This isn't your Mother's Capitalism!

I had to ask "why can't I buy good quality substantial underwear these days?!" As I wandered in to Victoria Secrets (next to Bath and Body Works - original destination) I figured save some time and go get some underwear. NOT.

I have shopped VS for 30 years. I can't believe it! For that reason alone I should not stop in. My experience represents a case in point. (It could as well be JC Penny's if you'd prefer the visuals.)

The fabric was "nothingness" and I'm not saying that in a good way. There was nothing to it. (NO. Not that way, either!) Thirty years ago the fabrics were thick and when you ran it between your fingers there was something to feel. And, when you washed it, it held up, over time. I still have some of it... (I will probably never wear in this lifetime), but it certainly points out the quality differences. I walk into another store Kohl's and I walk out because I am bombarded by cheap, one season, thin, synthetic yucky options.

Where did the quality go? I decided after much thought, that my Mother's Capitalism was that of opportunity for buyers and sellers. Remember that "value added" thing? Glasses at gas station, blue chip stamps, thicker cottons, heavier fabrics, beautiful cashmere's? Those were all post war scenarios of how merchandisers and retailers sought your business by advertising MORE QUALITY for the money.

What is the difference today? Clearly, MORE CHEAP goods for the money. All capitalists can do these days is offer you quantity. Quality vs. Quantity. Because the consumer can be lured with that concept. Capitalists are fighting for survival and consumers are fighting for survival. And, everyone is forgetting to keep their eye on the ball. The solution is not cheaper and cheaper goods. If we support this type of system we are corrupting capitalism and our own quality of life. My advice is to rethink our values. Stand with some integrity for QUALITY. Open our mouthes and tell the market what we REALLY want and stand with some integrity behind quality products. You don't NEED EVERYTHING. Like Cheryl Crow says the point is not to have what you want, but to "want what you have." I asked myself yesterday...I can't buy good underwear anymore. Is this really the price of freedom and the Free Market System?! Compare that to the Communism of thirty years ago, where they used to have minimal variety and crappy selections....that makes me really stop and think!

Undermining the Artists' Industry

I hope this doesn't turn into a rant. But, there is no way around this. I wish civic groups would quit asking artists to do things without financial compensation! God, how it lowers the industry of the Arts and works diametrically opposed to artists earning a living. If artists weren't so desperate to do their art forms and would act in concert with each other under some kind of alliance and business standard, they wouldn't allow themselves to be abused and financially swindled.

Come on people! art in public areas needs to be funded and real artists paid. There needs to be standards; there needs to be a sense of professionalism. Banners, transformer boxes, contests, parking awnings, billboards, all the solicitations that are being made by Art Commissions and civic groups to "convince" artists that they are receiving an equitable exchange: A wolf in sheep's clothing! It is nothing more than giving something away for free which should be paid. Sometimes the results are only example's of "self expression" and certainly NOT skilled artwork!

And what happens to the INDUSTRY of the Artist?! It is in fact buried and becoming non existent. Remember that old saying "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" (my Mom used to use that one for discussing gender relations and the appropriate behavior needed to secure a marriage). Guess what? it has just as much relevance when trying to earn a living as an artist!

It would be a different story if artists weren't scrambling for $$$ and doing free work to start. Why don't these groups go ask architects or engineers or skilled paid labor or art students to do these things? Why are they expecting REAL artists to do something that undermines the word ARTIST? There are appropriate places to ask for free work, but not to the Artist who already must give everything before compensation.

Appealing to artists innate insecurities in society - is terribly without ethics.
And further undermining them as an industry is even worse.

A Conversation with my Son...

I'm a painter...so I should know when something looks good or doesn't. But, sometimes I am the worst judge of my own work because I fall in love with the act of painting, and the work itself is not very good.

I asked my son if he thought I was a talented artist. He said I was, but if I really wanted to find out what people thought I should put my work on the web to strangers...because people that are close to me won't tell me the truth. This contradicts how I behave. I can tell the truth to the people to whom I am closest, and I would not be able to tell the truth to strangers. I am concerned about alienation. It was very interesting how our views differ (and our insecurities) on what we perceive hurts another person, and under what circumstance we withhold the truth.

My son indicated that there are a culture of people on the computer whose mission it is to judge (criticize) what other people construct. I thought about whether a "consensus" of opinion could be important....maybe not...once people agreed that the earth was flat and woman were witches. Why ask people who don't paint? ...and even the one's that do, may have different opinions.

