Whassup niches?!?

First and foremost... I stole this blog title from James Victore's Burning Questions web-series. It was too perfect. And though it may pain my ego, I must concede that I couldn't even begin to construct a better title on my own. James Victore is an artist, activist, author and self-proclaimed firestarter who teaches creatives how to illuminate their individual gifts. I enjoy his "Burning Questions" series because he addresses topics like:

• "You're A Fraud? So Am I!"  
• "How To Trust Your Gut And Take Criticism"
• "Don't Let The Turkeys Get You Down"

These videos are helpful to those of us trying to navigate the "professional" art world; those of us who are simultaneously giving into our compulsion to create art while experiencing a constant fear of discovering we are, indeed, completely and totally talent-less. Obscene self-loathing aside, these videos are the perfect "talk you off the ledge" pick-me ups.

One of his more recent "Burning Questions" topic really jumped off the page for me. See below...

Recently, I've found myself considering the direction I am taking my art. Over the years I've tried to carve out a niche for myself (travel, architecture and nature photography) because I wanted my work to be "marketable" and "relateable". I did not have any pretensions to create "great art".  I just wanted people to enjoy my images. Photography is not my full time job, nor is it a viable source of income for me. It is passion, plain and simple; a compulsion I surrender myself over to because my DNA commands me. It has provided me with a lifetime of frustration, heartache and self-loathing. Some examples for illustration:

• Being "asked" to leave locations by police for using a tripod.
• Losses of entire rolls of film due to equipment failure.
• Repeated defeats during photography competitions.
• Outdoor art shows in the pouring rain, where no ones comes, and you don't sell anything.
• Repeatedly having to undersell for many different reasons.

All these experiences pale in comparison, however, to the reasons which keep me plowing forward.

• Having the opportunity to travel and document non-profits doing incredible work around the world and in my own backyard.
• Being asked to capture important moments in the lives of my friends and family.
• Having a creative outlet which constantly challenges me to slow down and consider the simple beauty of the world around me.
• Engaging in meaningful conversations with others inspired by the content of my work.

As I attempt to grow with my art, I find my expressions expanding into realms which don't necessarily fall into "my niche". As I tentatively share some of these "creations," I  maintain a moderate fear that it will be confusing to those who identify me with those very specific niches I have to carved out for my art over the years. Will I put those all those efforts in jeopardy? Or will a fearless pursuit of those things which make us happy and fulfilled, regardless of definition or niche, be the most honest attempt at truly living life? I don't have the answers to those questions. If I attempt the latter, however, my gut tells me I might get just a little closer to the answer than I am now. James Victore says, "when someone asks you what do you do, you say, 'I bring the party. I make powerful, sexy, memorable things that get people excited!'" I like that.

"Creatio" - Lisa Gallant Photography © 2014

QUESTION:

Niches... Good? Bad? Indifferent? Leave a comment below and let us know how the worlds we create for ourselves help us or hurt us.

Pour Charlie, Avec Amour.

 

 

It is too much. Too much hate. Too much death. Too much loss.

I had to write this entry. I write this for the 12 people of Charlie Hebdo. I write this for the French police officers. I write this for the hostages of the kosher market. I write this for James Foley and Steven Sotloff. I write this for the women and girls of Nigeria. I write this for Krystle Campbell, Martin Richard, Lingzi Lu and Officer Sean Collier. I write this for the victims and the families of September 11th. I write this for the all victims who lives were cut short by hate. I write this for all the names we never hear about. They are no longer here to tell their story, so we must take up that torch.

I write because I don't know what else to do. I believe with every fiber of my being that goodness and love truly exist in this world. I know this to be true because I see it everyday. Love exists in the smallest of gestures. We feel it in the air when a young man holds open a door for a frail old woman. We sense its strength when a pastor embraces his son after he comes out to him. We give it life when we stand together in the darkness with our candles lit, remembering.

 

Source: Flickr Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a conversation about hate and love. I will not discuss the divisions of religion, race, gender, orientation, politics or class. Throughout our existence our species has subdivided itself into categories and we have reacted to them and created "rules" of engagement based upon our perspectives. We have learned these "rules" from our friends and families. We have taught them to our children. We have decided for ourselves and we have let others make decisions for us. We have grown and died a thousand times over in an attempt to "evolve". We are flawed. We are often lost. But we are also beautiful creatures, and we are always capable of choosing love.

But it frightens me how often these days we do not.

I will not write the names of the people who committed these horrific acts. They are not the ones who get to be remembered. Whatever guise, whatever mask, whatever sense of righteousness these acts of violence fall under, none can ever be justified. No conflict involving religion, race, gender, orientation, politics or class can ever diminish the act of one human murdering another. These people chose categorization over humanity. It was a choice between love and hate. They choose hate.

Now we must choose love.

 

Tonight marks the end of another spree of senseless violence. I am saddened when I think this event will probably not be the last one our species will witness during our time on this earth. So what do we do? Where do we go from here? When the crowds have dispersed, the candle wax dried, and the sun has risen on a new day, in what direction do we travel? I only know one. We must seek out the humanity inside all of us, no matter how deeply it may be buried. We must look into the eyes of our neighbor and see our own fragile mortality reflected back. We must value life beyond all things. And we must always, always, always love each other.

Pour Charlie, avec amour.