My poor bf :(

Don't diss the dogs playing poker. I was inherintly excited with the last two guys I was with. They had really good taste in things and knew how to dress and then I realized they were a bit fucked up in the head. Any man who knows how to dress himself and pick out what goes on his walls will turn out to be a jerk. That's my conclusion. I will never ever again complain at somone's tastes. In fact if I can't beat them I will join them poker anyone?

 

hahahahaha--dogs playing poker on black velvet-shit ,my aunt and uncle had that on their dining room wall!hahahhhhahahaahaahahaa.

 

Jeez lynsey--what the hell kind of guys do you meet?

 

OK, the point I was trying to make was that we all know what we like and some of it hardly qualifies as "art" but if he's truly talented it's a lot of hard work to get noticed. But eventually he will.

And this comes from a man who works with hardwoods but has 3' tall stuffed SpongeBob and Patrick hanging on his wall.

 

yeah ,I know what you meant--I guess I was just being an elitist prick.Not a good thing to be.

 

noooooo don't get me wrong. the guy I am with now is awesome. I just had a few uhm interesting relationships and have really noticed some bizarre patterns. I just steer very clear of overly domestic guys now but the older they are the more domestic they tend to be too so perhaps the older the less emotionally availible they are? I don't know. I have no clear conclusion...I just know guys with dog playing poker thingies on their wall = super nice and laid back caring guys. guys with nice art work = something a little off in the head

 

Annie, I hope I can help you here...

Here's my position. In my area I enjoy a little noteriety because of my job as a broadcaster. I'm not hot shit by any means, I'm just "familiar". I am also a musician. I've been "pro" since I was in high school. I got into radio to learn a little on the business end. Most musicians want to be heard on the radio. And instead of beating the bars to death I wanted to find the quickest route to airplay.

What I run into after 20 years of radio and over 25 years of being a working musician, is that I get accused of being "a radio guy trying to be a musician", or a band will look at bringing me on board because of the "novelty". "Hey we got a radio guy in the band!!".. I am rarely taken serious as any kind of musical artist by someone who has not heard me. I'm easilly dismissed. Those who have heard my band or have worked with me have a different view.

I'm still faced with indifferance with regard to my band, my album that I'm recording etc. The bottom line is that I do this (music = art) for me. If you don't like it, or you think I suck,and choose not to support me.. That's entirely up to you. I have to continue playing my guitar and writing my songs as a means of my expression. It's great when people show up and support your project. But it's always an uphill climb. He should not be discouraged. And if he is.. Let him know that you "get it". If this is first exhibition, plan for the next. Eventually... Maybe the next time - or the tenth or twentieth, something will catch. Word of mouth will spread. People will be interested. I'd rather have a roomfull of people who are into what I do, rather than 20 people I work with who don't know what I'm about. He's got to keep at it. And it's great that you support him. I've not been with many people who support me, my basement full of guitars or my obsession.

 

I'm a graphic artist by trade...completely different circumstances from fine art, although I do both.


Here's what I've learned about the art world. I go to galleries and shows quite a bit and one of the first things I noticed was that very few people show up to these things. It's ALWAYS the same 10 - 20 people. No one else gives a damn about art really. Oh, people will tell you they love art, but if you asked them what was the last show they attended, that's another story.

The other thing that strikes me about trying to make it in art is that the succesful artist just got extremely lucky. No amount of talent, promotion or assbusting in general can buy you luck.

The good news? If he's serious about this and works at it constantly...he can do quite well. Every working artist I know kept plugging away at it. It can take a lot of years to succeed but it will happen eventually. You just can't expect to be received by the public as the next Jackson Pollack.

As far as making him feel better...well, just be supportive. (Which I'm sure you are) The blow job idea from another post was pretty good, too.

 

Annie,


Your boyfriend is, you and all of us are, having experiences that have, contained within, lessons; the key, as I see it, is to endure while being open to, and heeding, the lessons in the experiences. Specifically, it appears to me that; your boyfriend is talented, he walks to 'his own drummer,' he is passionate about his work and, it appears just from a raw intuitive sense of mine that, he is an honest soul.

