Art Problems

I know, I know.

I'm basically promising the answer to life in an eight-minute podcast!

Well, it's not quite that, but this week on the Art Problems Podcast I talk about how understanding your goals and audience can give you the answer to pretty much any question you have about artist statements. And I'll tell you this now: The answers won't stop with statements.

Not to be cryptic or anything, but I'm going to leave you with this teaser: Your audience might not be who you think!

Almost every artist will need to take an extended break from art making at some point in their career. Whether that be due to child rearing, the loss of a parent, or a significant move, the job of getting back into the game can be just as challenging as the disruptions that took you away from the studio. You're probably worried that...

You have visible gaps in your CV that galleries will notice and ask you about.

You've lose touch with many of your contacts and art friends and now they're gone for good.

Your fear of not being able to get back into the networking game, will keep you from getting back into the networking game.

In this podcast, I address those fears, identify the self defeating actions artists often take when in this position, and offer actionable alternatives.

You don't have to feel stuck.

And this podcast is designed to make sure you feel empowered to take action, rather than feeling mired in fear and self doubt.

Have a listen, and let me know what you think!

Relevant links:

https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/1137460905/late-bloomers

In this podcast

Have you ever exchanged gifts with someone and only to learn that the present you got them is waaaaay more expensive then the one they got you?

Awkward!

In this Valentine's Day podcast on connection and mailers, I talk about how social currency and exchange works much the same way. If you're asking someone for their email, and you're giving them something in exchange you want it to be roughly equal in investment. Sometimes that's the newsletter itself and sometimes it's a little more.

Making any sort of career plan often results self-discovery. In this episode, I speak to three Netvvrk members, Jon Laustsen, Karey Kessler and Arden Bendler Browning about what they've learned through the process.

Jon talks about how using a typewriter helped him connect to the process better.

Karey talks about the discovery that the length of the journey and the goals she original set have shifted.

Arden learns that being shy and introverted don't preclude her enjoyment of talking about her work.

What can you learn about yourself through this process?

Have a listen and find out!

Let's get this party started! Tonight at 7:30 PM EST I'll be giving my FREE Masterclass on How to Get More Shows without Transforming your Personality into a Marketing Bot! Join me!

Are you struggling to find time to do every god damn thing?

Of course you are. You're an artist.

That's why I started this series on goal setting.

In this podcast I speak with artist and Netvvrk member Cadence Giersbach about how she sets priorities and gets things done. Giersbach describes the importance of focusing on the things that are within your control—what you can do each day to get tasks done.

If you want to know more about how to spend less time hustling and more time in the studio, I'm going to do a deeper dive in my live masterclass, How to Get More Shows Without Turning Your Personality into a Marketing Bot Tuesday Feb. 6th at 7:30 PM EST. This class is totally free, so join me!

Relevant links:

How to Get More Shows Without Turning Your Personality into a Marketing Bot Tuesday Feb. 6th at 7:30 PM EST

Have you ever launched an exhibition space and then tortured yourself over whether to include yourself in a show because you know it will look bad? Or struggled over whether to send an email to gallerist or a DM over instagram because someone followed you, but you're not sure if DMing a welcome is friendly or spam?

Welcome to the world of art world taboos, which are both plentiful and entirely useless in any situation other than the most obvious examples. In this episode I identify a few of the more common taboos that trip an artist up, explain why they exist and how and when you can break them!

You're welcome!

Relevant links:

https://wageforwork.com/

In this episode of Art Problems, I take on a vexed topic for many artists: goal setting!

Is it even worth setting goals when it's so difficult to know where your opportunities will come from?

Short answer: Yes.

I talk to artist and Netvvrk member Heather Beardsley about the process she used to set her goals, and how she achieved them.

And you know what?

It's not rocket science.

You can follow Heather's method (the Netvvrk method) and do the same thing.

Because study after study shows that people who set goals are far more likely to achieve them.

So, have a listen and get down to business!

Last year, I predicted what 2023 in the art world would look like. This week, I take a look back at those predictions, share what I got right and wrong, and make new ones for 2024.

Spoiler alert: We've got big structural changes ahead. It's hard to say how those changes will play out, but discuss the benefit of approaching shifts with cautious optimism.

Relevant links:

The Internet is about to Get Weird Again

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/internet-future-about-to-get-weird-1234938403/

The Enshitification of TikTok

https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/

Do you have an internal ticker tape running tracking one anxiety to the next?

Many of us who struggle with fears that our ambitions for our art will never align with our careers find end of year planning stressful.

That's why, in this podcast, I invited artist and meditation expert Kristen Jordan to the podcast. (Psst: She also manages the Netvvrk membership support desk.)

She tackles all of the anxiety around meditation, the ways it can help us formulate and tackle goals, and even leads is through a mediation at the end of the podcast.

Relevant Links:

https://www.kristenjordan.com/

https://www.vvrkshop.art/netvvrk-waitlist

Is conventional wisdom shifting? Many believe art fairs and artists shouldn't mix. One artist described it to me as watching your parents have sex. It's not something artists want to do!

But not everyone agrees.

In this episode I speak to artist Mark Joshua Epstein about his experience at the Miami art fairs and why he believes the stigma associated with artists who attend without exhibiting their work has changed. He got a lot out of his visit, and shares what he gained, who he thinks will benefit, and when it won't help you. And he shares plenty of insider tips to help you if you decide to go!

Names mentioned:

Shelter Gallery presents Jaqueline Cedar at NADA

https://www.shelternyc.com/

Mrs Gallery presents Nickola Pottinger at Art Basel Miami

https://www.mrsgallery.com/2023-art-basel-miami-beach

High Noon presents Ryan Crotty at Untitled

https://www.highnoongallery.com/untitled-art-miami-2023

County presents Danielle Mysliwiec at Untitled

https://www.daniellemysliwiec.com/exhibitions

To Weave The Sky at El Espacio 23

https://elespacio23.org/2023/10/05/to-weave-the-sky-textile-abstractions/

Noon Projects presents Alex Kerr at Nada

https://elespacio23.org/2023/10/05/to-weave-the-sky-textile-abstractions/

Aysa Geisberg at Untitled

https://www.asyageisberggallery.com/