I just found out about Karen Atkinson an artist who has taught the business of being an artist at CalArts in Southern California for over 22 years. She also founded a company called GYST that creates business software for artists and offers other business related services for artists.
What I really appreciate about this talk is how she emphasizes that there are multiple ways to approach a career as an artist. She outlines two different models of an artist’s career – the vertical artist climbing a hierarchical ladder and the horizontal career or creating a hybrid of the two.
It’s important to remember though our contributions may not shimmer glamorously, our role is vital to our communities. Atkinson put it this way:
If you are an artist that is not interested in that vertical career and you’re not the next hot thing, then you’re sort of, like, not as important. If you don’t make a lot of money you’re not considered a very important artist.
But, I think those artists who have been pludging [sic] along, doing very interesting things either in their communities, their businesses or their daily life have much more effect on the general culture than those who work only in a vertical trajectory.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IehUM7XxJNU
What ways can you see that your work as an artist either in the studio or in the greater world have contributed to those around you, even in small ways?
Responses to “The hybrid artist”
Peggy Ingham
I’m not an experienced painter – many lessons, not much to show for it. Perhaps I’ve given friends the courage to try things without much expectation….just for the love of it.
Michele Theberge
Peggy – to encourage others is such a profound gift. (You encouraged me when you bought my postcards!) I hope my work can encourage you, too. hugs, Michele
Randi Nunns
I have not really asked myself this question before. And I feel I have not been doing art long enough to really become aware/notice what effects I have. Therefore I honestly don’t know/ feel unaware of the answer to this question or whether there is an answer to it for me (at this time). However, I am excited to continue form now on looking for answer to the above question.
Michele Theberge
Randi – thanks for sharing. I think sometimes just our being present, that special presence and focus we radiate as we work is a gift to all. Have you ever been in a class when everyone is focused and humming along with their work? There is a special atmosphere generated. Brain scientists refer to mirror neurons – when one person can achieve a certain brain state and it is transmitted to others.
Sandy
Michelle,
You’re question is a good one. I am a knitter. I have used “15 minutes a day” to jump-start my knitting. There’s no way to knit other than one stitch at a time which is a wonderful way to slow me down but also to keep me walking along if I ever hope to finish my projects. My contribution is in very small ways. I am definitely on a horizontal rather than vertical trajectory (and it is helpful to define that, so thank you for the Atkinson video). My knitting, when I am mindful and centered, is a form of prayer. A small, hidden aroma of love; perhaps a song from the rhythm of the needles. Like a steady drip of water on a rock, a small contribution is enough.
Thank you, Michele.
Sandy
New Jersey, USA
Michele Theberge
What you wrote here touched my heart, Sandy. Thanks for sharing. “My knitting, when I am mindful and centered, is a form of prayer. A small, hidden aroma of love; perhaps a song from the rhythm of the needles. Like a steady drip of water on a rock, a small contribution is enough.” Beautiful.
Cari Cole
Great article Michele! This is so con current with what I teach my music artists at my studio. The vertical career is not the only option anymore. The doors of the gatekeepers are dissolving. As a vocal coach and artist development expert, my work is about inspiring singers, solo artists and bands to make the music they want to hear – to contribute their authenticity to the world around them and inspire other artists to do the same. Music and art can open a pathway that wasn’t there before – especially when the artist is not motivated solely by commercial success.The one affects the many – each person that steps forward in an authentic way inspires others to do the same.
Jillian Goldberg
Last night I hosted an Opening Rreception for an art show, together with a friend from my small town art community. We both felt pleased with how attractive our work looked in the setting, which was a large, rambling antique store that we had staged to make the most of our colorful contemporary abstract paintings.The really wonderful part of the event, however, was the people that showed up to share our evening. I had emailed invitations to a list of several hundred names gathered over the years from teaching adults in various settings. To my utter surprise and delight, people that I had taught years ago and not seen since, came out and were so warm and supportive. It was truly extraordinary to renew those bonds and to hear how much the art classes have meant to them in the lives since we last met.One woman, a research scientist, had attended evening classes with me every semester over several years and she proudly announced that she was opening her own one-woman show the next day. So, all the years of dragging art materials to uncomfortable, ill equipped class rooms, driving home late at night, receiving checks for ridiculously small fees, felt worth it after all. One student purchased a small piece, saying she wanted to have something of me in her home! I felt quite humbled.
So, making art in my life has been a journey of sharing and planting seeds. One regret I have is that I did not start doing my own work years ago, always putting it off until I “retired”. Now I feel that I have such limited time left to work through the personal and private creative process. I would urge younger teachers to make the sacrifice of time and money while they are in the midst of their teaching careers, to devote themselves to their own inner artists. As Michelle says, start with just 15 minutes a day. After thirty five years, think how much work you will have to look back on! And to build on when you do have the luxury of time!
Michele Theberge
Wow! It sounds like your opening was an astounding success on so many levels. An affirmation of what you have given to the world not only as an artist but as a teacher over many years. Congratulations!
