Friday, February 23, 2007

10 things anyone can do to demonstrate their art action in their own community

i'm interested in using this forum to keep track of ideas that can help us "come out" as artists--certainly for issues and politics and big things we feel compelled to say something about--but also, simply, as artists. in the past, i've felt a bit lonely in my community. when i look around, i can't tell where the artists live. i can't tell, when i'm in line with people at Safeway or even Whole Foods, if these are *my* people--that i might play with or make stuff up with or try things with. sometimes, I feel afraid, like i don't fit in, like i'm alone--and i may be, but most likely, there are other people who live in my zip code who share my interests and views. as a way of "coming out" as an artist interested in making a visual difference in my beige draped suburb, i am using this blog to think out loud about what i can do to demonstrate my artist's nature.

i can

1. make a sign that says "artist lives here--come say hi" and put it in my front yard
2. make a button that says "i'm an artist looking for community. are you an artist too?"
3. invite my neighbors to an art experience i'm creating or participating in
4. make art in public--visibly on my porch or at a park or in a cafe or...
5. post a saying or phrase or quote on a poster in a little corner of my window--having it face outward toward the wider world
6. wear clothes i've painted or clothes that have paint on them
7. buy an art lover license place or frame for my plates and put it on my car
8. make freeish marketing materials at vistaprint.com that say i'm an artist--promoting whatever it is i'm doing or looking for and pass those out randomly or give them to people i meet in line or in waiting rooms
9. sit quietly and set the intention to meet other likeminded folk who live in my neighborhood, trust the intention and move through the world with a sense of expectancy and confidence to start conversations with strangers
10. attend the art offerings of others as i encounter their promotion material on the web or in the world

what are other things anyone can do, wherever they are, to indicate they're willing to take an art action? or be a part of a community of others who use artmaking as their primary expression vehicle?

1 comment:

teresa of offerings said...

hey, elizaBeth! i think all your ideas for connecting are great fun and very creative...just putting them out here has already created an opening for things to come!

i have never considered myself an artist...(should i be on here then?) although, a dear friend said once that my art was my life and my community. and so i have created/attracted rich and juicy community! and then, a few years ago I was looking for "artists of the heart" to be with me as i decided to re-create my life, and voila!, the field of offerings appeared and artists of many forms have shown up since saying "here i am, i've been looking, too"...and an artists community is forming - of poets, of painters and photographers and graphics designers - it is a virtual community who would love to bring this field of play to the neighborhoods and put up a "neighborhood gallery" perhaps to make some art together. so you can check off #9 on your "i can" list...cause you are doing it!

let's make lemonarts together!

teresa