Luann Udell / Durable Goods

Thursday, June 02, 2005

God loves Larry

This morning I heard a knock at my door. There were two good friends, Tanna and Shawn. They excitedly told me they’d been driving along Rte. 12 south from Keene, talking about a friend of ours, Larry Welkowitz. Tanna and I had run into Larry while walking in downtown Keene last night. She was telling Shawn how much she likes Larry, and how every time she meets him, she grows to like him more and more. Sean agreed he was a fun and funny guy to be with. They grew silent.

Thirty seconds later, they saw a church on the side of the road. It used to be a family restaurant until a group bought it and converted it into a church. It still has the huge sign out front that went with the restaurant.

Today the sign said, “GOD EVEN LOVES LARRY”

They were so amazed they turned around and came back to my house to tell me. Hurriedly, I made up some signs, grabbed Jon’s camera, and headed out to the church parking lot. Unfortunately, we realized I’d forgotten the card, so we went back home for it and returned.

So here is my homage to our good friend Larry Welkowitz. That's me on the left and Tanna on the right. God love ya, big guy.

comment [] 3:33:20 PM

CHARIOTS OF FIRE and the World Batik Conference

In a few weeks I’ll be presenting a speech at the World Batik Conference at Boston College of Art. You can find information on this conference here: http://www.massart.edu/batik/

I’m speaking on self-promotion for artists, specifically the art of press kits and press releases.

The time is limited, and the message must be succinct. I asked one of the organizers what she felt I had to say would be the most value to their audience.

She didn’t even have to think about it. She said, “In other countries, there is a huge cultural bias against putting your art forward, of appearing too proud of your work. It’s seen as bragging or being boastful. People have a difficult time thinking about promoting their art and themselves. Can you address that?”

I’ve been thinking of it ever since. It’s not just artists in some other countries who have that bias.

It IS very hard to convince most people—especially women, especially artists—that it is not only desirable, it is ESSENTIAL we put our art out into the world at every opportunity. That it is not a SELFISH act, but an act of GENEROSITY.

That ultimately, it is the ultimate gift we can make to the world.

My favorite line from the movie “Chariots of Fire” is when the missionary/runner Eric Liddell explains to his sister why he will indeed compete in the 1924 Olympics, though it seems to conflict with their religious goals and plans:

"I believe God made me for a purpose; but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt; to win is to honor Him."

When we are given a gift, we must remember that the pleasure the GIVER gets is anticipating and enjoying the pleasure the gift will give US. To renounce the gift, to deny its potential, is to ultimately negate the spirit in which it was given. No good comes of that. Love, real love, is not served by that.

I truly believe it is the same with the gifts we are born with. Whoever/whatever you feel is the source of that gift—God (by any name or names), nature, DNA, random chance, the Force. It appeared in YOU. It’s part of what makes you...you know...YOU.

And note that the gift may not simply be what we are good at, but what gives us joy. Don’t confuse talent with passion. They may both be involved in the gift. But what really drives our watch is not the precise movement of the second hand but the spring inside. (Or the battery. Or the electricity coming through the cord. Oh, never mind....)

Find what you are put here on earth to do. Find what gives you joy. Do it, and share it whenever possible with others. Tell it to the world. Show us. Don’t even pretend you know what ripples it will make, or how it will all play out—we can’t know that.

But know that whatever creative force in the universe you celebrate, will be pleased.

comment [] 9:14:39 AM

RISKY BUSINESS

An artist friend on the west coast wrote recently. She’s preparing a business class for craftspeople and is snagging all her art buddies for input. One of her questions was: What do you know now that might have changed your choices if you’d know when you first started?

This one was so hard to answer I had to leave it to last. (The EASIEST question was, what’s your favorite trade publication, and of course I answered with the one that runs my column: CraftsBusiness magazine! My favorite publications are always the ones that pay ME.)

Why was that question so hard? Because with all the mistakes and setbacks I’ve had in my biz, there are very few choices I actually regret.

Every mistake I’ve made along the way was a tremendous learning experience. I’ve come to believe that, whenever possible, you should learn from the mistakes of others. It’s so much cheaper that way.... But it’s just not possible to never make a mistake. Nor is it desirable to exist in such a state of perfection.

I’m in a position now where from time to time, I can offer insights or comments on what’s going on for other people. And I’ll hear, “How did you get so WISE??!!” Well...first of all, I’m not. And second, if I am, I certainly wasn’t born that way. Every insight I’ve gained is from going through that particular experience myself. Or watching closely someone else going through it.

Everything I’ve learned that’s of value to me today, I’ve learned by doing. By actually taking chances, by taking risks. By believing in myself, and believing what I make and what I do has value. Calculated risks, to be sure. But scary just the same.

I recently read an article in OPRAH magazine's special 5th anniversary issue. That issue is absolutely buried in my studio right now, but when it comes to light, I'll note the author. It's written by a woman who was paralyzed with fear and self-doubt. Her therapist prescribed her to take three risks a week. They could be tiny—trying a different salad dressing for lunch—or not so tiny—asking a gruff, unapproachable colleague out for lunch. She found that simply acknowledging these small steps as her “risk quota” for the week opened doors she had never thought possible. And her anxiety about life in general dissipated as her tolerance for change and uncertainty grew.

I love that article! Because as my biz goes through its growing pains, as my market sputters and gasps, as my options seem to narrow, I am gripped with fear and self-doubt. I hunker down and try to get smaller. When what I really need to do is let my art get as big and as scary as it possibly can. Or as beautiful as I can imagine.

What risky action can YOU take today that will make your art—or your heart—grow?

comment [] 7:53:21 AM