Added: Nov 19, 2008
From: deCoygal99
Duration: 0:49
Exploitation:I have had peices stolen by gallery owners, I have had them pay me a pitance then make a ten fold profit...because I am native, because I am an artist, and artists are supposed to give it away for free...volunteer...because it's "fun"...it's hard work, struggle, dedication...they won't do it for free...they want equal energy exchange, why shouldn't we. They say..."Do it this way, this is what our tourists buy...this is what our customers want." I turn from this, don't do my work with the intent of selling it, to please a tourist. I do it, if some one wants it...then I may sell it, if I feel they really love it, feel it. I don't feel true art has anything to do with money, it is about invention, the thing itself. Of course we must eat...I do a variety of things to feed & house myself and have starved at least a few times. It would be nice...all artists long for this...to support myself and my arts through the work, to have the work support me...But, if the pressure is to support yourself through your art...compromise is emminent...you end up catering to what "they" want, what "they" expect and accept of you, what they will allow...what they're limitations dictate...what is comfortable and profitable, no matter how edgy you might be to begin with, no matter how inventive your mind once was...you can receed from the artist (which simply means "to be", which means whatever it is now, at this exact moment), become safe, repetitive, non-risk...get stuck, start doing the same thing over and over and over...danger...you've just died. I'm not saying my work is the "greatest", I don't believe in that sort of phrasing...it is exactly at the moment that it is; what it is. I have only a few pieces that I repeat or perform more than once. I think a lot, too much, perhaps in response to that my works are viceral, immediate, animal, intuitive, instinctive, of the senses, somewhat trance, direct...my written, performance, visual works...others may not agree.How can I market that...?? Don't really want to, don't want to loose the REAL for a few transitory pennies, even if my stomach is growling at the moment...the most important factor is that the art mind and being survive...you have to have shelter to produce...basic needs and creative needs go hand in hand. I need to eat, I need to invent...it's a hard balance sometimes, very hard to survive as an artist when people really want to direct your energy to their ends...Comprehend the energy, love it for what it is, support it for it's rarity, for it's path...be surprised by it learn from it, don't try to manipulate it!My tribe lost 3 out of 4 people, we are halocaust barely-survivors, with suicide, alcoholism, deep ego & self esteem damage, critical abuse issues...and escapism, its harsh...its real, no one wants to deal...with it. But, we are trying to understand our existences, trying to make the most of what has been presented us...invent from it. We are a beautiful people, even myself, a crazy hybrid.I am, as my friends put it "tanacious" that is the only reason I have survived. Despite all the insanity, my own neurosis...how could I be without neurosis with our history...I see my own life as an imperfect/and perfect (as it logically follows) illustration of our experience. My survival is my main performance piece. I document as much as possible through diaries, video, visual works I produce...all reflective of this lineage path.
Channel: People
Tags: apache art beadwork decoygal decoygal99 experimental goth hippy invention punk
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