We Need Your Art #

(video via Bradley Spitzer, from our conversation during my time in Nashville, TN)

We’re in the middle of the destruction of multiple industries. Not overnight, not tomorrow, but things are crumbling. And I truley think it’s a wonderful thing because I think those who make honest, raw, wonderful art – they’ll continue to make it regardless of pay. It breaks my heart that media outlets are closing, that budgets are shrinking, that making a living at the thing I did for years is gone… it’s horrible. But I can’t leave.

I had this conversation with my friend Erin. She loves music with all her heart. She’s had offers to work in other industries. Lucrative industries. But when what you love is in your bones it’s difficult to leave it.

We can’t erase that love in our heart for a paycheck. We’re willing to endure for the art we love. This is a good problem to have, considering the state of the world; the violence, war, corruption and injustice.

But to turn our back on the art we love simply for a paycheck just makes room for the darkness. To turn our back on that art lets the enemy win. It lets injustice gain ground. The world needs music. It needs photography. The world needs street art.

I tell friends this all the time; years ago I didn’t get street art. The murals, wheat paste pieces, stickers, zines. I would see this and ask why? There’s no “buy it now” button. There’s no URL to find more info. How does that effort result in anything positive?

Over the last few years street art became important for me. It gives me permission to make what I want, and not have to answer to anybody.

If someone wants to spend hours creating art in an alley, or on the back of a stop sign, then I should be happy that we live in a world where that’s even a choice. I can research and write nerdy metal trivia and post it on Twitter every week and a handful of people from around the world enjoy it.

Art exists because without art we lose.
Skull Toaster exists because the world doesn’t need another metal blog.
People make noise rock because there’s enough pop songs out there.
My friends take photos of interesting people because it inspires others to become interesting people.

Those forms of creation, with no clear path to profit, are needed. If there’s even a chance that art can bring hope and inspiration to people, then we need it more than profits.

Getting to Simple #

Recently I spent time with photographer Bradley Spitzer. He was shooting a wonderful lady, modeling clothing sold by a vintage seller.

I expected to see a fancy digital SLR, but saw an old 35mm point and shoot camera instead.

Yes, he had a fancy polaroid-type camera, and a point and click digital camera on hand, too. But two of those three cameras were film. One a simple point and click.

This reminds me of gear heads in the music world (fitting, as I was in Nashville, TB); most start with a cheap electric guitar, take some lessons, get better, then start lusting over gear at the local Guitar Center or in Musicians Friend catalog.

A $3000 guitar, $2000 amp, $1000 in effects pedals.

And Eric Clapton would still outplay you using a Fender Squier and a 35 watt practice amp.

I could buy a fancy camera, but Bradley will still make better photos.

Through all this, look at the time-line: beginner, novice with tons of gear, pro with a few tools. It’s not the tools that make the art, it’s the person who breathes art into the world regardless of what they’re using.

Making a Better Place #

Why do so many of my creative friends and I have trouble keeping our blogs updated? We’re doing amazing things, making music, traveling, running awesome projects, and then we beat ourselves up for not updating our blogs.

I’m going to stop feeling guilty for doing rad stuff.

While this blog is light on content lately, I’ve been busy with a full-time job (which just ended, actually), running Skull Toaster, traveling, reading, and having conversations with amazingly inspiring people in several cities.

The “me time” of all of what I described above is important for my development as a better internet nerd, writer, and person. When we grow as people, the world becomes a better place.

Print Won’t Die #

It’s been over a week since Noisecreep, one of the sites I launched over the years, closed down.

To think of all the interviews that will soon vanish. Sure, they’ll be on Archive.org in some capacity, but what a shame, right? The work of all the writers who dialed a band member over sears, the publicists who work 25 hour days, the band members who took time to get on the phone or chat before a show. And soon a server will shut down and a plug will be pulled and it will be gone. MORE →

Do Good Work #

By chance I met Cale Glendening at a coffee shop in Nashville, TN. I didn’t know if it was him, so I @mentioned him on Twitter, asking if it was him. He replied, “come give me a hug.”

In following Cale for awhile now, I see his hard work. It shows. Always on the move, capturing and creating. He eventually told me of a project he’s working on now, for himself. His project. His vision.

Many years of working on other people’s projects, and their visions. Now he’s talking about his project. MORE →