Why Bother?

    Browsing the dusty shelves of a second-hand book store, I begin flipping through the pages of a small book of poems. As not only a creator of artwork, but also an avid consumer of various arts, I always try to keep an eye out for meaningful content. The store shelves were packed two rows deep, leaving half of the books in darkness behind the front row. Upon noticing this, a sad thought began to creep into my mind. Assuredly some of these books waiting for a home were rushed out by large companies to make a quick buck off of the latest trends, but not all, no way, not by a long shot. Many of these books sitting unread, unloved, and conceivably worthless were the work of sensitive artists who put their heart and soul into their work. I am certain that many of the books that end up in places like this are not only worthwhile, but can be life changing if the audience is receptive. I have personally discovered many of my favorite books on eBay, which has become the internet equivalent of a used book store. I know that publishing a book is not an easy thing to do, and I would bet that some of these books took everything that the creator had. As someone determined to live an art life, this is a depressing thought, and one that could quickly lead to a very bleak outlook.

 

Life as a creator rarely comes easy, as you strive to intricately weave a part of yourself into your work, before releasing it out into the world. Then watching helplessly as this artifact that came from you and means so very much to you, as it is all too often received with indifference by the general population. Some of us compound this problem, myself included, by choosing an artistic medium that is not very popular to begin with (black and white photography), and then primarily make abstract images of intimate scenes, images that require a great deal of attention from the viewer. Talk about setting yourself up for failure! You may ask why anyone would do this to themselves, in this world where bothering can be a bit of a bother, why bother?

 

For the majority the choice has become far too easy, would you rather struggle, fail, get up, and then continue fighting a never-ending battle, or grab a beer and turn on the television? The latter involves no immediate risk of failure, and in our culture the fear of failure has most of us far too scared to even try. It can be daunting to put so much of yourself into your work, just to receive a negative reaction, or perhaps a lack of any reaction at all. For some this may take the wind right out of the sails, but I believe that those who feel this the strongest at the very least need to re-direct their sails or may perhaps be on the wrong boat all together. True artists are not seeking attention, praise or fame, they seek to express because they know that nothing else can compare to the act of creation, and realize that they can no longer be designated to the crowd of observers. The creative voice imprinted in all of our DNA, which began as a whisper, has been cultivated within the practicing artist and now begins to sing! This is where the choice mentioned earlier begins to reveal what is truly at stake. The soul of the artist is lightened and lifted as they grow and continue to discover new things through the production of their artwork.  While the artistic voice of the convenience-seeking majority slowly fades into a deafening silence. The fear of immediate failure can ultimately lead to a much deeper and more profound failure, a lifetime spent observing the hard work of others come to fruition. Much like the building of a sand castle, regardless of how large or labyrinthine the design, as soon as the tide comes in the whole thing gets washed away as if it was never there. This is the secret of a healthy art life, recognizing that the enjoyment and personal meaning extracted from the creative process is what matters most, and you must learn to let the chips fall where they may in regards to popularity.

 

Living an art life increases the receptivity in every passing moment of our lives, and allows us to explore our feelings, struggles, failures, and celebrations, before forming a tangible expression gleaned from deep within ourselves. Minor White said; “The camera is first a means of self-discovery and a means of self-growth” which remains true of any tool used in the creation of artwork, releasing the shutter is not the point, living life with the art spirit and continually progressing as a human being is. Alongside the pursuit of meaningful experiences and interesting subject matter out of doors, comes the interwoven search for understanding in this life while familiarizing ourselves with the microclimate within our own soul. When deeply felt the artistic artifact is a manifestation of this growth and understanding, and stands as a signpost along our life’s journey. Even if years down the road it sits alone in the dark, ignored  and all but forgotten, the work mattered to the creator, and made them a better person in the process, and was fully and completely worth it.