Interesting

So this thing happened.

My friend Addie interviewed me for her podcast "Alchemy of Art" and posted my blog so people could see more about my art. Problem is that I rarely posted about my art on my blog. In fact, I really only posted about my family. And I stopped posting about my family 6 years ago.

I have another blog that I posted about art, but I stopped posting there as well.

I make art, but the way I make art now is different than before. Because things change, and they will likely change again.

What changed 6 years ago is that  I had Facebook. I started the blog as a way to share stories and pictures with family all over the country, and Facebook made that easier than sitting down and writing a blog post.

Also, I was depressed. Maybe I should rephrase that. I had Depression. And it was hard to collect myself enough for making artwork. I'm through that part of my life, but it's been hard to reclaim the momentum of art-making.

And lastly, I started a new job. In the middle of my battle with Depression I took a job at Amaco, the American Art Clay Co. (Different from Amoco, the petroleum company, or Aamco, the car repair company). I started making art for the company. In the 4 years since I started working for Amaco I have focused most of my creative energy into my work for the company, which includes making ceramic sculpture and pottery for ads, making lesson plans, making videos, and helping with a variety of projects.

The art I make isn't personal, there is no artist statement on the wall. My name rarely shows up in the ads. Many projects aren't made by me alone. Often there are 2, 3, or even more people who are part of the process. I'm one of a team in making interesting, creative, fun, beautiful ceramics.

The way art is taught, thought about, mythologized, it is a solitary activity. The artist, singular, makes the art. The art goes to a gallery to be admired and the accolades go to the artist, singular. I'm not working in that model right now. And I don't mind. I don't feel like I've given something up. I feel like I've been given a licence to play.

And play I do. Every day.