Stuff and Thoughts…and Stuff

Dear Friends,

First off, let me apologize for my long absence.  Between the ‘busyness’ and the flu, it’s been a crazy month.  Just wanted to touch base with stuff and thoughts that I’ve experienced, am experiencing and am going to be experiencing soon.

First, what I’ve experienced.  This past March, I had the honor of being a part of an amazing project that happens a couple of times a year in St. Louis – ‘The Hip Hop Poetry Project’.  This is a week long event that ends with a performance.  The Prison Performing Arts (prisonartsstl.org) in St. Louis, MO comes together with the Juvenile Detention Center, St. Louis during the teens spring break, bringing in an Art Instructor/Stage Set and Costume Designer (ME), Hip Hop Dance Instructor, Poetry/Writing Instructor, Graphic Arts Instructor, Performance Instructor and a team of support to (hopefully) inspire, encourage, and help bring out gifts and talents in teens that are staying at JDC while waiting on their hearing before the judge.  Every time I do this week, I go into it a bit nervous, hoping that I make some kind of impact on at least a few of the kids lives and then I leave the week inspired, encouraged and motivated that just maybe I can make a small difference in the world and help people through art in a way that it has helped me as well.

This year, the group of kids were amazing.  Approximately 33 young men and 4 ladies were a part of this week, giving their heart in such vulnerable ways that I cannot imagine I would have done the same at their age.  Yet wearing their hearts on their sleeves is the beginning of change and is the beginning of ending the week with a most powerful, heart filled, thought provoking, their world changing night of performance as approximately 200+ guests come that are supporters, parents, friends of PPA and JDC, and community members.  It definitely is not a night shy of impact to some degree.  I just wish that everyone could get a glimpse and experience the statement that such a week leaves on the lives of teens that are crying out for help, in desperate need of a voice and an ear as well as a shoulder to cry on and someone to believe in them…the same things that each of us crave in our own way, amidst our own little world in a big world that can at times seem crazy and lonely.

 

More later,

Angeles

Think Like Keith

Here is something that I struggle with as well many other artists I know when it comes to selling and marketing. Do I make art for me, or do I make it for the people? It’s a question that has been at the center or back of my mind for years. The answer I have come up with is that if I make art for me, I am making it for the world because that is where you will find passion. A message. Love. Emotion. And a joy. All of these things will be felt by the viewer and potential client, which is really what we want, right? This equals a powerful piece.

But yet I see so many ‘decorative’ art pieces that sell to masses, people making money off of seeing how many ways they can paint or print a flower and I begin to question myself and what people think about art. How do I stay true to myself and create something that will reach into this world I am confronted with on a daily basis?

Then I started thinking about Keith Haring. He’s the perfect example of taking fine art and succeeding at marketing his work. He began as a graffiti artist, laying down his marks in the subways of New York which caught the public’s eye. This led to several group and solo exhibitions, which eventually led to his Pop Shop in Times Square. Some people say he sold out. I think he was genius. He stayed true to himself as an artist and yet found a way to market his work to the masses.

There are a few things to keep in mind when we set ourselves up to begin marketing ourselves and our art. I think in today’s culture, when making art, we need to keep up with what’s going on in our world. And there is so much going on, it’s not hard to do. What issues, concerns, and products, are important to us and people in our society? Making a piece of art that people can relate to is essential on several levels. There is nothing like putting your heart into a piece and having people connect with it beyond the aesthetics. Part of marketing our art is finding our niche. Once we know who we are as artists, what we want to say and who we want to speak to, we are ready to roll. And once we know that, we can marketing to the right people instead of marketing to all the wrong people.

These are just a few thoughts that you can think about, if you haven’t already, as you begin or continue your journey into being a successful art entrepreneur.

