I Believe

I've had my head down redesigning my photography site. On my old site, I had a page for my Artist’s Statement. I wondered if people still made artist’s statements and if they do, do they still publish them? Is it something that is still required because I can't recall seeing one recently. Is it, god forbid, old fashioned?

I remember working on mine for an excruciatingly long time. There was lots of soul searching and trying to figure out why I was put on this earth. There was a lot of back and forth with trusted colleagues whittling down my thoughts to a core list of what I believe about photography.

Margaret from “13”

In trying to decide whether or not to include my artist statement on my new site, I googled, "why have an artist statement." Most articles talked about "selling" your work. "The customer needs to know what they are buying." That sounds like an ad to me or an elevator pitch. I'm talking about something much deeper. Why do you make art at all? In business, they call it a Mission Statement.

I haven't read my artist statement in a very long time. When I did, it was like a cold slap in the face. Why? Because I'm not creating that kind of art anymore. I've moved away from my "why". Way far away. I’ve let the chaos and despair in the world overwhelm me, and it has made me forget.

I now think that artist statements are more for the artist than for the public. It reminds you why you are here and why you do what you do. It should be printed on your wall or made your screensaver. It's something you have had to pull from your depths, and it should not be discarded and never looked at again on an About page of your website. As much as reading my statement was a slap, it was also very exciting because I know I can go to that place again.

Boys, Fishing Village, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

I know what you are wondering. What is my artist's statement? What do I believe?

I believe in pictures that reveal the beauty in the ugly,
simplicity in the complex, peace in chaos,
the familiar in the foreign, truth in a world of lies.

I believe in pictures that take me to places I've never been with people I would never ask.

I believe in pictures that have no fear.

In the Shadows from “Ringside Witness”

If you are an artist and you don't have an artist’s statement, I encourage you to work on one with a trusted mentor or colleague. You don't have to be a paid artist to have an artist’s statement. If you are creating, you are an artist, whether or not you are getting paid to do it. An artist's statement is not something that you can work on by yourself. It's almost like therapy. It took me months. I can say all these years later, without a doubt, that is was worth it.

Just like therapy, it's a gift to yourself. It's grounding. It's something you can look to when in doubt about a project or a job or if the world is getting you down. The art you do can change and evolve, but your beliefs will stay the same.

I wish I had looked at my artist statement a long time ago because I like the person that believes in those things and I want to spend more time with her. She sounds like a cool chick.

To see the new site go to ginkaphoto, and I would love your feedback.