What exactly do I DO?
“What exactly do you DO?” I get this question all the time. My elevator speech stops at too many floors. I could list titles –author, writer, artist, arts advocate – but each one of those titles requires further explanation. So lately I just say I’m Art Oprah of Eugene, Oregon. That makes people laugh and […]
Branding Your New Protest Group
Two days after the Women’s March on Washington 1/21/17, I find myself examining the term “intersectional feminism” and I’m pretty sure I’ve arrived at the intersection of the ridiculous and the tragic. I write to figure out what I think, so after another morning of dizzying headlines, lady patriarchs defending alternative facts and male plutocrats […]
#ARTivism
ARTivism. ‘Artivism’ is a term coined by author and UCSD Professor Ricardo Dominguez. I’ve been holding that word like a touchstone. I’m glad to see intelligent people are out there writing, making art and making sense of the election results. These people are less stupefied than I am, at least in my current state. I […]
Let’s Talk About Art
If you’re in the Eugene area, please come to an event I’m facilitating over the next 3 Tuesday nights. The description below provides details, but the shorthand is this: Let’s Talk About Art. FREE! Facebook Event Public Art: The Big View 3 Evenings of video and conversation based on “Art of the MOOC” Tuesdays: Sept […]
ARTiculate: Full article here
Artists, I hope you’ll enjoy my article ARTiculate: Write and speak your way to confidence. Originally published by Professional Artist Magazine, it features artwork and quotes from artists Gabe Fernandez, Tallmadge Doyle and Jabu Mzilikazi. Did you know that appearing to be confident could actually help you become more confident? As I say in the article: “Courage improvises. […]
Can Creativity Be Taught?
The following article, “Can Creativity Be Taught?” first appeared in Professional Artist Magazine, Aug/Sept 2015. I’m particularly fond of this one because I get to mention ArtCore, an integrated arts program for middle schools. I helped to write the initial grant for ArtCore. Maybe this should’ve been titled, “Art Teachers Will Save the World.” Next […]
RuPaul’s Drag Race: The Costuming of Emancipatory Politics
After 8 Seasons on Logo TV, it’s high time RuPaul’s Drag Race received recognition as important contemporary art. Socially engaged art often uses the structures of society as the very medium of the work, and yet Drag Race is radical enough to have fooled many into regarding the work as mere campy entertainment. RuPaul […]
Creativity and the Business of Art: Free Video Series
Artist Alexis Castillo decided to put together a free educational video series for artists, Creativity and the Business of Art. (Update: Alexis rebranded as Art Business Essentials) She found a range of experts to speak on this subject, and I’m happy to say that I am interviewed as a part of this group. Alexis and I had […]
A Call for Ageist-Free Arts in the Silicon Shire
I’d like to share a story of an experience I had in the Minneapolis airport in 2015. In my memory, I even gave it a title: Outsourced to My Decorator. It wasn’t exactly traumatic, or all that different from the usual overheard-at-the-airport experience, but for me it was a moment of ringing cultural contrast and reverberating […]
Socially Engaged Art – Short Video
This is a 5 min YouTube video of my Art of the MOOC teachers presenting student work at Creative Time Summit NYC. Please watch it to get an idea of the concepts we’re exploring as social artists, and see some inspiring work. At 1:39 you’ll see my “Remote Control” on the beach at Otter Rock. […]