Art Supports Life – Life Supports Art

Text by elizaBeth Simpson, USA

Art is a catch-all phrase for intentional, non-linear expression and representation. It allows us share quieted and suppressed voices, sister secrets, and rages that might not be allowed in our geographic community, but slink past public scrutiny to whisper solidarity to another heart we’ve never met. Though attempts have been made, art – because it is not ‘logical’- remains uncodified, and so can be leveraged to communicate among marginalized groups. At the same time, while art  can communicate, many times it exists, not to show anyone else, but simply to exist, much as so many of us do. When we are discouraged from or punished for how we exhibit ourselves through our living (e.g. clothes, body, movement, language), our self-representation in art becomes ever more valuable as a medium through which we can BE in the world.

With the facilitation of the internet, it is now more possible than ever that people outside the mainstream can find and share art through which they can connect and relieve the isolation that comes from being suppressed by restrictive, and often punitive, social norms. Beyond the individual impact, this connection offers ballast for marginalized groups to take up ever more space, catalyzing us to assert our full existence, as individuals and as a collective.

Given that art is so valuable socially and politically, it can be easy to want the active creators who populate the social sphere with music, documentaries, performances, blogs, fiber art, dance, and so on to do so for the common good. Ideally this would just happen, what goes around would come around, and so forth. This often does happen in more personal relationships, but in the public realm of anti-capitalist communities where so many of us [queers] are rebelling against profit/greed, we end up rejecting compensating people for their time/effort as well. I experience a common, generally unspoken, moral value placed on giving things away for free. However, the capacity to this so relies on all sorts of privileges – for example, having leisure time and access to resources. It also ignores the creative’s time/energy as valuable, at the same time the product of their time/energy is being demanded. This is the heart of exploitation.
As an important side note I find that, in the U.S., it’s usually middle-class folks rejecting their privilege who are the ones insisting on not ever having to pay, while working class folks help set up and clean up.

So what?

For appreciators:
Consider what you can give, and who you’re giving to. In the interest of working towards an equitable society, when I’m wanting the benefit of someone’s effort I try to recognize that it wasn’t ‘free’ for them to make/do, and either straight up pay for it (because let’s face it, bartering a massage isn’t going to pay the electric bill), offer something in exchange, or at least say “I can’t give you anything for this, may I have it anyway?’ In this way, it’s positioned as their choice, not my demand. This creates an environment of dignity and respect- if they give it to me, it’s because of who we are. Note: Resources that are subsidized by the state/a non-profit/wealth/etc are a different and more complicated story.

For creators:
Consider what you can give, and who you’re giving to. An isolated queer in Macedonia who wants to show your documentary to other queers is different than a ‘hip’ professor who has access to institutional support. Both people could say “Can I have this for free?” In either situation, you get to choose if you share your efforts, and with whom. This should be done with an eye on which behaviors will nurture you in some way- otherwise you might burn out and be resentful. It’s generally unhealthy for everyone that a person give-give-give in unreciprocal situations (e.g. an extreme, but relevant example: being ‘forgiving’ and staying in an abusive relationship).

Most anything beautiful or useful that we do in life takes effort. What people can offer in exchange for this effort will vary widely depending on the situation, but everyone has something to share, even if it’s simply gratitude. By increasing self- and other-appreciation, we can move away from scarcity or gluttony towards getting each others’ backs and widening the circle of interdependence and generosity.

About elizaBeth Simpson
elizaBeth Simpson (see photo) has been working with the conflicts and group dynamics of communities, organizations, and individuals for over 16 years. She is also a performance artist who incorporates vocal composition, puppetry, fire spinning, street theater, and storytelling, specializing in projects that engender collaboration with people who would not call themselves “Artists”. As co-director of the Creative Intervention Agency, she offers tools for collective empowerment from across the arts/organizing spectrum, including facilitating workshops throughout the country in both academic and community settings. See her latest project at http://www.urbanapeopleshistory.wordpress.com/