Loren
Hi Michele,
Great article…and a really good question. I have been asking myself about the why and what of what I do as an artist. When I make art on a regular basis I become happy and productive and excited about my life…that energy goes into my creations. At shows and art fairs I pay attention to people who are really drawn into looking at my work. At one art fair a friend of mine was casually chatting with me when she suddenly noticed one of my pieces. It literally stopped her in her tracks and she became overwhelmed with emotion. The piece was of a person praying and behind her was a healing angel…it was a message that this friend of mine needed to hear and feel.
It is so humbling for me to witness that connection and energetic thing that happens from something that I’ve created. Very profound.
Michele Theberge
Loren, your story of your friend’s reaction brought tears to my eyes. To me that kind of reaction to our offerings is the richest reward. Thanks so very much for sharing.
Melissa Dinwiddie
I’ve always taught and shared what I know, and my work has impacted people that way. It’s clear when I teach, and I can see the lightbulb go off over someone’s head, or the excitement that learning something new instills in them. Now (as you know, Michele, being one of the interviewees!) I also have an online course, the Thriving Artists Project, to help other artists bust the “starving artist” mindset and learn to thrive from their creative passion.
As a visual artist who hasn’t exhibited in a long time (except online), I don’t always see the impact of what I do. Though the thank yous I get from clients who purchase my work are always gratifying.
Now that I’m also blogging I can see a tiny picture of the impact my writing has through the comments people share with me on my blog. I know my art — and my 15 minutes a day practice, which is a feature on my blog — have an impact, because people tell me!
Still, as you know, the people who actually comment are usually a tiny fraction of the people who actually read, so it’s hard, working in isolation as I frequently do, to know the true impact I’m having.
I’m also a singer/songwriter, and I see the impact of what I do much more readily when I get to experience an audience’s reaction right then and there. People always come up to me afterwards to share what the performance meant to them.
rose cowles martin
Am I a vertical or horizontal artist? Who knows 🙂 I’ve acquired some fame, a bit of money but by no means am I rich as a result of it. At least not by normal standards. I am extremely wealthy in terms of how rich and full my life is and I know my art had something to do with that.
You see, as an artist I can affect as many people as I choose to. The more I put myself out there, the more affect I have. From your closest friends to people in other countries who happen to stumble upon your work on the internet. I approach my practice mostly with tremendous gratitude. I know that what I have is a gift and as far as I ‘m concerned gifts were meant to be shared.
As a freelance artist I have learned to acquire many skills over the years. I consistently do “a little bit of this and a little bit of that.” Does all this juggling make me a pro at anything? — who knows. I do know however that my life is full of varying jobs with different degrees of complexity which in the end makes life very interesting.
How do I contribute as an artist to those around me? I’d like to think that I work very hard at this. It’s a very rare moment when I cannot afford to give “something” away for a silent auction where proceeds are being raised for a good cause. There is always someone in need of a little pick-me-up of color on their walls who is not expecting it. There is always someone in need of artistic advice and I certainly don’t mind giving it. I figure I have no choice but to share what I have. My art serves no purpose collecting dust in the studio. My knowledge serves no purpose if it is not shared.
I guess what I am saying is — whatever your skill level or trade, find ways to share what you do and what you know. Everybody benefits from it in the end!
Michele Theberge
Yeay! Rose, sounds like you are inspiration to so many. Thanks for sharing!
Michele Theberge
I love this reminder, Melissa, that there are so many ways to get our work out into the world an have an impact besides the gallery exhibition. The fact that you are sharing your work on your blog and getting recognition and inspiring others is such a gift.
I can relate to what you are saying about not having that immediate feedback as a writer or visual artist compared with performing or teaching. I think this presents us with both gifts and challenges. One gift may be that we can learn to shore up our inner resources and find our own meaning in the work when there is no outside feedback.
They say that for every ONE person who comments there are at least 10 other who feel the same way. So you can simply multiply the comments you receive by 10! However, I don’t want to put undue emphasis on “numbers”. ANY time we can have an impact on another with our gifts, our smile or just our presence, I believe that is worth truly celebrating.
Ed Smiley
Very interesting. I think of the phrase “hybrid vigor”.
As an engineer and artist, I am about as hybrid as it gets. This used to confuse me no end. I thought I had to choose hemispheres!
I think that creativity, visualization, the ability to think about the balance of the relation of the whole to the parts and intuition have great crossover value into software engineering. I think there is a crossover in the other direction too in terms of analysis and sequencing of ideas, to support and organize intuition.
In terms of direct effects, I have had the experience of people walking into a reception of mine a few of times, they had no idea that one was going on, and being deeply moved. When you touch somebody’s heart like that, that is a powerful feeling. That was the first thing I thought of. But the more I think about it, I realize that there are others….
So there are probably indirect effects of contributions I can’t even measure. The more I think about it, being a creative type in the world, probably has all kinds of effects that appear to have nothing to do with art–but they do!
What Calls You? 9 Ways to Answer! | Women, Art, Life
[…] you what it is you already know you are. Here’s a great post by friend Michele Theberge, The Hybrid Artist. There aren’t any rules. Make it up as you go […]
tammy vitale
sharing http://tammyvitale.com/what-calls-you-9-ways-to-answer/ on my blog today – this is wonderful! Thanks!