Joel Paquet's essay about committing to be an artist stunned me while reading his Open Letter to Artists. As it unfolded, a challenging view of myself as an artist was revealed. His intentional message was supportive of artists, for those days when the work artists do doesn't work. As I read I applied each of his headings to myself--Innovation, Resilience, Perseverance and Faith--and slowly the painful awareness came of how very far I was from artists who'd made full-time commitments to their craft.
I've always thought of myself as an artist. Totally. Without a doubt. I grew up in an art-filled home, have always been creative in whatever I've put my hands to. But suddenly I realized I'd never gone to the extent of being truly fluent in any of the skills I enjoyed using regularly.
So, IT HURT to see this new vision of myself. Especially so since the equally disconcerting epiphany of making choices about living life as either a Tourist or Resident. I was appalled to think I might be just a TOURIST in the world of art, not a RESIDENT. Was I really a person who played the field rather than commit 'for better or worse' to my artistic gifts?
Expressing this painfully close-to-the-bone idea to a friend who also has multi-abilities and interests, his reply was:
"On identity, I feel it’s too limiting to see yourself as “resident artist”—period. Of course, you’re more than that when you think about it. You’re a teacher, a craftsman, a counselor, a boat lover, and on and on."
His observation was consoling. My life wasn't totally devoid of consistent commitment. Persistent dedication to developing skills of nurturing, specifically for any child or old boat, has been fundamental since I was young. Support for the path I have trod was also to be found in Pacquet's letter, under the heading, Perseverance :
"Like Karma, the artist's life has it's own organic path if you let it unfold naturally. Work ethic, love of the job, proximity and opportunity all play a role in developing a life in art. Be clear about these and adjust your life to maximize your gifts."
...and then there was also this to reflect on:
“Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what intends to do with you.”
-Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak
Which seemed to be what I had done when gazing back at the evolutionary projects that my love of kids and boats and art had produced. I saw the shaping of my life and theirs, saw the honing of our abilities for pursuing even further visions for each of us through the art we've shared. From the mirror of what I continued to pursue when writing to other friends my commitment to revealing art everywhere, in all our lives, was clear:
"I have not given up on the dream of creating a Cultural Community Center for the locals…a place where artists and writers and musicians and handcraft artisans can have workshops, not just for the able-bodied but for the Theresa’s of our community, too. I want a gallery where their work can be displayed, and a boat building shop where tourists can come help the out-of-school youth build little sailboats or kayaks, and other tourists can rent them and bring an income to the locals…I want a restaurant, too, to serve organic foods from my garden…to sell fresh bread we grind our own flour for, and bake ourselves…and a fish market/eatery where the fishermen can sell their catch so they don’t have to put it on trucks for markets outside our community, so that even the locals won't have to travel to Siaton to buy fresh fish! Silly system.
I mean, really, is that too much to ask for? Just a simple Community Center…"
Though, for now, for just a few of us on Saturday afternoons, that is happening when we make art. When we bring it into our lives in ways we'd never known possible. When we begin to see ourselves as artists, as creative humans able to bring our individually unique visions into being. Valued.
Which is what this website is beginning to showcase.
Read More
