reviews, features & interviews
Words of wisdom from Annette Monnier
By libby
February 28, 2010 · 8 Comments
At One Review A Month, blogger Annette Monnier usually has something pretty smart and interesting to say. Here’s an excerpt from her latest post:
I am reminded of being a young artist and saying something to a friend about this or that person “selling out” to which my wiser friend replied “you can’t tell me that you wouldn’t have done that had it been offered to you.” I never said it out loud but my friend was right. The truth is that some people make it big and others do not, just like some people are born ugly and some beautiful, some complaints artists make may be legitimate and need to be acted on but a great majority of them probably stem from jealously and bitterness about the hand of fate.
The post is about a community meeting (of disgruntled artists) and show at Edward Winkleman’s gallery in New York. This seemed of special interest, given that Philadelphia just had its own community meeting of disgruntled artists yesterday, at Little Berlin.
Tags: annette monnier, little berlin, one review a month, winkleman gallery, works on paper rejects
Readers Comments (8)
Love this post. Motivated me to vibe on it a bit…http://www.artoftodd.com/blog/?p=1364. Peace – Art of Todd
Libby this post together with several others you have been posting of late shine of both your commitment and devotion to your work.sometimes life is not fair nor just ,the best we get is honest commitment from sincere people.thanks
Good thoughts, Todd. Thanks for sharing. The bottom line is, if you aren’t doing business, you can’t afford to make art. It’s about figuring out the balance.
Hi, Frank, Thanks. It really feels great to get a note like that, and it spurs me on to try even harder!
I’ve struggled with thoughts of what it means to sell out. I think it’s one thing when you’re a punk band giving the finger to the establishment and then signing to a major label; it’s quite something else when you’re an adult trying to make an income and wanting to establish a household someday. In my opinion an artist’s work needs to communicate to the public, while at the same time maintaining what is true to the artist. Making money isn’t selling out. Compromising your integrity and doing something solely for money is.
Outside of all this, Annette’s banner this month is preeeetttty swweeeeet. (that’s how dolphin’s say pretty sweet)
Just once, I’d love to have the opportunity to sell out.