BRING OUT YER DEAD

Today’s post was originally published on Fine Art Views

This post is by Luann Udell, regular contributing author for FineArtViews. She’s blogged since 2002 about the business side–and the spiritual inside–of art. She says, “I share my experiences so you won’t have to make ALL the same mistakes I did….”  For ten years, Luann also wrote a column (“Craft Matters”) for The Crafts Report magazine (a monthly business resource for the crafts professional) where she explored the funnier side of her life in craft. She’s a double-juried member of the prestigious League of New Hampshire Craftsmen (fiber & art jewelry). Her work has appeared in books, magazines and newspapers across the country and she is a published writer.

 Don’t bury your lede. Keep it up front, in its most powerful position.

 I love helping people write artist statements. Especially if I’ve had an opportunity to actually sit and talk with the artist. Especially if I’ve had an opportunity to pound them over the head with this one simple question:

 Why should I care about your art?

I try to tread carefully. I know how deeply artists care about their work, and what they want to say about it.

OTOH, if I have to read one more artist statement about line, color, texture, about boundaries and schisms, about anything that could have come from an Artsy Bollocks, I swear I will do damage to someone.

If I have a chance to meet with someone, or at least talk with them, my job gets easier. Because everyone has a story, a reason, a turning point in their history, that’s the deeper “why” about what they do.

And coincidentally, usually this powerful reason, if they include it at all, is at the very end of their statement.

It’s called burying your lede.

(I’ve been spelling “bury the lead” wrong for ages. Turns out that the preferred spelling for the introductory section of a news story. My bad! And I’ve corrected it.)

This writing structure is the bane of journalism and professional writing. We run on about our background, our training, our credentials, our methods, our materials, our media, etc. etc. And there, at the very end, is the deeper reason for it all.

It’s natural. Many of us were not raised to share our deepest, richest thoughts and history. We worry we’ll embarrass ourselves, admitting to pain, or loss, or even joy. No, we must be professional. Which means not a single sentimental, fluffy, unmanly thought will pass our lips. Er…pencil.

Here’s why it’s time to change that:

I know people who have known each other a very long time. They’re all artists themselves. They’ve also spent years—decades!—actually working in art galleries.

Over the years, there’s been a marked change in the world of art marketing. “It used to be,” said one, “Artists created work for the market. They figured out what was selling, and they worked accordingly, finding their niche in that market.”

“And now it’s flipped! The trend is to make the work that is unique to you—and find your market for it!”

That’s why the old artist statement style of the past is no longer working.

People want to know who you are.

People want to know why you make the work you do.

A few artists are sticking their toes into the new water. It’s very hard. It goes against everything they’ve seen to date.

But what we gain when we open our hearts, and stop hiding behind our work, is huge. It’s powerful.

This doesn’t mean your new statement has to read like a letter to Dear Abby. No need to hang all our dirty laundry in public.

But you need to understand….

Everyone has lost someone.**

Everyone wants to be loved, and respected, for who they are.

Everyone is longing for something.

Everyone needs to be protected from something.

Everyone has obstacles to overcome.

Everyone has a dream in their heart.

Because we are all human.

Our individual stories are as unique as we are. And yet we are all connected by common themes, similar fears, shared needs, and dreams.

It is also right on trend to be vulnerable. It’s now perfectly acceptable to wear your heart on your sleeve.  It’s been my own mantra for years. And now we have company!

Because other people want what you have—a vision, a talent, a gift, a story—for themselves.

And when you share what you’ve lost, what you’ve gained, what you’ve found, what you’ve learned, what you’ve overcome, you are actually setting an example for them.

You’re showing them it can be done. You’re showing them how to do it.

That is the power of our true narrative. It helps us connect the work of our hand, the work of our hearts, to the hearts of others.

Your story can inspire. It can heal. It can encourage.

So go out on a limb today.

Get out your artist statement. Cross out every reference to education, technique, medium, credentials.

You can only reference one or two of these, if you can share why you chose this medium, this technique. (And no, “Because I just love color” is not enough.)

For example, one reason I chose polymer clay to make my artifacts is, no animals are harmed in the making. (E.g., I don’t want to use real bone or ivory.)

“There’s a really good reason why I use polymer clay to make my artifacts.”

Look for your power sentence. The one that, if you were speaking aloud, would make you stand up straighter, would make your voice more sure.

Put it right up front where it belongs. Take that buried lede—and lead with it!

Build that bridge, from your work, to your audience.

If you build it, they will come.***

Footnotes:

*”Bury the lede” made me think of dead bodies, which made me think of the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with its infamous plague scene and the memorable quote, “Bring out yer dead!!”

**I also got to quote Guardians of the Galaxy!!

***And Field of Dreams!!!!  Triple play!