{"id":6249,"date":"2010-03-06T11:20:13","date_gmt":"2010-03-06T10:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/?p=6249"},"modified":"2010-03-06T11:20:13","modified_gmt":"2010-03-06T10:20:13","slug":"state-artist-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/celebrities\/state-artist-5\/","title":{"rendered":"The State of the Artist # 5"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/em><\/h6>\n

It\u2019s back. I\u2019m not sure why I was left with \u201cBody Of Work\u201d. It\u2019s obvious to me right now that it won\u2019t be pursued during this writing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hoping it\u2019s tossed at me again at a later date. Right now what is resonating within me is, acceptance of praise and criticism and the meaning of Art to the onlooker, the listener and the reader. A seminal moment has been revisited for me. My first major tour with an important artist. I was the drummer. Big show in Detroit. Backstage after the show, we were asked if we would sign autographs. We consented and were led out the stage door to be confronted by security holding back about a couple of hundred people (fans).<\/p>\n

A very young couple approached me with the tour brochure. The very young man, also a drummer handed me the brochure nervously. He told me that I had now become one of his favourite drummers and would I sign the the booklet? I immediately started to thank him profusely. I also asked if he wasn\u2019t sure that he wanted the autograph of the artist I was backing up. I continued to humble myself before him and his girlfriend. He snatched the booklet from my hands and they both walked away. The seasoned tour weary artist was within earshot. He approached me saying \u201cdo you think that the fans want to know that you are normal like they are\u201d?. Whether you like it or not, you are on a pedestal. In my case it was a drum riser. He went on to say, “just accept the compliment with grace, sign the damn thing, then do the same with every other fan” Do it with dignity and humility. Accept the praise. Don\u2019t be arrogant about it. You have touched someone very deeply. Let them leave with great memories of the “encounter”and especially if it\u2019s a fledgling musician, allow them to be left with the possibility of realizing their dreams. Maybe one day they too will be up there on the world stage. Interesting. Lesson learned.<\/p>\n

I know that I can only do what I\u2019m capable of. If it resonates within someone, that\u2019s wonderful If it doesn\u2019t, I\u2019m not going to quit! I have received as much praise as I have criticism. What separated the artists from the boys is the obsessive compulsion to get the work out there. Once it does, the critics and admirers come out of the wood work. A thick skinned resilience is a requirement. A balanced perspective of who you are and what you do is paramount. The realization that you have so much left to learn is the fire that has to keep burning. I guess this applies to all walks of life, but it is a much more intense dynamic as an artist. It gets very personal. You are challenged by emotions that are inspired by both the criticism and the praise.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My first show in Paris was both an uplifting experience and an awakening. The gallery owner insisted that I be available at the opening to speak to potential patrons and collectors. I have always been a performer, but never in that venue. I told the gallery curator that this might be a bad idea. Upon his insistence I gave in. There was an elderly, very well dressed woman who was watching from afar. She sat observing me in a chair, cane in hand. I was helping myself to a glass of wine when she finally approached me. She asked if I could stand in front of one of my paintings to answer some of her questions. I of course had to comply. She was very intelligent and soft spoken. She said to me, and I\u2019m only paraphrasing, “There is a lot of symbolism in your work. I see the suffering of humanity, the Joy of Humanity, highly ordered rhythm and movement, well placed and planned colours, layers of meanings and messages”. Am I correct?\u201d. I stared for a moment avoiding her eyes. I finally said without looking at her “If that\u2019s what you see, then it\u2019s there” I knew that the conversation shouldn\u2019t continue anymore, but she persisted. I\/you, have to understand that I wasn\u2019t quite there as a painter who had yet accepted this\u00a0 romanticized “on the pedestal” perception of the artist.<\/p>\n

So she asked the inevitable question: “How long did it take you to paint this work?”. What came out of me was “All my life”. She smiled approvingly. I hoped it was over. I was nervous, drunk and under the microscope. She then asked “What inspires you, how do you do this?”. What came out of me was something like: \u201cMy inspiration? How does this come out of me?\u201d. “Think of me as a monkey, who with enough time, attempts and lot\u2019s of alcohol and drugs finally puts out something tolerable!”. Both her and her smile quickly went away. I couldn\u2019t deal with being on the pedestal. The gallery owner couldn\u2019t deal with my unpredictability. He suggested that it would be better if he handled the \u201cschmoozing\u201d. My band played. I was relieved. Hadn\u2019t thought about that one for quite a while. I don\u2019t sabotage myself as much as I used to\u2026 This one is over\u2026 Later?… Again, sorry for typos, etc… It\u2019s the way it is\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

