The recent outbreak of The Pandemic is changing the way we experience art. For a long time now artists have been concerned with the dangers of being “PC “ed, or “Cyphered.” What I’ve found recently is that this feeling is shifting rapidly out of proportion. The current epidemic isn’t really changing the art world one bit. It’s just making people very aware of what they’re experiencing. I’ll give you one example.
A few weeks ago I was having lunch with three college-aged women who were deeply invested in independent thinking and new technologies. One of them was passionate about Internet Activism and digital culture; she was deeply involved in many social justice movements online as well as her love of classical music. Another woman was interested in visual arts and was particularly proud of the work she was doing as a member of an Art Institutes program. They talked nonstop about art and politics for the better part of an hour. It was very moving to listen to these women talk about art, love, and politics, and it made me realize that I didn’t know much about either of them, and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to spend two decades pursuing one of their passions.
I’m still not sure how the pandemic is changing the art world, but I’ve realized that I don’t have to be a couch potato to participate. The fact that there are so many more “outserved” people with talent now makes it easier to find work in this business. Also, I’ve realized that I’m no longer scared of asking questions and speaking up. I used to be a very shy person, and I didn’t know if I could “make a living” doing art. But I have to admit that at least once a week, I feel empowered to speak up and do what I need to do to make art happen.
What I love about being an entrepreneur is that I can make mistakes and learn from them. My past experiences with money, time, and art have taught me to be very aware of my priorities and to ask me why something isn’t going my way. I’ve also learned to be disciplined enough to change plans, or stop working on them altogether when things aren’t going my way. I have the power to say “no” and I’ve learned to keep the same feelings of reluctance and fear away when making changes in my business. It helps me focus on my goals only.
How the pandemic is changing the art industry is that there are more opportunities now to stay in school and get training on everything from internet marketing to copywriting. There are now more people who are willing to teach and train others in hopes of building a network of people they can depend on for art marketing advice. I love that this is happening now. I feel privileged to be a part of the new wave of people who are reaping the rewards of having a clear vision and direction. The days of me spending every waking minute of my life trying to figure out how to make art are over!
As an artist, I feel strongly that we all need to understand that being a success takes time, patience, and hard work. I am living proof that you can make a great living and run a successful business by sharing your talent and knowledge. I still think that the most rewarding and satisfying art forms sculpture, music, writing, and visual arts require plenty of practice and long hours of hard work. I’m happy that I’m still able to do all of these things and I look forward to what the future might bring.
