I don’t have thick skin, but I have a thick head, so that makes up for it. The “Art World” has always been a bit difficult for me to traverse. Art is so subjective, and the people in positions of power in the world of art seem to dictate who wins and who loses, not based on talent, but on opinion. Alliances are formed, trends are set and people follow. And hardworking artists everywhere lose out. Phoenix is a long, long way from an art epicenter, yet has its own hierarchy and pecking order and the waters are as difficult to navigate as anywhere else. I can so remember years ago, the then Director for the Scottsdale Center for the Arts saying – “No one does surrealism anymore – you should do work like (blank).” Then he asked me out on a date.
All in all, the only thing ANY artist can or should do is just be true to themselves. You will never please everyone, so set your own trends. Don’t do things you don’t want to do to please others. Art is a thing that speaks through everyone individually – and if you are listening to a voice other than your own, I’m willing to bet you may get somewhere, but its not where you want to be. I’ve been there done that in just about every aspect of this mean ole planet, and I just want to say, “I yam what I yam – Top to me bottom and me bottom to me top / That’s the way it is ’til the day that I drop, what am I? / I yam what I yam.” And my apologies to anyone not old enough to know the origins of that little ditty.
Thank you for understanding.
