A young man in a coffee shop sat across from his mentor. He handed over his cell phone to show some of his work (followed by a box of small paintings). In the middle of reading the artist’s statement the mentor stopped:
“I will not read this. That’s not your voice.”
He shuffled in a bag and pulled out a book.
“Here, read this. Don’t pay attention to the context. Just feel the flow of the words.”
The young man receives the book and reads a short passage. His head lifts with excitement. There is a new energy in his words.
“It is so simple and true!”
The mentor goes on to discuss the importance of, not only our art, but the way in which we write about that creative work. Your voice should shine through every outlet of expression. Don’t try to impress people with artspeak that is so arcane one has to struggle in order to understand what you are trying to say. Be yourself, however that may be.
I witnessed an awakening and it was magical.
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