artPark

Chopin's 200th

Today is Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday.  I wonder which contemporary composer's 200 birthday will be celebrated 130-170 years from now?  Philip Glass?  Someone like John Williams?  Or will it be a Bono, a Madonna or a Sting?

Winter

With the current snow storm dumping on the northeast following record amounts of the fluffy stuff here in the mid-Atlantic this winter (and spring still weeks away), I thought this picture was appropriate for artPark fans.  Regardless of the weather, I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

R and R

The importance of creativity in our diet

     Let's try this correlation on for size:  I'm thinking that fostering the discipline of creative thinking could lead to a thinner and healthier population.  As funding shrinks and schools balance their tightening budgets by cutting art classes and art related resources for our children, I see the obesity epidemic increasing. Of course, most of the reasoning behind the need for creative thinking is for it to apply to problem solving skills in today's business sector and government - much needed in these troubling times.  But I say being able to tap into one's creative abilities would lead to better choices in diet and cooking abilities.

 

     Think about it.  Ever watch those cooking competition shows on the Food Network (note: the Food Network is our TV's default setting).  Contestants are generally judged on taste (duh), originality and presentation.  Countless times, I have seen victories go to the chef who scores highest on originality.  These are the foods we really want to eat.

 

     Without an ability to think creatively, despite the plethora of "good" food choices and combinations, it is extremely difficult to make smart, tasty and healthy choices for our daily meals.  Instead, default systems kick in and we resort to easily grab-able simple foods - usually from the white flour, sugar and fatty variety.  This is why systems like Jenny Craig© and Lean Cuisine© are successful (I mean the marketing of these systems are successful).  Customers don't have to make any choices or create anything in the kitchen.  Instead, they receive their meals already prepared and frozen in boxes.  A variety of menus and flavors are available.  Sounds better than stuff we would come up with on our own.

 

     My point is planning a variety of meals and a healthy diet that tastes good is not easy.  It requires a high degree of creativity.  This is why it is much easier to go to a restaurant and order off a menu of 15 options than it is to come up with a yummy, nutritious meal straight out of your head and prepare it at home.

 

     As our education system pulls back on the opportunities for our children to learn the discipline of creative thinking in art classes, I believe it hinders the efforts of people to keep their weight down.  Instead it will lead to the continued proliferation of poor eating habits and the reliance on prepackaged and/or prepared foods full of unhealthy and fattening stuff.  Yuk.

 

     So an education that includes a ciriculum in the arts has the ability to not only increase the number of talented artists in the world, but it might also make us healthier and ultimately happier.  Sounds like a nice place to live.

 

     Now I'm hungry.  Looking forward to tonight's shrimp, black bean, fresh tomatoes and tomatillo salsa corn tortilla soft tacos - created and made by Laura, of course.  Yum.

Obama's Inauguration

Laura and I made the pilgrimage to DC yesterday and attended Barack Obama’s Inauguration. Simply put, it was an event I have never experienced before.

The ceremony ushered in a sense of change, hope and optimism, and Obama’s speech marked a clear separation from the past eight years.

I took a few pictures while we were on the Mall, but, without a doubt, I can say they do not convey the unity of the crowd’s emotions. Everyone was saturated in hope, happiness and togetherness. Never in my life have I smiled with so many people, shook hands with so many people, or hugged so many people (and when I say people, I mean complete strangers). Despite the miles walked, the long lines, blocked streets, cold weather, and just a massive amount of humanity jammed together, there was never an ill feeling or mean word... only enthusiasm and happiness. My feet may hurt a little, but the smile on my face and warmth in my heart remain.

So much has been said of the historic moment yesterday marked. No doubt. But, for me, I see this as a long overdue time to embrace sensible solutions to challenging realities.

   

   

   

   

And, finally, here is a shot of Bush leaving DC in Marine One following the ceremony.  What is not pictured is the one fingered wave good-bye I am giving him.

 

Bud Potts - In memoriam

Usually I’m good for comic relief, but this time I’d like to share a shortened version of remarks I made at my Uncle Bud’s funeral last week. He was 86 and had lived a long and happy life. He was immensely proud that Rob and I ran an art gallery, which meant a lot to me. He was impressed by anyone who, like him, owned and managed a business. Not that he knew anything about art, other than duck decoys, but he knew a lot about setting goals and integrity and responsibility. I thought you should meet him.