And you know what is said about opinions....

I guess it is best to learn to paint for oneself and be happy in that form of self expression for nothing more than personal reasons that don't need justification from any external source. This is a new concept for me.

Making the Most of What YOU Can Contribute

As I prepare to immerse myself in an different culture - that of Mexico (which is probably more dominated by Canadian tourists where I am staying!) I am wondering WHY it is human nature to "blame" others for things which we don't want to take responsibility?

It became clear when the Rodney King Riots happened in Los Angeles, that everyone just had to blame someone! And, you know what? Absolutely nothing came out of that except siphoned energies that could have been used to REBUILD, MAKE PROGRESSIVE CHANGES, AND FIX CORRUPTED SYSTEMS. I am clearly reminded of that today with the plight of American Health Care, American politics, Middle Eastern Politics, and the Haitian Earthquake.

I will tell you a clear and unequivocal truth: You and Everyone, gain nothing from blaming. You and Everyone make yourselves victims. Victims are happy where they are and want to whine and they contribute nothing. Think about this: Blaming contributes NOTHING. CONTRIBUTE (it releases you from victimization.) Don't pass one more email that whines, complains or blames. DO SOMETHING. Commit yourself to contributing to changing one thing that you dislike or are dissatisfied.

If you want to PASS a statement of blame PROMISE ME that you are ACTING ON IT YOURSELF. Otherwise share it with the other whiners and victims. I am NOT going to go to my grave having been a victim. I am going to be a contributor.

LAE

Blogging on Christmas...

I’ve often wondered if I have “no life” or “too much life.” When someone told me once to “get a life” I freaked. I thought I had one!

A life that was always full of too much! ....and at other times, not enough. I was contemplating this holiday season....too much or too quiet? I write on Christmas Day....all alone. But, certainly, not lonely. It’s really a choice we make. I can’t be busy 24/7 nor should I be. My holiday season has been so full, yet now, so quiet....

My son called me from DisneyLand on Xmas Eve. At that moment I realized that me and the dog,, sitting at home with our fake tree, waiting for “It’s a Wonderful Life” to air ...well, we are just boring. (okay, “me,” the dog doesn’t care.) And, I wondered “too much life, or no life,” for the millionth time. How is it I am looking forward to updating my website and filing my annual sales tax quietly Christmas morning?!

So, I looked back over the years and realized how magical times have been; how magical the season has been this year even in the worst of economic times, and that I have been blessed -it’s been a full life. I guess the point is: being “satisfied.” I am sublimely satisfied today. I hope whatever you are doing you are happy, too!

Like Eve Taking the Apple...

No wonder it was a sin to eat the fruit of Web 2.0 knowledge. God knew that it would keep me from cleaning my house and moving from my computer. Is this a sin? And am I going to digest the apple? That little devil in the tree knew what he was doing by offering me the temptation of knowledge. I have to tell you it is a dangerous thing! The danger of losing focus. The danger of getting lost in distraction. The danger of deconstructing.

Is there a place where deconstruction eventually meets up with construction? Am I falling down a hole that has an eventual bottom? OR, am I simply, entering a new dimension of possibilities? Have I left the garden of Eden for a land of all possibilities? It was nice: Eden was a nice place. But, I am here now. I ate the Apple of Web 2.0 and I’ve left Eden. And it’s a little scary!

(The painting is “Eve” after Titian/ Rubens and is available for purchase.)

Paradigm Shift 2.0

Yep. That’s me on the surfboard... NOT. But it’s a great iconoclastic image to represent my thrust forward and this Blog’s orientation. The image is elemental.

I just attended a life altering “Internet for Artists” program sponsored by Creative Capital and The City of San Diego Art Commission. The point is...(I know you are short on time) is our paradigm of web “usefulness” has changed. I’ve been a web user since the mid 1990’s when everything went one way - UP. And, then it went “back and forth.” The Y coordinate birthed the X Y coordinates and now we are finding ourselves in an XY and Z, dimensional, Cartesian system. Gone are the days when I store my isolated life in seclusion on my hard drive. Now the purview is an interactive, always “on,” always changing, always in motion, energized system of creativity, rushing towards our evolution. I am so excited to think that you and I can join forces, and in turn create something larger than our individual selves, and in turn reach out exponentially over the repository of human consciousness empowering ourselves to effect change. Change that will span social welfare (yes, SOCIAL welfare), art, health, environment and spirit.

Tell me....are you IN for the journey?