“Giving is investing”
John D. Rockefeller
Within the first hour of publishing the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s story Are
the Kids Growing Up? The Expat received a day’s worth of traffic. Nara’s
Japanese fans came out in force. I was as surprised as anyone and I was also
heartened that The Expat could help promote an interesting artist’s work so
well. Hopefully Nara’s story will encourage more people to seek out and look at
his work, attend his exhibitions and even take home one of his works.
For that is what The Expat is all about.
I have worked in the arts industry for over 40
years and I know just how hard it is for the majority of artists to build an
audience for their work. Sure there are the rock stars in the industry but they
are the exception rather than the rule. And when compare them against the
number of people making art, some of which is much more interesting, in my not
so humble opinion, than the art star’s work, their number is minuscule. Most artists
have to have a day job to support their habit.
Over the years I have worked as a Theatre Manager,
which was a pretty good gig actually, a phone jockey, not so good, a stage hand
and an English Teacher, I suck at teaching. But throughout it all I have always
found a few hours in the day to work on my art. Even today, as I write and
publish The Expat, which chews up to eight hours a day, I still find time for
my art. The upside is I don’t have to commute between job and studio. The downside
is that like most blogs, it costs a lot more to publish than it makes.
So here you are at The Expat, reading this story. I take it that
you have at least a passing interest in the arts, a profession, again in my not
so humble opinion, essential to an enriching and enjoyable life. If you like
the stories on the expat and would like to read more in the future click on this
link to Enable the
Expat and throw a few $$ in the cup and help The Expat to give back to
the profession it loves by providing exposure and understanding for artists and
their work from around the world.
And while you’re there check out the gallery to see my latest
work, The Permissive Prints.
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