I’ve been very overwhelmed by the tasks I need to accomplish, which include the clearing of my studio and the completion of this current commission. One thing that would be very helpful is a studio assistant; someone to help organize materials, move large sections, line up templates, and help me pack up the remainder of my old studio so that we can pour the floor, tear down the ceiling, replace sheetrock and install a loft. Once that is done, I’ll be able to move into my garden studio once again, and this will be an opportunity to reorganize and make my work spaces more efficient.
Right now, I’m working in the garage, which is still very much a garage. I’m smashed in among tools and car maintenance supplies. Each time I need to line up sections of the mural, I have to completely rearrange everything, moving tables, shifting patterns, layering large sheets of plastic and mesh over giant templates. Each transition takes me the better part of a day. With an assistant, it would go much more quickly.
And I also feel an urgent call to mentor younger artists. I’ve reached a point of proficiency and my work is in demand. It takes a long time to learn these skills, but I could give a young artist a big head start, and as I grow older, shift more of the work in their direction. But I’m fairly remote, and training someone new requires a lot of extra time, so it has felt impossible. I’ve had 3 interns over the years, and none have been invested enough to stick with it.
While I was at the conference in Eugene last week, I received a text from a friend of my daughter’s, who is studying art in college. He asked if I need an assistant. I sent an emphatic YES and all of the colleagues I was with cheered for me. But then he outlined that he needs some consistent income, well beyond what I am able to provide. We still plan to talk and I hope to come to some kind of arrangement.
This leads me to the point, which I’m never good at getting at. One of the things Patreon support would help with is a mentorship program. Training assistants is a huge investment of time and energy, and I would like to be able to offer a paid internship or two.
That’s the main focus of this post, but while I have you, I received a call from a Palestinian acquaintance who helped on community projects last summer. Since the increased violence in the Middle East, she and I have corresponded occasionally and she is, understandably, extremely distressed. She reached out right before I left for the conference for advice on leading a mosaic project to raise money for Palestinian relief, possibly for the organization Palestinian Childrens’ Relief Fund (which I support.)
Her plan is to lead an activity where people make mosaic coasters. She needs help with supplies, and could use help with the activity as well. I feel confident that she’ll get a lot of helpers to make the event a success. And I can help her source supplies. But I can’t afford to pay for all of it. This is exactly the type of community engagement I wish to do more of going forward, and I would love to be in a position to take it on without having to beg people for money. Patreon and the campaign with my fiscal sponsorship could make that a reality.
So, with more than a little trepidation, here is my Patreon link: https://patreon.com/jkmosaic?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
It’s a work in progress and may change as I figure out the best way to move forward. Sometimes, life just leads you in an unexpected direction, but for now, my vision for the next decade includes more mentoring, teaching, consulting, community projects, and possibly developing my own studio space into a welcoming place for artists to visit, create and learn together.
