Earth to Moon…

A couple of people have written or called me lately, asking what’s happening and where am I. Well I’ve decided to make a few changes, most of which will have a long-term causal effect. (Hopefully in the right direction.)

Many of you know that my DH (Bob) and I do many different mediums in regards to jewelry…some folks think that lampwork is our main thang. It’s not. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a medium that I enjoy but it’s losing some of its appeal rapidly. I have this bizarre rating system for mediums; it’s a 1-5 scale with 1 being the highest and most beloved. As time progresses, so does my skill base but also my focus changes as well. Lampwork’s primo attraction is the color combos and unique patterns that it produces. BUT lampwork is slowly moving down the my scale where metal and fiber is quickly climbing.

At the current time, I feel the need to develop more as an artist than staying with the jewelry designer mode. I’m also researching, working with both trending studies and projections, regarding where we want to open a gallery. Or if we want to open a gallery, for that matter. There are a large number of headaches attached to a gallery. For one, I would be joined at the hip to the gallery for many years. Any dipshit can own a gallery but to run and establish a successful gallery is a totally different issue. As you might guess, I’ve worn that hat before. It takes a great deal of energy and perseverance, that’s a given for any small business.

It also takes a passion for the arts, and the need to see artists do well. It’s also over looking some of the 3-Mile Island mishaps that seem to take place in the visual (2D or 3D) arts. A prime example is places like http://angrymandrel.com/ (I’m not picking on lampworkers here, there are plenty of other mediums doing the same) or the infighting when the economy gets tight.

It happens in any sub-culture group, it happens in our overall society as well. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that all people have the right to express their opinions. There are times that those opinions seem to slice & dice the humanity that is housed in each of us. Sometimes it’s not what you say, but how you say it that makes the difference. Sometimes talk is just talk, with very little action behind it.

So do I want to put up with some of the ‘mishaps’…I don’t know. This is what I’m currently pondering on. As I get older, my bullshit tolerance seems to go down. Life is short and there are some headaches that I'm not willing put if with, if I don't have to. My longterm goal was (maybe still is) to have a wearable art gallery, that supports the area artists. Now what physical location, I don’t know but it won’t be in Austin. I can’t take the weather nor the allergies here.

I’m going to digress here….it is my firm belief that when an artist no longer can make a decent living, they will change their focus. Art will turn into a hobby or done on the side. It’s won’t be that all encompassing, driving force in their lives. When it happens to enough artists, in enough different mediums… a precious part of our culture will die. A precious part of our society will die and what will fill the void, damn if I want to find out.

Well, that enough pondering about my uncertain future.

~Moon