Gathering a sense from his reaction, as you described it, to the apparent results of his show he appears to have a powerful innocence about him; and if this is so the clinching question, as I see it, is "is he readily 'teachable'" ? In other words "will he heed the messages, the lessons, within his experience ?" This will largely determine the outcome of his life.

Depending on many factors he may have to endure long before, if any, material success. Some of the people who have talked about strategies to improve shows are, it appears, giving some good advice; but only he really knows the nature of his own thirst. It appears clear that he wants a response to his art in these shows, and, here, I am assuming that he will continue; when a wise artist sells he knows that the potential contained within this comprises both danger and overt blessing; this said, it is wonderful gratification, wonderful feedback, to 'sell.' I would say, "pace yourself and remain focused; find, cultivate, and maintain balance; and continue to evolve. Cultivate an understanding of ethical seduction, find how to give a really good show." I like a number of the "techniques" and suggestions given in this thread, I like "the wine idea." A little food, wine, a nice "bowl of salad," complementing music, continued "network expansion," and ever evolving and improving the 'body of work.'

Has he seen this thread ?


Love,

David


P.S. Koan: Picture what people might do at the show, in snippets of realtime imagination, without prejudging. Then, Let It Be.
.

 

My boyfriend does have a pretty decent job, actually...and he may be getting a promotion very soon. Good benefits, four weeks off a year...not too shabby...

But it does not fulfill him. Art does. I see that it is such an awesome and amazing outlet for him. He doesn't paint or draw really. He does a lot of sculptures and uses liquid emulsion on glass to print his photos. He basically does a lot of B&W photography and uses them in sculptures and such.

The event was catered, but since it was on University property, no alcohol was allowed (even though I told him I'd spike the punch for him)...

This is certainly not his first show...and he's sold some of his pieces before. He is realistic in his goals. Of course he'd love to do art as a full-time job, but he knows it's not realistic. Lately he's been kicking around the idea of going to back school after he gets his photography degree to get a botany or horticulture degree. Currently he has a gallery in his basement that he shows his stuff along with others' art in the area.

Here is some of his work:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=10837317&MyToken=f90ef566-9fb2-4322-a926-87bb42853f4c (You can also click on the pictures to see more)

He also does some performance art. I have pics but can't find them at the moment.

I guess I just have a hard time knowing how to keep him positive and encourage him...I mean...I try, but I'm not sure it reaches him. I love him and just want to see him happy...but he's a tortured artist...I probably can't do much for him.

 

from what i can tell, his stuff can stand on its own and he shouldn't worry about some university show too much. I hope he doesn't suck you into his torturedness, or at least knows how to deliver pizzas

 

That's the whole point, cooloner...I mean, I don't always get his art...I like it...because it's interesting to look at...but otherwise, I haven't got a clue...his true friends should be the same way...supporting him as a friend, even if they don't exactly "get it".

 

Actually for awhile there, I was sucking him into my fun world where we eat candy all day and watch cartoons at the movie theater

 

quote: Actually for awhile there, I was sucking him into my fun world where we eat candy all day and watch cartoons at the movie theater

I know he should enjoy that Annie. The thing to watch is that art students can be overly dramatic, and overly confident of their chances..they move to new york, they see 1000 other people like them etc. Not that it can't work out, but you need to have a way to make a living, and keep loving the other

 

I think he has a good head on his shoulders...of course he's made mention of doing that, but I think I brought him down to reality with it...telling him the exact same thing. But if him doing his art makes him happy, I'd dumpster dive for my food and live in a tent (as long as it was in warm weather)...seeing him miserable makes me sad

 

well tell him to not take it so seriously, and to get back to work. He;s in college, and that is not the real art world

 

ahhhh ): you are so sweet.

 

is there a local non-commercial radio station that has a 'community calander'? if so he should list art show openings on there.

=^^=
.../\...

 

He has a few people ready to write some reviews on his solo show and the gallery in his basement...