For me the ideal is to do what one would do as one's leisure in such a way that
is becomes one's work or at least appears to. That's what I do and have been
doing for ten years now with great success. I use the idea of work - schedule,
dedicated space, business technique etc. - to fund myself and too give the
appearance of working since so many need to know that what you do resembles
work. If you appear to be working, almost everyone respects that what you are
doing with your day in the privacy of your dedicated space (studio) is work even
though they have no idea - because they are working so hard - if what you are
doing is working or not. My wife has come to suspect that I may not be working
because she has noticed a disproportionate amount of time dedicated to the
computer where, she is sure, there is no product being made and thus no money
being earned but I assure her that in fact I am working. I tell her it is self
promotion or research or whatever comes to mind that sounds work like.
In my studio I only have a computer line and never give out the number so no one
can call me. I just let calls collect on my answering machine in my apartment
and occasionally review them and call galleries etc. when I am ready to have a
break from my leisure. I do 'take care of business' promptly when needed which
helps to keep myself funded and maintain the appearance of working and gives a
little impetus now and again. I have, at times gotten confused and thought I was
working and usually my art suffers deeply for that delusion so I have placed a
statement in my studio to help remind me if what my program is.
MAKE WHATEVER ART THAT YOU WANT, AS MUCH AS YOU WANT IN ANY MANOR OR STYLE THAT
YOU WANT. FOLLOW YOUR OWN IMPULSES, BE TRANQUIL, DO WHATEVER.
This helps me not be too self critical or self involved or worried about what
others make of what I am doing. I figure to just make lots and lots of art -
like I like to do - and then fashion shows out of whatever I have when the shows
come up. I have been following this plan for a couple of years now, inspired by
Picasso, to great effect except that I jack around on the computer too much. It
is too much like work so I am considering cutting back on the computer a bit
though I love it. There is a need, especially in leisure for balance and self
control since you have few controls imposed on you from an outside source.
Otherwize your life - when you live it however you wish from morning to night as
I do - can become a prison of your own lack of self direction.
cecil
Sol Nte wrote:
> Hi Aaron,
>
> Interesting text. Is art always play? Would it be possible to see the whole
> text (uncut)?
>
> Actually I'd forgotten about Bob Black and his call for the ludic revolution
> in "The Abolition of Work"...it's the best thing he ever wrote I think.
>
> Many have theorised against work. Bertrand Russell wrote a great deal
> against work, or more specifically against wage slavery..arguably not all
> work is of this form. Also Paul Lafargue's classic "The Right to be Lazy"
> extols the virtues of chilling out for a living...of course in those days
> scrounging from your friends was more socially acceptable but.........
>
> Interestingly Fluxus extols hard work as a means to an end. Maciunas
> considered work important to fund the art projects carried out in one's
> "leisure time".
>
> cheers,
>
> Sol.
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