“The academic world is shifting. Nobody’s going to go into art. Who wants to pay all that money and then not make a living?” Funny, that…I was just having that conversation with my son the other day. There is a shortage of teachers. And doctors. And nurses. And pharmacists. And….and….who’s going to pay all that money for an education, spend their life struggling to pay off that debt, and have their work and livelihood strictly limited by the insurance conglomerates? I believe that we are experiencing an artistic renaissance the likes of which will rival DaVinci’s time in history. Because why not? What has art to teach us? How could it lead us to freedom? Why is freedom the goal?
Surely you don’t need me to answer that. You wouldn’t be here if you did.
This week I want to take you along to meet some artists. Most of them I do not know personally. I met them the same way you are about to, via the magic of YouTube. How old was I when YouTube began? I’m not sure, but I sure am glad it came along when it did. It has certainly enriched my life and I count it high on the list of things I am grateful for. Since my teen years I have subscribed to magazines and have always been grateful that I was born in such a time as this – when the publishing industry was thriving. Of course magazines, at least the affordable shelter magazines that have inspired me most of my life, have become a rare commodity. Like much in our culture, the cost to produce them has become prohibitive. Along comes a new publishing medium – because we are information addicts, after all. And now that so many of us are learning to live in insolation it is another way to connect. You might be surprised to know that I’ve met wonderful people and had some very meaningful conversations through connections I’ve made on YouTube. People are infinitely creative and resourceful.
You will notice a pattern in the artists I choose to showcase this week. For one thing, they all have grey hair. Perhaps we will visit younger artists soon, but right now I am obsessed with older people like myself telling the stories of how they reinvented their lives. Damn they are strong. They work in different mediums, styles and genres. They are messy and they are wise. You’ll notice they all have a glimmer in their eye. They have a lot to say and aren’t afraid to say it. They aren’t afraid. I like that about them. I want to be more like each one of them when I grow up.
A Painterly Home 