Toronto
Good eeevening,
Yesterday I figured out that the trade show floor here was populated mainly by publishers. True, they are mostly publishers of forensic tests, personality tests, textbooks and how-to manuals. It is basically an empirical world where beauty is a kind of alien visitor.
Still, I got the idea that I was going to talk to as many of them as possible, open up my portfolio and hand them a copy of yesterday’s article, “The Inner Goddess and the Inner Gaze.” I am, after all, one of the few non-psychologist presenters here; and I’m going to guess the only one invited as an artist specifically with a theory of healing. So on the basis of that potential clout, I decided yesterday that I would present my work to 20 publishers, one at a time.
Part of the fun is knowing they’re probably not interested. This helps me have nothing to lose. I’m doing this for practice, to see the and hear the reactions of people encountering my work, and to spread Book of Blue and Planet Waves postcards (and an article) around the neighborhood. I made it to half my goal today. I was sidetracked, or perhaps put on track, by publisher #7 out of 10 who asked me if I knew of Judy Kuriansky.
In fact, I had met her, when I was the keynote speaker at the Celebration of Sacred Sexuality in Harbin, CA in the autumn of 1997. I was asked to give an astrological keynote for that conference, which I called “Leaping Across the Sky,” about Chiron and Uranus. Basically, I read the chart for the event as the keynote presentation, a credit to the facilitator, Deborah Taj Anapol, who is respectful and curious enough about astrology to have me open her conference with an astrological reading. I spent a bunch of the weekend hanging out with Dr. Judy and was happy to see her lively presentation today: a real conversation about how important honest discussion of sexuality really is. She covered recent news items that involve sexuality; the phenomenon of sex museums; and a number of other pop culture topics, which is her specialty.
After that I came back to the trade show floor and kept going. While most of the publishers said they had no interest in the concept of a photographic healing method; or that they could not afford to reproduce the photos, almost all of them commented on the work for its value as art. Now, I’m determined to truck down to Manhattan one day soon and do the same thing in art galleries. I’m shifting from the position of having nothing to lose to a measure of certainty that someone is going to like it enough to put it on the walls of their gallery.
Faith, the essential ingredient.
I’m not sure Eric’s statement was about the publishing process. If it was, I missed it. But rather than assume anything about his intent, I’ll speak to mine.
Most folks I know are trapped somehow into the fear that if they lived a life they honestly wanted, they would have to forgo something essentially tied to money: a job, prestige, the approbation of others… From my experience the social control is always money, which in our culture means “support”. People aren’t support, money is. Money buys people support, if only as long as the money’s around.
Isn’t always true, but it’s 97.3% true. Enough true to count.
Of course, some folks have figured this out, dropped out, and are happily living their 2.7% exceptional lives on their own terms. Or at least a reasonable facsimile of earthly bliss. Not implying they’re fooling themselves. It’s just hard to swim against the tide everyday. Choosing a different path isn’t a romantic notion, but hard work. Most of us here already know this. It’s why we’re here.
Eric writes: “Notice how the reason to live some way other than honestly always comes back to money.”
Say what?
I really do not follow this, E. I simply said that the process is long and expensive. Not sure how that leads to a lack of integrity.
Yes, Shanna, he made it into the main hall of APA, and although I am too swamped to go and listen to the whole presentation, I feel quite sure that Mr. Francis acquited himself and his artwork beautifully.
I’ve said enough. Any more and I’ll be slipping into the rhetorical t-shirt laid out so nicely for me there. Sheesh.
“Notice how the reason to live some way other than honestly always comes back to money.”
Glossed over this on the first read. You speak brutal truth.
Ah. Well, we’re clearly running on different tracks. But you’re there and I’m here thinking about alternate A’s. Mine had “-strology” after it. (But come to think of it, poly is probably the greater sin. Insert wink.)
I’m also convinced Hawthorn’s ‘A’ was really for Artist. Seriously. You meet that requirement, too.
Hi Shanna. I think I know what you mean about the scarlet A but I have always claimed my polyamory. That is not adultery and it’s not being branded. First and foremost my polyamory involves supporting the people in my life to choose what they want. If we use some logic, the only people who might have an issue with that would be those who have not spoken or chosen to live their personal truth.
More than I’ve claimed polyamory I’ve claimed my right to a sane relationship with myself. If that is controversial, anything can be – but as we know it is controversial to be honest with yourself. It is easy to point at others and it’s more challenging to live authentically. Flip through the television channels and ask yourself – do we have any other choice at this point?
Notice how the reason to live some way other than honestly always comes back to money.
Well said, well spoken, Eric. I’m still in awe that someone branded with the scarlet “A” behind his name got on the docket there and wasn’t forced to do his presentation in the parking lot.
enjoy your time!
Right, or one synchronicity.
There is no order of difficulty of miracles. One is not ‘harder’ or ‘bigger’ than another. All expressions of love are maximal.
— acim
EF writes: “While most of the publishers [. . .] almost all of them commented on the work for its value as art. Now, I’m determined to truck down to Manhattan one day soon and do the same thing in art galleries. I’m shifting from the position of having nothing to lose to a measure of certainty that someone is going to like it enough to put it on the walls of their gallery.”
Ummhmm… multiply your evening by about 5 years for a really *good* artist or photographer (make it 8 if just pretty good), plus about 10K a year more in submissions, packing, statements, shipping charges and the occasional travel to openings. Yes, that’ll be about 50K to get
your foot in the door.
Nobody does this for the money. But if and when the money comes, it comes like a firehose on a hot August day.
The recognition is more fun to play around with, but that too can be oddly underfunded. Until it isn’t. Christine probably knows those ropes. Ride ’em Starboy.
M