATHE….enjoy….and thank you for sharing.
Helen
http://www.helenharrispaintings.com
Joanie San Chirico said,
September 2, 2007 @ 7:50 am
But I enjoy your complaining! It’s always thought provoking and insightful. But yeah, I don’t think anything will change soon, which is why I’ve pretty much abandoned that whole scene with my work.
Cherie said,
September 2, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Lisa, I have learned more about being a professional quilter/artist from your blog than anywhere else. Your example alone is helping to change the art quilt world. Like Joanie, I like your ‘complaining’. It does make me think. I think you can and should complain/rant whenever you feel like it without the thought that you have to argue your case to a big organization. By just expressing your thoughts here, it enlightens the rest of us who can then think, discuss, and change our ways. I have told my quilt friends about this blog and hope they read it to learn from you as well. You don’t need to change the world, but it still helps the little part of the world that you are affecting just by how and what you write.
And I still wouldn’t mind taking your scraps off your hands!! Just let me know where to send the check!
Cherie
Cherie
Diane Clancy said,
September 2, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Lisa, I am glad you are doing what is good for you. I have been active in community issues for years and have gotten much more selective about which battles I will take on. I learned a lot and feel I did some good for sure .. but the toll on me was too high for some of that work I did in trying to make organizations accountable.
I know I prefer other kinds of organizing work - it is more fulfilling. And now I am focusing on building the creative economy locally since this also helps me professionally. So I get it!
I truly appreciate that you have shared your process with us - it helps me a lot. Thank you!
~ Diane Clancy
http://www.dianeclancy.com/bog
Marc Snyder said,
September 2, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Hi Lisa,
I’ve been following your blog now for a few months, and really like your work a lot. I would really encourage you to make one shift in the way you look at your artwork. Just call it art. Don’t look for galleries that emphasize quilts, look for galleries that show strong non-representational work. The effects you get with your chosen medium are beautiful and interesting, and don’t require the context of quilts.
Oil painting is a wonderfully neutral medium - it doesn’t carry any baggage. When we branch out into other media, we do have to acknowledge the historical content associated with that medium. But an artist can take ANYTHING and make art with it, provided he/she goes in with the clear understanding that certain materials have certain associations, and is wiling to work with them.
It sounds like you’ve reached a point where you refuse to worry about what other people who work in quilts are doing with their work. Run with that. The competition (if you want to think of it that way) is everyone who puts something out there and declares it to be art. Insist on your work being seen in that light. It’s certainly strong work, and deserves it.
Sheila said,
September 4, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
“The competition (if you want to think of it that way) is everyone who puts something out there and declares it to be art. Insist on your work being seen in that light.”
I like what Marc has said here, and it is the mindset I’m trying to embrace. I find myself looking at the local art in general to see how my work compares and fits in, and not thinking - oh, that’s oil or photography, and I’m a quilt. No, it should be, is that good art and do I measure up. And in the process, I find myself taken up short when I DO see fiberart or textile art that hasn’t taken the leap, still looks like a mild renegade from a quilt show. I guess I’m disappointed in those artists and hope that when I put my own work out there, it is not perceived the same way, that I have made enough of a break that it doesn’t matter what my materials are, but what I have done with them.
Tricia McKellar said,
September 5, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Lisa, I wish you the best as always! :)
SAQA considers its last auction to be so successful that they are thinking of doing it again next year :(
Lisa Call said,
September 7, 2007 @ 6:44 am
Marc & Shelia - I completely agree and this will be the topic for an upcoming blog post. Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Olga and Helen and Diane - thanks much for the support
Cherie - I’m not going to stop talking about being a professional artist - so hopefully you will still find my value here. I’m just no longer concerned with what the art quilt world is up to in comparison, like Joanie
Tricia - saqa who? :)
David Castle said,
September 7, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
I’m all for staying positive, but hopefully you’ll still complain a bit in other areas. I personally love reading about what other artists are complaining about (as long as it is leading to someplace) since I often have similar issues/struggles/complaints.
Letting go of something like you’ve described is great… just keep the sugar AND vinegar coming (someone in my past said that to me once… kinda corny!).