It has been pointed out to me in recent weeks that I am an artist. Like, really an artist. Not just a dabbler with a day job. I think I really have been longing to hear that my whole life, and I am deeply grateful to the people who have taken the time to tell me. It is more rewarding and wonderful than being thought to be beautiful, or even smart, although it may encompass both of those things at times.
Now that I am really close to unbuckling myself from the daily grind that is my day job in favor of going to school for nursing for the next 2 years, I am starting to feel the surge of momentum that is bringing me closer to my goals, and that is a real rush.
Not that being a RN is my big goal. Far from it. The RN thing is merely a better, higher paying, and more flexible and portable "day job". What I really want to do is explore my horizons as an artist and how that relates to my interest in helping others make art.
I am not sure what shape that is going to take, or even if what I want to do will work in Reno. It all started with my "Writers' Dungeon" idea that I didn't have the time to really get off the ground. But I want to create a "creating studio" space for writers and artists from other media to work in a supportive and focused environment. Not a "support group" per se, because talking about making art is not the same as actually making art. I would want to have as part of that regular "salons" where the art can be shared with the collective and/or the public.
I got the idea in part from the San Francisco "Red Room" concept, (http://www.red-room.com/) but want to expand it to include the visual arts and music.
Like I said, I don't know if Reno is really the place for this. It would thrive more in a more cosmopolitan city like Seattle or San Francisco or some locales on the East Coast I can think of. I might even be able to launch a kind of virtual equivalent to start with, but I like the idea of being at the forefront of community building as much as I like creating my own art.
Writing is a largely solitary exercise, but promoting it from that place is really hard, and getting over creative blocks is hard without friends/peers to support you.
I have to spend a lot of time doing science for the next 2 years. But you need to know that this is where my heart is. Sometimes I feel like I am going to need to live forever to accomplish all that I want to do with my life.
I am open to suggestions, but mostly I just wanted to thank the people who believe in me. It matters to me, and I am grateful, and I love you.
Yeah, I've always wanted a place/venue where people could sit and make stuff. I always enjoyed working in costume shops with other artists and miss that kind of art camaraderie!
ReplyDeleteI always get way more done if I'm captive somewhere in a class or some other place where the time is set in stone for working! One thing I always wanted to is to have a place I coule teach the arts I know and learn from others.
I agree, there may not be the interest here in Reno and I think finding people is more important than finding a space. You've got me! Now all we need is some other folk! They must be out there!
You know what? I just read a book that I believe and trust with all my heart. It says to keep your vision alive in your mind, feel gratitude for your vision and know that it is coming to you because you're keeping focussed on it, and work toward it every day by taking the incremental opportunities to get toward it. Good luck with your creative space, and good for you for knowing where it would thrive - keep it alive all the time in gratitude, and you might be surprised by the opportunities that come your way to make it happen in the right place.
ReplyDeleteYour "supportive art studio" idea is awesome. There is something similar in Portland called the Watershed (http://tribes.tribe.net/watershedpdx). Only it's not just for art per se, but for a variety of creative activities. You can rent a space there, or just show up for lessons or get support or help with creating... well... anything. They have had sessions on all kinds of skills from sewing to welding, equipment you can borrow, people to help you realize your dream project. It's pretty new still but it's a great idea, hopefully you can draw some inspiration from their success.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so hard to be creative, but it's hard to create! Well, a lot of work anyway.