In the way he lived his life, my Uncle Bud taught me all I know about possibility. And life to me is about possibility, what’s around the corner.

I was 7, almost 8, in 1973 when my mom’s brother flew his family from Des Moines, Iowa to visit us in Durham, NC. Literally. Flew with his own hands and my Aunt Sue’s help. In a tiny plane, a Piper Comanche 250.

It started as a tiny dot. Mom and Dad and I shaded our eyes against the sun and watched it grow to a larger and larger dot. Finally, you could hear it. Then it actually took the shape of a plane. Standing on the tarmac, watching it materialize out of thin air, land and then taxi over was the most exciting and exotic thing in my life at the time and might still rank in the top 2 or 3. The vastness of the world had come to me, and Uncle Bud made it happen

It’s funny; the only photos I have of the arrival are of me and my Aunt Sue, she who was the most grounded of all of us, yet a willing and vital participant in all adventures. In one, I am standing on the wing. My Aunt Sue is standing on the ground next to the wing, probably to cushion my expected fall, and her head reaches over the roof. This was a tiny plane. In the other, I am in the co-pilot’s seat. It looks just like I am sitting in a car. Red leather seats, a steering wheel, windows, sun visors. The plane is red, white, and blue. I have on a blue and white coat and red pants. We matched, in more ways than one. I have such a grin on my face. I had only seen planes like that in movies. My family had stepped out of a movie.

It was winter. February. And the sky was that blue you only get in the winter. Nothing around other than another plane, this one a little larger, maybe a six seater. I had not experienced such vastness before. Such possibility.

Something connected that day and forged as strong a bond as there is in this world. I feel honored to share the same blood as my Uncle Bud. As I have grown older, I see that he, like all people, was full of flaws. But nothing ever diminished my love for him. It is fierce and unshakable and full of admiration. Maybe I didn’t know him that well, but I knew enough. Maybe it’s easiest to love from a distance, the fierceness and crystal clarity not dulled by daily existence. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Everyone needs someone to mythologize, and Uncle Bud was my myth.

I have long told stories of his exploits and basked in the reflected glory. Stories involving planes and grizzly bears and skiing and diving. Wow. What a ride to even know him, much less be his niece. I will miss him, but I will never forget him. It would be impossible.

Chesapeake Bay Swim – 2008

The following is some news of a different sort – but it’s a big part of how Laura and I spend our free time...

On June 8, Laura and I completed our annual swim across the Chesapeake Bay. It was my 7^th and Laura’s 4^th consecutive time. Whew!

For a little info and background:  The Chesapeake Bay Swim is (in my mind) the premier open water swim race on the east coast. Over 600 people show up for it annually. The race is 4.4 miles long starting on the shores of Sandy Point State Park, crossing the Bay between the twin bridges, and finishing on the shores of Kent Island by Hemingway’s Marina. Swimming that kind of distance is one thing, but for this race, contending with the turbulent and unpredictable conditions is the real challenge. This year was no different.  The main culprit was a flood current that we all had to work against primarily during the second mile of the race.

The uniqueness of this event is unparalleled. Organizers work with local, state and federal officials to pull it off. It is the only time the shipping channel under the bridges is completely closed to boat traffic (and it requires an act of Congress to have it happen). The Coast Guard has the final say whether the event goes off or not. Risk of tragedy is extremely high. Although most people who start get themselves across, there have been a couple of years when 80% have been pulled from the waters before finishing. Safety is paramount and it takes the efforts of hundreds of organizers and volunteers to make it happen. Bottom line: It is an extreme privilege to compete in this race. Laura and I love it.

For the record, I finished in 4^th place overall, and Laura finished in 364^th out of the total 623 men and women who started. Just getting across is always a worthy goal (this year 602 actually made it all the way across). We are both pleased with our final results. Of special note… Laura was one of the very few who competed without a wetsuit – just to make things a little tougher.

Finally, the race is a fundraiser for the March of Dimes and for the preservation of the Bay’s health through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Since the event was started, over $1,000,000 has been raised.

Here are a few pictures to give you a very small idea of what this event is all about.

 

 

The Greatest of All Time

Laura and I had a very special honor today… We were able to spend a few moments with the single greatest living icon in American history – Muhammad Ali. No one alive today has elevated sport, politics and religion like Muhammad Ali.

