The Studio

Picture me Rollin'

Hope everyone has a good and safe Memorial Day weekend.  A big thanks out to everyone serving at home and abroad.  You're doing an awesome thing, and I am grateful for that.   

Here's hoping for some sun and fun this weekend with a video from the Chicago History Museum about the moving scultpures called Lowriders.  Orale, compas!

 

 

Think Big to Get Big

 

film still from the Uruguayan movie "Mal Dia Para Pescar" 

 

I regularly follow the Art21 Blog and today came across this article on the creativity of Adam Smith.  The article is refreshing for a number of reasons - primarily because it is generally in fashion within art-making circles to bash the amazing system of markets that we have in this country.  (The same market that allows the ability to chose to solely pursue art-making as a career...)  Secondly, I find the message of the article relating to creative communication as a critically important component for artists to effectively relate their experiences to the professions and experience of others.  There is creativity in all pursuits - the limiting factor is an individual's mindset.  Or, as the article quotes Walter Bagehot: 

“It is often said that men are ruled by their imaginations; but it would be truer to say they are governed by the weakness of their imaginations.”

 

Strength is gained through training.  Let's get imaginitive.

 

Techno-Rancho

My wife and I were out with a good friend the other night who excitedly shared some pictures she found of vaqueros rocking super-long pointy cowboy boots.  Owning multiple pairs of botas myself, I replied, "Oh Yeah!  Those are Henry VIII boots.  I tried some on like that one time..."  Needless to say, they didn't make it into my collection.  After seeing more people sharing these pictures of "Tribal" dancers I did a little research and came across this soon-to-be-viral video.  Here is a look at Post-Modern Mexico, whose culture continues to flourish despite the violence:

  

   Tradition, technology, and the spirit of competition.

bananeira

Meu facão cortou em baixo

A bananeira caiu

Cai, cai bananeira

A bananeira caiu

. . .

Motivation

I have often said to friends and colleagues that being an artist is alot like being a professional bull rider.  The majority of people cringe at the idea of what seems like an illogical or dangerous pursuit.  Your friends and family probably don't understand why you are obsessed with it, unless they are also cowboys or enjoy rodeos.  And finally, the point I often make with this analogy is that success is not gauged by getting on the bull, but by staying on the bull the longest.  

  The pursuit of, and success in the arts is about staying on the bull - not for 8 seconds of glory in NYC, MoMA, etc. - but for an entire lifetime.  Against all odds.

I came across an interview with photographer Estevan Oriol that I wanted to share today because I feel he really communicates well about what the life of an artist is - uncertain and also compulsively necessary.   

 

 

 

if embed fails to load follow YouTube link here.