Today's set of ups and downs are the people who struggle to ask for help (who should ask) and the people who expect you to be responsible for changing their life (who should not...) They are the givers and takers of the world.
I was inundated this year at the show with people who want to imitate me and my work, right down to the very names of my jewelry lines. First, of course, was the woman copying my Sea Stone and Pearl line right before the show, and selling the work in my hometown. But there were others.
There was the woman who "needs to make a life change" and needs something "fast and easy" she can do at home that will "be a surefire success and make a lot of money quickly." (Like if there were such a thing, a jillion other people wouldn't already be doing it.) She then picked up a finished block of faux ivory and said casually (hah!), "So, HOW do you make the clay look like ivory?"
There was the woman who was so insistent and persistent about my techniques that I had to walk away for a few minutes. When I turned around, she was reaching over my worktable and grabbing the pieces I'd been working on, to examine them more closely. I was appalled. I couldn't imagine anyone doing that to a woodworker or a painter!
The worst was the woman I used to work out next to at the gym, who came to the fair last year and was so inspired by my work that she, too decided to work with ancient artifacts inspired by the Lascaux cave. Except she's "working from a different book" than I am. (I don't understand this at all, except that I have a small book in my booth with images from the caves so people know what I'm talking about.) And she's working with cave bears. (Sorry, so am I. And there aren't any cave bear images in the Lascaux cave.) And she's going to jury into the League of NH Craftsmen this fall, and just wanted to let me know.
I mentioned this to the League people who work with the Standards Committee—they oversee all jurying processes into the League and had advised me about dealing with the stone copycat person. They said not to worry.
But what would keep her out? I asked. I don't own the copyright on the Lascaux cave inspiration. Anyone can make artifacts out of faux ivory—it's not a proprietary technique, and I didn't even invent it. (My favorite line about this is "Tory-darn her-Hughes invented it, when she invented ALL the imitative techniques for polymer clay right out of the starting gate.")
They both shook their heads and said, "She just won't get in."
But why not???
Because, they explained, when people TELL you they are going to jury into the League, they rarely get in.
That baffled me, so I asked why. Kerry said there's something about this type of people, so overconfident and arrogant—they lack the perspective to really look at their work and recognize the technical deficiencies. They just can't "see" how bad their work is. They are unwilling to do the work to make their craft better. And they rarely jury in because of it.
Interesting....and comforting, somehow.
I also heard back from one of my advisors on copying, Alisha Vincent at The Rosen Group. She said artists usually choose between confronting their imitators somehow, to trying to "rise above it" and move on. She knows they have to choose what feels best for them. But she's noticed that almost every time, the people who choose to NOT confront their imitators, never feel right about it.
Let's face it, it SUCKS when someone tries to piggy-back on your success by imitating your processes, your designs, your images, your inspiration, your colors, your story. And ignoring that pain will not make it go away. She's glad I chose the route I did, and that I did it quickly. And I'm feeling less guilty about not being so "spiritually evolved" as my compatriots who choose not to do anything about it.
And though it's very small comfort, I am realizing that so many people racing to be "another Luann Udell" means I've made it, in some way. They see a compelling story, a unique combination of techniques, a lovely presentation, a passionate artist--and they want that, too. They don't seem to realize that they will NEVER have that without finding their own very personal story that comes from THEIR heart. But then, their work will never have the same power, either. There are gimmicks, flashes-in-the-pan and fads that anyone can jump on. But there are no shortcuts in art.
So who are the people who SHOULD ask for help? A dear friend who actually helped me at the show. We were hanging yesterday, and made plans to have a tiny girls night out. She's been dealing with her father's estate (he died this spring) and doing well—I thought. But she let slip she was overwhelmed trying to clear out his house. She couldn't imagine asking anyone to help with such an onerous task.
We insisted on helping her "just for a bit" and ended up filling a dumpster for her. She was in tears when we left. She couldn't get over how much easier it was with extra hands.
I reminded her how hard it was for me to ask for help with my show, and how happily she had volunteered. And how much she had helped me, and why wouldn't I want to reciprocate?? She exclaimed, "But that was FUN!! This was cat pee!" My husband Jon said, "It's fun to throw someone else's trash away!"
And last, a woman came to my booth during the show, someone who's been heavily involved in the League the past few years. She and her husband have not only volunteered many, many hours for the League, they've also garnered much financial support and sponsorship for various events. They are lovely, lovely people.
I've occasionally given her small tokens of appreciation, but she can get fierce about not wanting to accept such gifts, feeling we craftsmen work very hard to make our stuff and should be paid for it.
She found a lovely pair of earrings, and I tried to give them to her. She got very upset, but finally I said, "I know what you've given us, and I appreciate it. A LOT of us know what you've given us. And you need to let people thank you."
She burst into tears and accepted them. I wish she'd chosen something bigger.
The people who want something for nothing. And the people who want nothing for everything they do. I know the ones I prefer to hang with.