   

Despite his age and ailments, he remains The Greatest. And, I can tell you that the strength in his arms, hands and mind proves it.

For a little refresher course, here is a bit pulled from his website (sorry about the length, but being The Greatest means you have done a lot of noteworthy things in your life):

He's still the most recognizable man on earth. And over forty years after he burst onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world.

Dubbed "Athlete of the Century" by GQ magazine, Muhammad continues to receive accolades for his contribution to sports. He has been named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Century," the BBC's "Sports Personality of the Century," the World Sports Award's "World Sportsman of the Century," and the State of Kentucky's "Kentuckian of the Century." In 2005, he received the United States of America's highest civil award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

As a boxer, Muhammad brought unprecedented speed and grace to his sport, while his charm and wit changed forever what the public expected a champion to be. His accomplishments in the ring are the stuff of legend – two fights with Sonny Liston, where he proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and proved he was; three epic wars with Joe Frazier; the stunning victory over George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle; and dethroning Leon Spinks to become heavyweight champion for an unprecedented third time. But there was always far more to Muhammad than what took place in a boxing ring.

Muhammad's life and career have been played out as much on the front pages of newspapers as on the inside sports pages. His early embrace of the Nation of Islam and his insistence on being called Muhammad Ali instead of his "slave name," Cassius Clay, heralded a new era in black pride. His refusal to be inducted into the United States Army anticipated the growing antiwar movement of the 1960's. His willingness to stage his much-promoted and publicized fights in such far-flung locales as Kinshasa, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur signaled a shift from superpower dominance toward a growing awareness of the developing world.

Daring to go against political policy to help people in need, Muhammad has made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea; delivered sorely-needed medical supplies to an embargoed Cuba; traveled to Iraq and secured the release of 15 United States hostages during the first Gulf War; and journeyed to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison.

Today, championing the causes of the developing world has become a major focus of Muhammad's life. He has been instrumental in providing over 232 million meals to the world's hungry. Traveling across continents, he has hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in Cote D'Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco among other countries.

In addition to his international efforts, Muhammad is equally devoted to helping charities at home. He has visited countless numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals, and helped such organizations as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics. He annually participates in "Fight Night," which generates funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, in Phoenix, Arizona. At the State Capitol in Michigan, he advocated new laws for protecting children. He is also the namesake of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act (sponsored by Senator John McCain), a law that regulates professional boxing to protect boxers from unscrupulous promoters and poor health and bout conditions. In recent year, Muhammad has testified before the United States Senate several times regarding boxing reform.

For his humanitarian efforts, Muhammad has been the recipient of countless awards. In addition to being honored by Amnesty International with their Lifetime Achievement Award, the Secretary-General of the United Nations bestowed upon him the citation of United Nations Messenger of Peace. In Germany, he was honored with the 2005 Otto Hahn Peace Medal for his involvement in the U.S. civil rights movement and the United Nations. He was also named the International Ambassador of Jubilee 2000, a global organization dedicated to relieving debt in developing nations. Other honors include an Essence Award, an XNBA Human Spirit Award and recognition from the National Urban League; 100 Black Men; Givat Haviva; the Oleander Foundation; The National Conference of Christians and Jews; Time magazine; and former President Jimmy Carter, who cited Muhammad as "Mr. International Friendship."

Muhammad recently published a memoir entitled, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey, in which he discusses the meaning of religion, forgiveness, and some of the defining moments in his life and career. He is also the co-author of Healing: A Journal of Tolerance and Understanding and The Greatest: My Own Story.

In 2005, Muhammad opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to displaying a selection of his memorabilia, the Center's exhibits focus on themes of peace, social responsibility, respect and personal growth. In 2006, he partnered with CKX, Inc. to form Muhammad Ali Enterprises, for the licensing of his name, image and likeness and to continue promoting his cultural and philosophical legacy throughout the world.

Whether promoting tolerance and understanding, feeding the hungry, studying his religion, or reaching out to children in need, Muhammad Ali is devoted to making the world a better place for all people. No athlete has ever contributed more to the life of his country, or the world, than Muhammad Ali.