 

WALL BALL 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rachel McCalla 314-210-7764 Rachel@luckyyoustl.com

What: When: Time: Where: Cost: Tickets: Contact: Web:

Wall Ball 2011: more than 65 artists working live at SCOSaG’s annual fundraiser! Saturday, April 9, 2011 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Neo on Locust ~ 2801 Locust Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103

$30.00 pre-event or $40.00 at the door

http://www.wallball2011.eventbrite.com/

Rachel McCalla at 314-210-7764 or rachel@luckyyoustl.com http://www.scosag.org

Pulsating. Hypnotic. Electrifying. Wall Ball is arguably one of St. Louis’ most notorious annual events, engaging an eclectic mix of artists, patrons and admirers. Hosted by the Saint Louis City Open Studio and Gallery (SCOSaG), Wall Ball will be bigger and better than ever featuring more artists, more DJs and more fun! 2011 Wall Ball will offer more than 65 St. Louis artists working LIVE (our BIGGEST YEAR yet) as guests bid on their work throughout the evening’s festivities.

This year the party has expanded to more than two floors with even more entertainment. DJs include Rob Levy (host of Juxtaposition on KDHX), Bitch Please (http://nee-music.com), DJ Nune (http://www.lamarharris.org/), and WolfPeach Society. Savory appetizers will be provided by L’Ecole Culinaire and satiating cocktails will be available at a cash bar. The event will also feature delicious “sweet treat” raffle (treats will be provided by Hollyberry Catering), dazzling performances by Super Fun Yeah Yeah Rocketship, and the unbelievable Bubble Bus with glow in the dark bubbles! Additional highlights include fashion designers Laura Kathleen and Penny Rae Vintage creating custom-made garments live, hair and make-up masterpieces created before your very eyes by Amanda Wilson (from Metro Design Studio), live jewelry making by Adam Foster, temporary tattoos, and much, much more! ***See attached artist list with their websites below.

Also new this year: Wall Ball is partnering with A Tasteful Affair! Get tickets to both events for ONE LOW price. For pricing, visit http://www.wallball2011.eventbrite.com.

Wall Ball’s after-party (10pm to 1am) will be held at Atomic Cowboy and will feature more even more live art, music, dancing and DJs. All Wall Ball participants and guests get in free, $5 for those without a Wall Ball wristband.

Sponsors include: ArtMart, L’Ecole Culiniare St. Louis, Lucky You Productions, NEO on Locust, Atomic Cowboy, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Pure Power, Holly Berry Catering, Alive, KDHX, Metromix, The Riverfront Times, and Sauce Magazine.

All proceeds directly benefit SCOSaG, located in Tower Grove Park. SCOSaG’s mission is to provide a safe and educational environment for children to explore the arts and also to strengthen the ties within St. Louis neighborhoods, its families and its youth. Since 2002, SCOSaG has provided unique creative experiences for numerous St. Louis children, young adults and families. Offering a range of opportunities from ceramics to painting, SCOSaG is a vital non-profit organization that enriches countless people and families.

For responses to media-related questions and print ready images contact Rachel McCalla with Lucky You Productions at 314-210-7764 or rachel@luckyyoustl.com. To purchase tickets, go to http://www.wallball2011.eventbrite.com/.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The holy grail is to spend less time making the picture than it takes people to look at it.”
:::Bansky:::

The Art Of Being Banksy

The Oscar. The most prestigious award to be won in the film industry. The week before The Oscars is always a week of people talking about who is hosting, who will be there, who will be presenting, who will be seen with who, what people will be wearing, how much bling they will flash, how the acceptance speeches will go, who will be sitting where, who will win the best actress and actor awards as well as the top film award. But this year, there was one more question added to the thoughts and mouths of loyal and not so loyal film followers…

Will the British street artist Banksy make an appearance and acceptance speech if ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop’ wins in the Best Documentary Feature category or will he have someone from his camp accept for him? Or better yet, will Banksy wear his infamous monkey mask even though the Academy vetoed his request to be able to show up in disguise (which I did not like but I won’t even go there)? I know I was on the edge of my seat and from the comments on various social media websites, I was not the only one!

I love it how a visual artist who is not a part of the film industry, especially one such as Banksy, being almost as nontraditional as the ‘traditional’ people probably think one can get, was a part of all the Oscar jive talk in one of Hollywoods largest weeks. Just having a visual artist up for an Oscar alone is an amazing feat, but the talk and fascination was the icing on this big cake!

