Wow, things have been a bit hectic for me lately. I had been working feverishly on getting information ready for the gallery’s very first fundraiser. This has been really challenging because I was determined to maintain the integrety of U*Space as well as inspire others to pay the power of individual support forward. A few weeks ago I learned that I had been accepted into the invitation only media platform ‘Kickstarter‘, This now meant that the gallery had not one but two options available for people to give. For those of you who don’t know - Kickstarter is an exciting new way to fund ideas and endeavors.
So, after creating my page and getting everything ready to launch I found myself afraid to post it. I know what this fear is. It is the very thing that has me excited about doing the fundraiser. I had to accept the fact that once it went live, the outcome would for the most part be completely out of my control. Eventually putting my nerves aside I hit launch and just like that on Monday November 9, 2009 we were having a fundraiser.
Then the real work began – I decided that for the first week I would send out emails about the drive to our mailing list. Wanting to keep everything as personal as possible, I realized I wanted each individual to have their name addressed in the greeting. Three days, 558 names later they have all been sent. I was tired afterwards but satisfied. I knew I would never have been pleased with myself had I simply sent out a mass email. If no one else notices it, I am fine because I know.
A couple of days later, we received a few donations and a few people forwarded the information on to people they knew. This meant and means a lot to me. The fact that someone would take the time out of their busy schedule to help me spread the word. Some people have called to let me know that they will do whatever they can to get the information in the hands of others. I am so grateful no matter what the outcome of the fundraiser. It really is a wonderful feeling to know that other people do appreciate the Gallery.
The most interesting correspondence so far has to be from an artist that U*Space met a while back -
Mr. Jackson greetings and good evening. With all due respect, I also believe in being honest and true as a artist as one time I remember coming into your gallery and politlely being turned away as my art was did not have enough “meaning” in your terms to be shown in your gallery. So me believing in karmas in life chose NOT to fill out your fundraiser questionaire but give you good luck in your future endeavors if your gallery exists or not.
Greatness is a title worked and earned not given to…
***********
When I first read this email I was a bit ticked off. One, because he had taken what was a two hour meeting in which I expressed that U*Space doesn’t do will with works that simply are created due to their potential sale appeal. Two, I was ticked that he had not heard any of the other suggestions I had offered about the type of gallery I believed he should seek out. I remember trying to explain in away that would keep our door to communication open the fact that because most of our exhibits are curated, he might would have a difficult time producing work which would required him to articulate clearly his own unique viewpoint versus the works he had brought in for me to view. Unfortunately U*Space really doesn’t do well when it comes to artwork of iconic musicians, singers, atheletes, or political figures. There are a lot of galleries out there that do and that is wonderful but it is just not U*Space. I deliberately held back from immediately responding. I try so hard to give honest advise when I am asked as well as give other directions for artist to think about whwn going over works. That evening between sleeping and waking, I kept thinging about the email. The next morning when I awoke I actually had arrived at the conclusion that I was grateful for having recieved the email. I had come to understand that it really celebrated my strength as a curator to strive to always be honest and true to the vision of U*Space.
I love when I meet an artist and I don’t immediately understand their work. It is those moments that I become excited in a childlike way because it forces me to let go and just acknowledge the fact that sometimes works exist that have cryptic meanings and powers that only time and distance can reveal. I remember I had spent a good deal of time trying to explain to to the artist. Artists should be very selective when choosing to work with a gallery. It’s a like relationship so a mutual good fit needs to be acheived. Here is where I believe much of the problem today lies. I find with artist who show in clubs, coffee houses, restaurants, or any venue outside of gallery settings there is often a slacking off of holding oneself to the usual art standards. These spaces are great for exposure which I am all for but they do not nurture and challenge important dialogues often needed to help artist dig deeper in their quest to articulate their unique individual language. Don’t get me wrong, there are some of us who just can push ourselves beyond our limits but for most of us, we need outside stimulation.
I often find myself telling artists – “Technique is a dime-a-dozen. It’s a bit like learning to ride a bike. The more you do it the more you get better at it. The hard part of creating art is finding the strength and the courage to say sometime sincerely. To go blindly into those small often dark quiet places that exist in each and everyone of us. Trust me it can be not only scary but at times dangerous and yet, should we be successful in reaching those locations the yield is priceless. But even that is not enough. One of the biggest challenges when drawing from our well of unconsciousness is that we have to work at the refinement of our essense (our bucket) continuously so as not to lose the purity of idea inside the bucket as we slowly pull it into the conscious world. As artist we spend a great deal of time refining that spiritual bucket due to the fact that it is constantly being altered by life’s experiences. The role of the gallery is to gently be their to remind us that our reward should not be the adulation of the crowd but the strength that comes from being fortunate enough to speak outloud with a tongue of truth, grace, and wisdom versus being beholden to speak only what others would want of you to speak. Through art we bravely remnd the voiceless they indeed have a voice that should be used to communication.
I reponded back to the artist -
Hello ********, thank you very much for simply taking the time out of your busy day to respond back. Your response is indeed a blessing to us both. Wishing you continued success and the best of luck on your endeavors as well.
In life one cannot be all things to all people.
Stay creative always,
Terence
What I had come to see in that email was a powerful reflection of my conviction about art and the gallery and the work we bring into the gallery. So three days and 558 names later, I am feeling extremely fortunate and blessed to continually receive messages like this one from the universe telling me that I am moving closer and closer to becoming a thing of truth, grace, and wisdom.
