2 thoughts on “the responsible questions asked of all artist.”

  1. I am an artist. However, my work is difficult and not easily pigeon holed. This did not stop me from getting recognition and probably more often than not was a benefit.
    I was not raised in a household that had any relation to art and the most one should hope for was a job with the post office. But my artistic core, not unlike the core urge of a serial killer, could not be tamped down.
    I had a few false starts (which gave me a greater appreciation of Jasper John’s work of the same name) but ultimately, at 33 years old, I embarked on being an artist full time. I was here in Miami and exhibited at Moca (then COCA), Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art, Alliance Gallery and many smaller venues through out the. area. Ultimately I ended up with a scholarship at NWSA in their first year open. After the first semester I had a frank discussion wih the dean, Mel Alexenberg. He suggested that perhaps I should go to New York, that my work was good enough. I had already been accepted in one exhibit at The Alternative Museum when it was on Broadway. This was very flattering and I took the advice. The year was 1994. I moved to NY with 2 dogs and a lot of optimism. Within weeks i had another exhibit scheduled at PS122.
    Before I had traveled to NY I called up a young artist who was really making inroads with her work, which is exceptional and she deserves every ounce of recognition she has recieved. This artist had been in Miami and specifically looked me up to view my work, so I felt she could be of assistance. She told me to look her up when I get there.
    (If it is OK I will finish this later as I am being called to dinner.)

  2. I’m back. Anyway, NY was painful to say the least. My work was well received, but unfortunately I was not prepared for the amount of money required to live there. Especially with 2 dogs. I knew within a few months I would only stay until my exhibit at PS 122 was over. One day, i called my artist acquaintance. We had yet to hook up, but finally we both had time and she invited me to her place. When the private elevator let me off into the foyer of her 4000 sq ft loft on Spring street, my jaw dropped. I had this revelation as to what I was up against. Yes, I had talent, but the competition had talent and trust funds. From that moment on, I knew that if I wanted to work the way I work I would need a steady supply of funding.For the next 10 years I showed occasinally, but focused on making myself independently wealthy and ultimately able to work on the conceptual scale that is at my very core. I was relentless in my goal and have achieved it. Today, I am able to produce work that would have been impossible for me before.
    (Dinner is calling. I will be back)

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