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Looper's Delight
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Ahhhh . . . In some ways, I am sure, this article is merely meant as an instance of "tough love" from the author to a group of people he cares about and identifies with. He makes a number of valid points that seem to make practical sense. However, there is a lot that he grossly misses about the nature of "Art" as it has become in the last century or so (music included). If you turn back the clock 150 years or so, and switch the focus from music to painting, one can easily see that his attitude and assertions are nearly identical to those of the established art system of the "Salon" in Paris during the time of the Impressionists and Post- Impressionists: Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and many other outsiders, et al. Which is to say: "Learn to be a real professional artist like so-and- so (like those being cranked out daily by the dues-paying system of schools and established galleries and patrons) or go home, give up, get a real job, get a life, get a clue." Can any of us who love art imagine what it would be like if there had never been a Vincent Van Gogh? Sure the world would've gone on turning - but it would be a lot poorer for it. Does anybody really remember the contributions of any of the work or contributions of any of the very talented folk who chose the conservative "establishment art" route in that period? Not many, I'd wager, remember or know of William Adolphe Beaugereau - perhaps the greatest academically-trained and widely successful painter from that era. He was rich and famous during his own time, but now is largely forgotten - or remembered only as a sort of historical footnote - sort of like the Pat Boone of the early rock 'n' roll era, or the manufactured and hyper-marketed boy-bands or blonde bimbette singer- sluts of today will be. So... A lot of us are **NOT** in it for the money or the fame (or the sex and drugs). I don't imagine many of us are in it "for the ages" (Art History) either - for that matter (LOL). Some of us are even ill-equipped and ill-disposed to be performers, per se . . . I know I certainly am. But some of us are nevertheless "bitten by the bug" (or the muse) and have a vision (or something) that drives us to create what we do. For better or worse, some of us simply can't help it. For whatever reason, the fickle universe has determined that (perhaps) the greater creative gifts are often given to those who did not seek them and would not venture to pursue them if they rightly had any choice in the matter. Fame and fortune may come to those who work very hard to be professional at their "craft" like plumbers or butchers or chemists. But fame, fortune and and "success" have very little sometimes to do with Art. They are irrelevant. My encouragement to any of you who want to create Art is to keep on doing it, no matter what, no matter who says "No." no matter who says "Go home, give up, get a job, cut your hair, stand up straight, fly right." etc., etc. Or, no matter who (on the other hand) says "Get serious, pay your dues, do it the way others have, compromise, join the union, do what sells, learn to moon-walk, play to the masses." Keep doing what you passion drives you to do - what has meaning for you and you alone. An audience may or may not come, but you will have done your duty to your gift . . . to you muse . . . to the universe. Best, Ted On Jan 13, 2011, at 12:55 AM, Louie Angulo wrote: > An interesting article > > >http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2011/01/dont-quit-your-second-day-job/?utm_source=DIYNews&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=011211 > > any comments? > Luis