Writers (artists) are like scientists.

(Thank you to Andrew Simonet for the reminder)

We listen to the world to hear what it needs.

We begin with meaningful questions about something we don’t know.

We follow a process of inquiry and problem solving.

We question assumptions.

We are resourceful.

We work hard.

Please do not dismiss what we do as “talent” when what we do requires hard work.

We search for truth and evidence to support our ideas.

We claim the space in our labs or studios for our research.

We are discerning, far-sighted and wise.

We share the most relevant answers and questions.

We persist.

We know a negative can very much have a positive result.

We possess many skills and the meta-skill of learning what it takes.

We cannot be truly stopped by a government or system, art and truth can be sidelined, but never silenced completely.

We are the truth-tellers, the liars, the one who point out the liars and warn you to watch your back.

We are deserving of respect — financial and otherwise.

We are much more than marketable product makers.

We have our hands in the everyday things, made by not only a scientist and the scientific method, but also an artist and artistic process.

We make meaning of the spiritual, the political, and the emotional chunks of the human experience.  

We are permanent residents of the world.

We make meaning of the spiritual, the political, and the emotional chunks of the human experience.  

We are permanent residents of an impermanent world.

THE WHY:

While traveling through a foreign land with my family, I established a custom, a rule of sorts, perhaps I’d go so far as to call it a manifesto: Always pay for the music.

Everytime, we’d pass street musicians, we’d lean over and drop a Euro or two into their hat, cup or instrument case. I felt it was the least we could do for the pleasure of hearing them play, for their hard work in learning and courage in performing. The kids enjoyed taking turns doing what they felt was a worldly duty. Even now, at home, I make an effort when I cross paths with a busker, someone trying to make a living at providing a soundtrack to the story of our lives. I drop in a buck. My budget can’t always afford more, so I use libraries and free passes. But when I can, I pay for the work they do.

While attending a writer summit, I was reminded of this practice as I listened to Andrew Simonet speak about art and artists. The above was inspired by his talk at the summit, and made more clear by looking at his work on Artist U, a project that asserts that artists can come together to change the working conditions of artists by opening up resources to artists. Support local artists.

Your turn:

What have you learned from art and artists?

What might persuade you to write a note, comment, letter to an artist?

What needs of the world can you/have you addressed recently?

How are you an artist?