membership

 Membership = Support = Community = Trust = The world we want

I believe the model we have for supporting artists is deeply flawed. Often, what we produce is deemed to have value, but the artists themselves do not feel valued in their long term practice or endeavors. Often what we produce earns value over time for others, but not for us while we are living. I want to shift the paradigm of how we value art, not as products to purchase, but as the inevitable outcome of supporting artists’ autonomous creative practice. Art is not limited or exclusive. There is no scarcity of talent, but rather an over abundance of work made by those who have skill, but are not channeling anything but mass appeal. We are currently over saturated in meaningless work that mirrors our empty consumerism. There is little discernment and criticism left to help people sort through the sheer amount of artwork available these days. Art has lost meaning and value to most because it’s as ubiquitous and available as advertisements.

Art should be inclusive and within reach, but prices need to support the making of hand crafted non-commercially appealing ideas. It is my belief artists should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable, not be pretty pets or decorators for rich people. We must be free from the pressures of what will sell. We must be free from political whitewashing and the need to be appealing. My practice is growing increasingly more about remaining authentic in a time of political and social unrest. The role of artists is to shed light. I strongly believe that artists cannot be beacons of any kind if we have to create work that only mirrors or helps people escape or ignore a toxic capitalist system, without challenging it. I am privileged that my basic needs are covered by my husband’s career, and I live a comfortable life. But, my children, gifted and disabled like me, may never be employable, so saving as much as I can to protect them is always on my mind. I cannot guarantee they will meet doctors. Creating a world where they will be valued without predictable capitalist footing is an imperative for me.

I am working on a non-profit business model to change the paradigm of how art is valued and sold not just for me, but many; it will take me some time. I’m disabled and move at hyper and glacial speed simultaneously so don’t be fooled by prolific making-it’s often not what I’m supposed to be doing and a means of avoiding less appealing/productive tasks. I’m working on a curriculum for using Lego as an abstract manipulative in the classroom. I want to build a residency in my back yard. I’m working on two books: one on PDA neurodivergence and another on feminism and art. None of this work is paid and may or may not come to fruition depending on how supported I am in doing it. There are numerous ways to make me feel supported and money is not the only way. I welcome barters and trades of skill, help with grant applications, editing, marketing and sharing, certain physical tasks if you’re local, etc. If you want to support me and be a part of the world I am trying to build, but don’t have the money, let me know! It’s still supporting me and we can find a way for you to join this authentic value driven community I am aiming for.

For those that can afford a monthly membership, I will be offering lot of benefits and I promise, in the long run, you’ll get value for what you put in. Blog access, (I will start writing regularly again soon), a new page where I store my video content away from Meta, yearly discounts that mirror your support that can be used or accumulated, exclusive access to collecting my professional quality archival prints, downloadable coloring sheets and more. Please be patient while I build up these features. And thank you for believing in me.