A good e-mail....

A friend sent this letter to me a couple of days ago, and I thought that I would share it with the two of you who read this thing. :)

A New Years Note to all my artistic friends:

It is really important as artists for us to remember that we each tend to be our own worst critic. Any outside criticism is only in addition to our own. It is sad that the value of art in modern society is so drenched in piss that we tend to cradle each positive stroke we get. "Starving artist" may have originally referred to lack of money to survive, but it is not food that we crave. We crave the process of creation, the practice, the release and the recognition. It may be recognition in the form of food or money or just one wink. But ultimately what each artist craves is already inside oneself and can need help to surface. This is why I feel it is crucial that artists support and foster each other. I'm not saying that criticism is not valuable. Constructively approached it can help challenge artists to dig deeper, try harder or find another way. And yes, of course, surround yourself with other artists who naturally trigger personal reflection in you.

Yesterday I stopped at a red light and this middle-aged guy was walking along the driver’s side of the cars in front of me. My first assumption was that he would ask me for money. I looked down to occupy myself with a sip of coffee only to raise my eyes just as he reached my car. We looked right at one another. And you know what he did? He wasn't asking for money... he pointed, smiled and winked at me as he passed in front of my car to the sidewalk. His eyes were friendly and his smile beaming wide. All I could do was grin back in impressed shock. He was purposely passing out good vibes as he walked along and loving it. When I had seen him motioning to the cars before mine, it was because he had something to share. He was happy. Hell, at that point if he had wanted money, I would have given him some dough just because of how fun that little encounter had been.

I mention this because I think it illustrates my point that whether we are artists in a community or just people living life, sometimes we need to be reminded that we shine, sometimes we need to help others shine and sometimes we just shine. Yes there is more hard work to life than the idealized "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" mentality. But because it can be such a cold, greedy world as we strive to grow, it is even more important that as artists we operate above it. This year I remind us to share of ourselves artistically with stated intention and clear purpose. If even for a moment you sense that another artist is down and doubtful of his or her artistic role in this society, talk with them. We are only fragmented if we allow it. From of a sense of camaraderie we build a whole and from this whole we break out stronger and more authentic than any single fallen leaf could ever be.

Originally I intended this note for a specific person, but as I wrote it I realized, we all need be reminded at times. I hope that this New Year brings each of you closer to where you want to be artistically and I challenge each of us to forge ahead this year clean of any lingering criticisms and full of fuel. I look forward to smiling, winking and pointing at you along the way.

Happy New Year!

Love,
Mel


That is all.