Sunday night rolls around, the carpet is as red as ever, lights and smiles flashing, glamour and radiance on every corner, the hype is up, and even Twitter was keeping their eye out for this ‘secretive’ artist, according to AOL News.

So, even though I was a tad bit bored as I was watching the, at times, awkward speeches and lack of entertainment by this years hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco, waiting for the announcement for Best Documentary Feature category kept my attention. Then the moment came. And it went as quickly as it came. So…no Oscar for Banksy this year. Will we even ever know if he was there or not? I guess time will tell.

However, all of this buzz seems to have been a great marketing campaign for this already well known artist. People who have never heard of him before now, have been educated at least a bit. Banksy might not have walked away with an Oscar, but he definitely is not leaving this experience empty handed. Already records are showing the prices of his work has increased since his nomination was announced, which really is not surprising. According to The Australian, “Sotheby’s in London sold Banksy’s Heavy Weaponry, an image of an elephant with a rocket on its back, for pounds 82,250 last week after giving it an upper estimate of pounds 18,000.”

Congratulations Banksy on your nomination and your payroll!

No More Starving Artist Syndrome

I finally decided after being in the corporate world for several years, that I needed to follow my passion and dream in art because no matter how much I tried to run away from it and be someone I ‘thought’ I was supposed to be in society, it always came back to haunt me, lurking around each corner. So…I gave up my cushy job with good pay, health insurance, paid vacations and a 401K plan a few years ago to go back to school and complete my Bachelors and Masters Degree in studio art.

Since then, I am so tired with all of the bombardment of being with peers in my profession as an artist and student that have a ‘starving artist’ syndrome stamped on their forehead. I get so frustrated when people hear what I do or what I am going to school for and ‘joke’ that I am going to school, spending all this money, getting thousands of dollars in student loans to become a starving artist. Well, maybe that’s what they are painting for and maybe that’s what they are going to school for, but not me. I am determined to stay far away from that disease that has infected individuals in this industry. I am thankful that there are so many artists in this industry that are making their living as full time artists that I can look up to as they lead the way for other emerging artists.

Just like any profession, there are going to be people struggling, and people doing well. And it begins with the right mindset. I recently heard a speaker, Nicole Crank, that really impacted my mindset as an individual with a passion to succeed as an artist and to help others succeed as well. What we think on has a powerful effect on our tomorrow, our next year, our next decade. Our mindset of the past determined who we are today. And our mindset of today will determine who we are and what we become in the future. What we think on determines what we believe. Believing determines how we act. And our actions determine our future.

If we go one believing we are ‘starving artists’, then chances are, we will continue to be just that. When you go into a gallery to submit your portfolio or if you are talking to someone about your art that can be a potential buyer and you don’t think you are any good or that you are never going to succeed, don’t you think that mindset and attitude are going to come across to that person? Of course it is. I can always tell when someone comes up to me if they are confident in themselves or insecure. Same thing goes for how we feel about ourselves as artists. In saying this, it’s time to for us to evaluate and/or re-evaluate what’s going on in our minds because this can cause us to succeed or fail. So, what are you thinking about? And how can you change your thinking?

“Participate”

"Participate"

Mixed Media, incorporating screen print, latex, oil paint stick, and acrylic

5′ x 4′

Inspired by the book, Perks Of Being A Wallflower, “Participate” is something that Charlie, the main character, was advised to do as he lived out his high school years, and something that he thrived to do through his struggles.

In doing this, he found new experiences, true friends, love and himself.

SIDESTEP: Who Knows If The Moons…(VII) – E.E. Cummings

E.E. Cummings is my all time favourite poet.  This really spoke to me tonight and inspired me so I wanted to share it with you also.

who knows if the moon’s
a balloon,coming out of a keen city
in the sky–filled with pretty people?
(and if you and i should

get into it,if they
should take me and take you into their balloon,
why then
we’d go up higher with all the pretty people

than houses and steeples and clouds:
go sailing
away and away sailing into a keen
city which nobody’s ever visited,where

always
it’s
Spring)and everyone’s
in love and flowers pick themselves

-E.E. Cummings