Tag Archives: fortune

Week 3, Day 012 Talking With Directors

Week 3, Day 012 Talking With Directors

There is no doubt that my time on the phone chatting to the gallery directors about what they want to exhibit and why has turned my attitude about my own work full circle! Just before, I felt artistically despondent without seeing any recent validation for my life’s work. I have been feeling more so ever since the completion of my recent PhD. I wondered if I was after money or perhaps a huge reputation to complete my feeling of self purpose in art. NOT SO! True, I would not turn down fame or fortune but discourse about my work in truly interested and knowledgeable company suffices at this time. It has done wonders for me! I even think I can tackle my office and studio cleanup now.

Chatting with peers in Banff
Chatting with peers in Banff

Remind me…if ART is the answer, what is the question?

You might think I am being amusing here but the answer to this witticism is of very real concern for me. Once upon a time I thought that if I was a really good artist and worked diligently day and night, I would be rewarded with fame or fortune or quite possibly, both. But I was wrong! So wrong.

Neither ‘talent’ nor ‘hard work’ in themselves produce the necessary kudos or shall I say, validation needed for becoming an artist. At least, one who considers oneself ‘viable’. I now think the main quality needed is simply the ability to NOT know when to say ‘Enough of this foolhardy life’ and then quit.

I have worked my alleged 10,000 hours required to become a genius in my area

I have spared no faithfulness to the practice of art – apart from not sleeping with the right people. I have kept up with contemporary art practices – traveling to Documenta 12 in Kassel, Germany, The International Melbourne Arts Festival, Sydney’s Primavera 2008, Canberra’s exhibition by Bill Viola and others. I have up-graded my academics – MFA from Monash University in 2002 and a creative PhD from Victoria University in 2007; articles to peer assessed journals, international speaking engagements and more. I work in the latest media – digital production and installation with maximum material application, having once been solely a watercolourist. Still, have I made it as an artist?

Having completed my PhD with flying colours, I decided to take my ten years of art production ‘out for a spin’ in 2006. I was so successful at applying for the best in prizes and awards and grants that I received a rejection letter at least once or twice a week, sometimes on the same day, until Christmas. Within a few months, I was completely disheartened – the equivalent of an artistic grease spot. Where was the reward for believing in all I did for art? It was only vapor.

I wanted to give up. I wished for any excuse to stop arting. I asked the heavens, ‘Why am I doing this?

And another day goes by…