In 1839, the English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy, a historical play about the famed 17th-century French clergyman and statesman, Cardinal Richelieu. In his play, Bulwer penned a line that was, according to the literary critic Edward Sherman Gould, “likely to live for ages.” Uttered by the titular character, the passage bearing the line reads: “Beneath the rule… Read more →
Values can be defined as a system of beliefs that a person or group of people hold dear. They provide a guidepost for people to make decisions based on what is important to them. For example, values could promote individualism, esteem simplicity, or celebrate nature. In the context of art movements, values usually center around ideas or aesthetics that the… Read more →
What does it take to be exceptional? Countless books, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels have opined on this particular topic, and from them what have we learned? Well, we get a very specific image of what exceptionalism entails. Exceptional people, we are led to believe, are wealthy or famous, they hold Ivy League degrees (or teach at one of those… Read more →
According to an Americans for the Arts report published May 26, 2020, 62% of artists and creatives have become fully unemployed due to the COVID-19 crisis. Nationally, artists and creatives are expected to see income loss in 2020 that will total approximately $50.6 billion. Additionally, 94% of all artists and creatives have reported some form of income loss and 66%… Read more →
Like many Americans, I’ve grown increasingly concerned about the dire economic news due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The impact has already put strain on communities across the nation, and it’s likely to get worse as the virus continues to spread. Worse yet, the damage will be difficult to mend, and its reverberations will be felt for years to come. Recently… Read more →
Crowdsourcing, for those of you who may not know, is one of the great democratizing undertakings available in this era of interconnectedness. It provides means to those who might otherwise not have been able to gain them, by providing a platform for communication and participation in a way that is non-hierarchical. Now, more than ever, people are able to support… Read more →
One of the most frequent comments I hear from those who’ve viewed my solo exhibition, Virgin Land: Myths & Narratives, is: “do you ever sleep?!” The answer is: Yes. Every night. It’s a fair question, I suppose, given the fact that there are over 75 pieces of original artwork on display, only one of which is over a year old… Read more →
Inevitably someone always asks, “what kind of artist are you?” I find this a difficult question to answer. More precisely, I find it difficult to discern the kind of answer the person is looking to hear. Most people, when asking a question of that sort, are actually asking, “what subject matter do you focus on?” or “what medium do you… Read more →
Recently I visited the studio of an established bronze sculptor. After admiring his work and personal collection of art, I asked if he had any pro-tips for an emerging artist. He thought for a brief moment and chuckled. “You should become a plumber,” he told me with a grin. “People always need a plumber.” He chuckled again. Nobody cares about… Read more →
Imagine for the moment you’ve just taken your seat in a packed stadium, about to see your favorite band perform live alongside thousands of other excited fans. Or imagine you’re at the Louvre and you just entered the room displaying the Mona Lisa — feel that electric energy pulsing out from the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd? Or maybe you’re watching a rendition… Read more →