With the opening of “Younger Than Jesus” at the New Museum in NYC, a triennial touted as “The Generational” showcases artists born after 1976, 50 artists from 25 countries to be exact who I guess I still fit in that demographic, barely, being born myself, in 1976, I wonder about the pressure to have blossomed into artistic genius so early and since I am just now maturing as an artist have I missed the proverbial bus. If I haven’t start cranking out some New York Times approved, Columbia MFA bred, museum collection worthy work by now, are my hopes of a long fruitful career making art over? I’m only 32 dang it….WTF!? Chances are if I went into the private sector I’d still be working my way up the ladder, what’s the average age of a CEO? All those guys look super old. In fact I probably would still be finding my right fit in a company, or maybe laid off multiple times. My point is, I really feel like I at least have to work stuff, idea’s, materials, concepts out. It’s a process. And it’s that process searching that will sustain my art making, rather than a canned concept molded by top notch professors and guest critic lecturers at an art school. I should clarify that I think MFA’s are great, and any leg up you can get into the art world is needed since connections are everything, but it’s not over if you need to take sometime to develop, experience and work…at least I hope, cause that’s were I’m at.
I was relieved a bit to read this from Art/Work a must read for any artist, whether green from school or seasoned:
“Truly successful art careers last a long time. It is not “now or never”, and you only do yourself a disservice by rushing your career. Having a lot of energy is great but so is having patience. It can take years for your work to develop to a point where it’s ready for a program you want to be in….”
TESTIFY, HALLELUJAH I’m saved, I’m not old, I’m not going to wither away because I’m 32 and I am a practicing artist with only a handful of shows under my belt…..Go in peace to make art.
