November: Being a Working Artist
So what does it mean to be a working artist today? And to begin with, shouldn’t we have an understanding of what contemporary art is? During our monthly meeting through readings and a group discussion, the definition of contemporary art became a little more understandable. Our best definition – Though practically impossible to define, contemporary art is the art of our time; it acts as a voice with which to mirror contemporary culture and society; and uses diverse mediums.
What better way to learn about being a contemporary working artist than talk to the source!
This week we had two guest speakers, Santa Barbara-based artists Christopher Silva and Nathan Hayden.
Christopher Silva works in an array of mediums, from photography to sculpture. He talked about the so-called “art world,” explaining that “people talk a lot about the art world like there are big gates surrounding it with all these secrets inside. Well there’s not, and the only secret is that we all are in the art world. Don’t think that you are not. Don’t let people be the gate guards. The art world is open.”
One thing you might not know about Silva: He runs an alternative art space in Goleta, CA, called The Thrift Store.
Our second speaker was the artist Nathan Hayden. “Take advantage of spaces,” he told us. Having grown up somewhat isolated in rural West Virginia, he had a lot of time to observe his surroundings. He describes himself as a drawer, working sometimes on large installations and wall drawings. He passed around a couple of his small drawings on paper. His work is very detailed, and seeing his work in person gave us a chance to see the attention he gives it.
Two things you might not know about Hayden: He often makes his own paints out of natural substances, and he dances for one hour everyday to illicit visions that lead to inspiration for his drawings.
It was inspiring to hear, from working artists themselves, how their passion for art lead them from one thing to the next, even when times were difficult. Art-making is so often a reflection of one’s own experiences and culture.
Next stop, Cannon Art Studios in Goleta, California!
Charlotte Wall, Blogger/Sophie Leddick, Arts Outreach Manager
Nathan Hayden speaking to the Insiders, 2013
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