Where has the summer gone? I'm suddenly rushing around trying to do all the things I wanted to do to enjoy the summer, like go to the beach, go paddleboarding, sunbathe by the pool, and drink beer on the patio. All these things are very hard to do on a time crunch.
I lie awake at night thinking "Tomorrow I need to relax by the pool! And I need to reply to that email, and read that proposal, and, and, and..." There are the things I need to do that will earn me income; there are projects I want to do that will fulfill me; and there are things like sunbathing that are not a priority for earning a living but are a priority for my quality of life. All the things that aren't income-generating work unfortunately get shuffled to the bottom of my list and then I get super cranky that I'm not paddleboarding or moving forward on some side project.
This push and pull between "have to's" and "want to's" seems to define the life of an artist. In the US, the support structures and patrons are not proportionate to the number of artists and so many of us are required to cobble together an existence that can be unstable, fragmented, and oftentimes requires us to spend lots of time doing things that are not our top priorities. If I had the economic freedom to pursue all the things that nurture my work and allow me to thrive as an artist, what could I accomplish? I think about this all the time.
A New York Times article by Zachary Small, August 18, 2024
Things right now are stressful for many because of the downturn in the art market - sales are slow. I am learning to use these financially tight periods to gauge whether the choices I'm making are out of desperation and insecurity or if they are in alignment with my goals.
For example, I was recently asked to participate in a pop-up show by someone I've never worked with before. The timeline was a fast turnaround so without thinking about it too much I agreed, wanting to be amenable to this new professional relationship. We had a studio visit on Friday and by Monday I had the contract.
Having the weekend was crucial and I realized that I broke my own rule: don't make impulsive decisions!
I have learned through bad experiences that it is better for me to take time to think things over when it comes to exhibiting, selling, and presenting my work or agreeing to anything that will take up my time or resources. I want to be a "yes" person and want to support others, but I have realized that I will get taken advantage of if I let my willingness guide me.
The loan agreement laid out the terms for this (largely) non-commercial show that would last 3 days. The person that I had never worked with before wanted a 50% cut of any sales. I didn't think it was fair for someone to receive that percentage for exhibiting my work for 3 days in a venue they did not have to pay for. I told them this and offered 25%; 5% above the standard commission for an advisor who brings you a sale. They did not think that was fair so I pulled out of the show.
Sales were unlikely, so it was really only a gesture to set the commission split at a rate more equitable to our respective investments. After all, this curator was not showing my work in their gallery, paying for staff and overhead to promote my work for at least a month, and all of the things I would be happy to give them a 50% commission for. My younger, eager self would have caved at the pushback in this negotiation, but at this point in my career, I am unwilling to put up with things that I don't think are fair. I realized that this show was out of line with my overall career goals and my priorities of fair treatment for artists (it was the offer of exposure that confirmed I made the right choice!)
I had several conversations with artist friends about this experience and heard their takes on it. I've also been learning a lot from a very generative WhatsApp group for artists to discuss business things like gallery vs. advisor commissions, who to charge for studio visits, common fees for artist talks, and generally how to avoid being taken advantage of.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: we are each other's colleagues; we are each other's sounding boards and advisors; we are each other's human resources. Much of the know-how about surviving as an artist comes directly from other artists. I think sharing info should always be happening and here are some things I have been implementing into my practice:
Each time a new gallery or curator reaches out to me about being in a show, I ask other artists who have previously worked with them about their experience. This gives me more info and nurtures close relationships with other artists.
I share the details of my professional arrangements with my artist friends so they can have information that may help them with their future choices.
I speak up if I question or disagree with another professional. Spelling out why I think something is unfair, a bad idea, or not what I prefer will help the next artist they work with.
These are just some ideas that are helping me, but I'd love to know how you share information with other artists.
That one time I got to relax this summer.