"Endurance and Aggression"

Last Friday the Wall Street Journal ran an article by Kevin Helliker on open water swimming, which will be an Olympic sport for the first time in ages. Hooray! It's a great piece; here's the link:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120847591898524775.html

Kevin's first sentence is: "Open water swimming requires endurance as well as agression." I would submit, only half jokingly, that survival in the art world requries these two traits as well. I may see parallels when others don't, given Rob's and my passion for open water swimming. But one of our artists, who is a disciplined athlete himself, made the comment to us as we headed into our first art fair, which was artDC last year: "It's a good thing you both are endurance athletes." A fair is definitely like a long race with few pit stops.

So, to parpahrase Bill Murray, we got that going for us. But is the aggression there? Not sure. Something to ponder as we head into AAF NYC. I promise no bared teeth, though.

- Laura

How much should an artist earn?

Recently, I had separate conversations with a couple of artist friends. I respect both artists and their art a great deal, and I would put the quality of their work (although very different in style) on the same plane. During the course of the conversation with Artist 1, he mentioned he had a very good 2007. It begged the question, "How good?" He obliged and told me he grossed a little over $70,000 in sales. I didn’t have to ask Artist 2 because I already know he has struggled the last couple of years to make ends meet. My guestimate is that he grossed $20,000 which barely covers his cost of materials. It also should be mentioned that both artists have gallery representation(s) and sell out of their respective studios. I was happy for Artist 1 and his fiscal success, and I was sympathetic to Artist 2 and hope he receives the fortunes he deserves in the very near future.

This got me thinking… There are many occupations that tend to have a fixed annual salary ranges associated with them. A teacher probably knows what they will be earning, the same for police officers, nurses, attorneys and accountants. This is supported by "salary calculators" like this one and this one. While playing around on one of these sites, I found out that the median wage for an "artist" in Charlottesville is $44,000. Really??? A little digging revealed the definition of "artist" to be:

Develops, sketches, and/or prints creative ideas for a variety of mediums. Provides support for company advertising and/or promotional efforts. No formal training required, although may require 2-4 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Works under general supervision; typically reports to a supervisor or manager. A great deal of creativity and latitude is expected.

Of course, this isn’t exactly the type of "artist" I was thinking of – the one who toils in their studio creating one-of-a-kind pieces (in whatever medium) for commercial sale through a gallery, art fair, or through their studio. For my questions, I was not considering graphic designers, advertisers or anyone who works under supervision (i.e. an office). Regardless, I was surprised to see the $44K associated with a Charlottesville "artist."

However, should we think Artist 1 is making far more than the norm? Is Artist 2 making far less than the norm? Or vice versa?

Throughout my life’s experiences in the arts, I’ve witnessed the general image or perception of the proverbial "starving artist." Should the poor soul who pursues a career in the arts be destined to starve? Is an artist required to starve before/during/after the blossoming of their career? Is it their hunger that drives their creative energies? Keeps them edgy? Attuned to the human condition? Or, can an artist earn a healthy wage from their work and still be able to be creative and prolific?

Back to my initial thought… What is the public’s perception of what an artist should earn annually? I think we all agree that the average office secretary (administrative assistant) probably is earning less than $75,000 and more than $25,000 – I remind you, I am still in Virginia. Or a 3^rd year associate attorney in a mid-sized firm is likely to be earning $100,000.

So what do you believe? Is it preposterous to believe that someone who chooses to be a full-time artist could think that $100,000 is a reasonable wage (such as a young attorney), or should the artist be happy with earning $20,000 and believe he has topped out in his field?

I have created a Poll on this blog’s sidebar to dig into this question further. What do you think an artist should consider a reasonable annual wage to be? Vote today. Or share your thoughts with a Comment.

Sarah McLachlan Asks You to Help the ASPCA

While mindlessly watching tv last night, Laura and I were both driven to tears by the ASPCA’s commercial featuring singer/song-writer Sarah McLachlan. Watch it here… but grab a tissue and your checkbook first.

Happy Holidays from Migration

Laura and I would like to wish all our clients and readers a very joyful holiday season.

And a reminder... Migration will be closed from December 24 through January 3.  We will be taking a little break as well as hanging our new show Strata by Steve Griffin.  We hope you will join us for the opening and reception with the artist on Friday, January 4.

Peace.

And now for something completely different...

For a much needed break from art gallery owning and managing and thinking about art, Rob and I competed in the Great Chesapeake Bay swim on Sunday, June 10. It's a 4.4. mile choppy open water swim across the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis to Kent Island. It's one of those things that is great to finish but when you are in the middle of it, you wonder why you started! Back to work.....

- Laura