The State of the Artist<\/strong>
\nPart 1<\/a>
\nPart 2<\/a>
\nPart 3<\/a>
\nPart 4<\/a>
\nPart 6<\/a>
\nPart 7<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s back. I\u2019m not sure why I was left with \u201cBody Of Work\u201d. It\u2019s obvious to me right now that it won\u2019t be pursued during this writing. Hoping it\u2019s tossed at me again at a later date. Right now what is resonating within me is, acceptance of praise and criticism and the meaning of Art to the onlooker, the listener and the reader. A seminal moment has been revisited for me. My first major tour with an important artist. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[5],"tags":[3,28,700,29,100],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/DSC_0164.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paG8MM-1CN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12133,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/fashion-luxury-industry\/gallery-1962-opening-with-catherine-lupis-thomas\/","url_meta":{"origin":6249,"position":0},"title":"Gallery 1962 Opening with Catherine Lupis Thomas","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"December 10, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Catherine Lupis Thomas, is a multi-faceted multi media pop artist and entrepreneur whom I featured back in September in my Paris Street Fashion Stuff segment. Well not only does she own the very trendy Montmartre Paris, clothing boutique called \"1962\", but has just opened her Gallery on 3, rue Tholoz\u00e9\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Luxury, Fashion Industry"","block_context":{"text":"Luxury, Fashion Industry","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/fashion-luxury-industry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/IMG_0187.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24831,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/celebrities\/jean-dujardin-did-not-win-the-cesar\/","url_meta":{"origin":6249,"position":1},"title":"Jean Dujardin of the Artist did Not win the C\u00e9sar French Academy Awards","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"February 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It is So Sad that Jean Dujardin did NOT win the Cesar the French equivalent of the Oscars","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrities"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrities","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/celebrities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Jean-Dujardin-in-the-Artist-by-michel-hazanavicius-560x422.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Jean-Dujardin-in-the-Artist-by-michel-hazanavicius-560x422.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Jean-Dujardin-in-the-Artist-by-michel-hazanavicius-560x422.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":558,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/celebrities\/michael-jackson-memorial-marvin-kanarek\/","url_meta":{"origin":6249,"position":2},"title":""Michael Jackson Memorial" by Marvin Kanarek","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"July 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Marvin Kanarek shares his impression and feelings after the tragic death of musician and artist Michael Jackson who he never met but new a bit about through common associates.","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrities"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrities","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/celebrities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Michael-Jackson-by-Spike-Lee.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Michael-Jackson-by-Spike-Lee.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Michael-Jackson-by-Spike-Lee.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6179,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/celebrities\/state-artist-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":6249,"position":3},"title":"The State of The Artist # 4","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"March 3, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Marvin Kanarek I was going to do something else right now. I was outside having a smoke. Something came in again. So I\u2019m sitting here getting it out before it goes away. Three words: - Sacrifice, Selfishness, Balance. When that \u201cmoment arrives\u201d it\u2019s only you tapping into and following\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrities"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrities","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/celebrities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/PC260273.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/PC260273.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/PC260273.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24893,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/celebrities\/congratulations-artist-wins-5-academy-award-oscars\/","url_meta":{"origin":6249,"position":4},"title":"Congratulations the Artist Wins 5 Academy Award Oscars Jean Dujardin for Best Actor","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"February 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Congratulations go out to \"the Artist\" for Winning 5 Academy Award Oscars and Jean Dujardin for Best Actor","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrities"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrities","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/celebrities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Oscar-and-The-Artist-Poster.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16271,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/fashion-luxury-industry\/why-i-believe-in-emmanuelle-alt-at-vogue-paris\/","url_meta":{"origin":6249,"position":5},"title":"Why I Believe in Emmanuelle Alt at VOGUE Paris","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"April 24, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Emmanuelle Alt at Vogue Paris will rise to the challenge as she has in the past. 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