ARTIST OF THE MONTH: AKIRA BEARD

How did no one ever ask you to ask yourself these things?

Jordan Lynn Gribble’s response to the Manifesto:

Awesome. Amazing. I love this. I can’t even begin to explain to you how much I love this.

I’ve been on this site for years and suddenly I looked around and realized hardly ANYONE on here has ever even asked themselves the question(s), “Why do I do art? What does art mean to me?” and I don’t think I’ve seen more than a handle that have gotten as far as to formulate an answer.

And it dumbfounds me because I’m like, “How did no one ever ask you to ask yourself these things?” but I realized no one ever did that for me either, in all my art school training no one ever sat me down and asked me where I think art comes from and why we as a human family are compelled to create art one way or another. I probably wouldn’t have had a very good answer or even be ready to think about that stuff, but… it’s just so important! I don’t understand how someone could make it as an artist, or even make it through extensive art training without at least trying to figure some of that stuff out.

And I suppose it’s entirely possible that my particular personality latches on to “greater meaning” reasons simply because, suffering from depression, the day to day “because it’s fun” or “because I’m good at it” just aren’t enough. But I also think most people fool themselves into thinking that they don’t need a reason. I’m not saying that we’re always going to know what that is (goodness knows I’ve been on quests to figure out the “reasons” and come up with nothing) but just because we don’t know doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.

- Jordan Lynn Gribble

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