Join me for an Art Date
A new blog, newsletter and occasional podcast about art and finding inspiration delivered at lunchtime. On the menu today: 3 corn dogs and a birthday sheet cake
I hate being an artist sometimes. And I don’t usually admit it, but I often dislike looking at art. When I am busy, overworked, and tired (which is a lot), it can often feel like an obligation to go to an art opening or drive to someone’s show across town. Rather than the joy it once was in art school, when I went as much for the art as I did for the cheese cubes and free wine, it can feel like something I owe to a colleague - like eating overly sugary sheet cake at an office birthday party.
My gratitude to be part of a thriving arts community, and also not to be stuck in the house because of a pandemic, usually outweighs my dislike of said frosting and bland cake, along with the thought that when the time comes people might come to celebrate my birthday/art in return.
But this lack of excitement for the thing I am devoting myself to, and sacrificing much for, can feel heavy like a sack of bricks. I have heard my parent-friends talk about the feeling of going through the motions at times when raising their children, and it’s similar. But as an artist, the urgency of keeping another human alive isn’t there, and so when I am in this funk I am left wondering, what it’s all for.
This, among other reasons, is why I am starting Art Date. It’s a platform for me to talk about and talk with other artists about how to find and maintain inspiration in the face of burnout and boredom.
The name of the project, Art Date, is taken from an invention by Julia Cameron who wrote the Artist’s Way. In the book, Cameron prescribes her readers three morning pages a day, and one art date a week to rekindle the passion and joy of making. The art date is a time that you schedule for yourself during the week that is purely for fun and to generate inspiration. It doesn’t necessarily mean looking at art, because what is less inspiring than looking at art when you are tired and performing La spirale émotionnelle d’artiste.
Although past art dates of mine have included art-viewing like visiting William Kentridge’s stunner of a show at The Broad, they can also be a trip to Sephora to give yourself a free makeover, buying unnecessary art supplies, or treating yourself to a fun day at the beach- anything that activates your inner child.
The point is that it needs to be the opposite of serious and boring and a “should,” so I will do my best to make this version of Art Date a want not a need. The email will come out around lunchtime so you can read / listen on your lunch break. I also be sending a few subscriber-only posts, as well as couple video interviews a month with other artists, and creative folks that will be subscriber-only.
I know we all get so many emails that our inboxes can feel like a sinking ship. Unlike water, you can happily delete and unsubscribe from this email if you find it to be a nuisance. No hard feelings.
If you do find it of value and would like to support the project in general, please consider contributing $5/month.
Some things I am thinking about / excited by right now:
Dave Grohl’s memoir The Storyteller. You may know he learned to play drums on his pillows, but (spoiler) did you know he survived for months on 3 corn dogs a day for $1 from the 7/11 while Nirvana was starting up? It was inspiring to hear how far he’d come, but also to consider when as artists we might be making life harder for ourselves than it needs to be.
Elvis After Life. This is on my list after learning about it from photographer and The Side Woo guest, Shannon Taggart. I haven’t read it yet, but the premise is that the author began to hear stories from a number of people that Elvis had been visiting them in the afterlife or helping them to solve problems, so he wrote down their stories. Without knowing more, it has me wondering how much of our creativity is a result of helpful spirits giving us good ideas.
Ted Lasso, Season 3, Really nailing it. This is in no way a ploy to get all the Ted Lasso cast members to be guests on The Side Woo. Unless you can help with that…
My new therapist through Better Help. I have heard mixed reviews from other people about BetterHelp’s methodology, but I have had two sessions with her so far and it’s been a slam dunk both times. Worth sticking out the awkward onboarding period.