My first
meeting with Mentor Mira Schor was part challenge, part adventure.
1. The first challenge was the act of
getting to her. Wednesday was my first ever solo trip into NYC. I have been
with friends and family but never alone. I was hoping to get a cab outside
Grand Central and make it to her apartment by 4, however I was unable to get a
cab and had to turn to the subway. I was out of my element to say the least. I
made it to Mira’s apartment a whopping hour late and completely mortified.
2. The second challenge was meeting such
a well renowned and well-respected artist and author, especially under the
embarrassing condition of being so very late. Mira was very kind about the
lateness and took her time with me during the meeting despite this.
3. The third challenge was her very
simple yet deep question, why do you
make art, what are you trying to say? And to this simple question I had no
answer. A few faculty members brought this up during residency and I was also
unable to answer them. This question over the last few days has lead to an
identity crisis of sorts. I begin to wonder what I am doing making art when I
can only give the reason that I am driven to.
Can everyone else
answer this question about their own art?
Do people know why it is they make work and why they make work in their
particular medium? I think it would help to here what others have to say about
this.
I am also discovering
that the shapes and characters I have been working with are not unique but have
their own long history. My challenge now is to make art that is some how unique
and personal to me but not revelatory.
I will be posting more about our first meeting and new work in the next day or so.
Its time for some serious art soul
searching . . .
