Paper clip by Norica, Germany. Tiny balls at the end prevent scratching paper but still super normal. Everything I aspire to be.
I’ve always been a little cynical about a career in art. I thought it was reserved for people who are extraordinarily talented, present a certain way, or know the right people. It could be because my discipline at the School of the Arts was classical piano, which is hardly a team sport, but also because we had little guidance around pursuing a career in art. (It also didn’t help that the artists in residences were clearly not getting paid a lot.)
I’d say about half of us, cracked under societal pressure to do a 4 year degree and find a steady job. And the other half said screw it, life’s too short for this, and went after whatever dreams they had. I look now at the classmates who pursued their passions and see just how how much they shine.
Paper clip by Prada. $185 but super-ficial. Everything that’s wrong with this world.
A couple of weeks ago, I got rejected from a position at the SFMOMA. It wasn’t my “dream” role and they were probably right about me being overqualified but the SFMOMA is up there on the list of “dream” places I’d like to work for. I let myself be sad about it for about 2 days and then moved on. Maybe moved on isn’t the right phrase, it was more like I moved forward. Because being upset about a circumstance that’s beyond your control is pointless and unproductive. I don’t need to wait around for someone to start paying me, to be able to write about the topics I want to write about (although I have to admit it’s a lot less nerve wracking.)
I am neither extraordinarily talented nor do I present a certain way nor do I know the right people. In fact, I’m super normal (and a Taurus if that means anything to you.) But if you’re familiar with Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa’s thesis about the super normal, then you’d know why that’s a great thing (I’ll write more about this in a future blog post.)
Likewise, this blog is going to be super normal. My intentions aren’t to philosophize or analyze history and theory; just share my appreciation for art, creativity, and aesthetics. It’s going to be a collection of stories, photos, and facts that led to first-time experiences, sensations, and feelings. I hope that at the very least, it sparks something in the reader much like it did for me, but most importantly, serves to remind the future me, who may or may not be feeling burnt out or uninspired, how important it is to stay curious.