Aja Monet - What I've Learned

" I know if I jumped off of a building I wouldn't fly,
I know someone who tried "

Real Artists Struggle: "I feel uncomfortable with selling away my art for money"

// The Starving Artist vs. Your Inner G //

A young artist approached me this morning about her feeling of discomfort from the idea of giving her art away for money. She, like myself, looks at her paintings as her babies. She's expressed to me in the past that if she sold one of her paintings, she would want to get the know the person who is buying it from her,  find a connection with that person, make sure her baby will be in safe hands and steer away from it feeling like an ordinary business deal. 

I use to feel this way too, I still have many pieces that I would probably never sell, but it is still hard to give away any piece that is evidently apart of my soul. She did express she does want art to be her way of living, and here was my response to her.

Look at selling your art as living independently. No corporations giving you a pay check, you giving you a paycheck. Only us artists can do that. Thats why the system tries to make it hard for us. Thats why they paint over graffiti on the streets, a way of writing that was born from our ancestors writing on walls- hiding anything they can that represents expression without permission. Since when did expression need permission? In this city 'art jobs' are slim, that is the reality, so you have to be your own boss. It really is a beautiful thing, and we should embrace it more and see it in that light. Fuck the 'starving artist' title, sure it has its dark romantic appeal, but its keeping us in one place. Travel, see the world. Network, make friendships in and outside of the country. Eat amazing food from every different culture, treat yourself to a new fit. Or even open up a gallery. (:


Is it easy? No, but don't restrict yourself from your inner G. However keep in mind there is definitely a difference between the position I've illustrated here, from being a SELL OUT.
It's time for artists to take over, to get this real revolution that we all want to have happen, happen.



ps------ I never mentioned grants in this post. Think about why. Until next time....

GT

A Masked Culture

Ive been falling in love with masks. I grew up in a house where there was an African mask or painting on every wall you turned to, but this is my first time exploring with it in art. I've found that masks reoccur in various cultures-from Mexico's lucha libre's, to North American Iroquois tribes, to rituals in New Guinea, to American comic books.. Masks. Synonymous for hiding something is one way to look at it, but here's another.. Embodying something above yourself, embodying creativity, and culture. I've been working on a big project with inspiration from the African masks, but here's some practice work.

Randomness inspired me to use thread, I found a bag of it somewhere. 

3 layers- the mask, the the leaves, the city 

                                  

Been using lots of layers lately too now that I think about it.. Layers and masks. Wonder what that means.

G, peace. 

ELEPHANT TRUNK SHOW

ART TRADE & SELL
(paintings, sculptures, posters, drawings, photography, clothing, jewelry, pottery, poetry) anything & everything. 

Completely free & open to the public

JUNE 15TH at Coffee Makes You Black

Order of Events
4-7pm: artist trade & sell to public
8-10pm: open mic

put good out into the universe and good will come back to you.

*not only designers can bring clothes, if you have personal clothes you would like to trade, feel free
*poets can print their poems and bring them to had out
*If you are interested in being an artist in the show, e-mail elephanttrunk@yahoo.com for a registration form. i just need to know how much table space you need & what you plan on bringing. TABLE SPACE IS LIMITED. not necessary for poets, just show up. peace :)

more info here