“Art is much more than entertainment. Art gives you spiritual and literal sustenance.”
Everyone tells me that you can’t eat Art. That you have to pay the bills. Well, doesn’t that go without saying? I never feel broke, even if I am close sometimes. Trying to keep my bills from spiraling out of control can be a challenge. What keeps me going is Art. It really does sustain me during the toughest moments.
Today we artists live in the public eye as never before, and at a break neck pace in the race for relevance. I’m not one of those who is trying to win every prize, and perhaps never will be. Despite this I still manage to feel sometimes like I’m on a crazy roller coaster.
Raffi turned 6, Alec turned 1, and Dayna and I are very happy with our lives as musicians and working from home. I can’t think of a time that I was happier. We’ve participated in so many artistic endeavors this year – the Durufle Requiem, the debut of Polycoro, many fantastic moments at St. Matthias and Ensemble Bellechose. I was very proud of the Josquin/Lassus program. It has been wonderful and I’ve been working more and more at that tricky balance between activity and stillness. Some of you also do your best work from that balance, and you know what a challenge it is.
I turned 40 this year. Most guys get a car or go on a fancy vacation. I ate pork and turned inward instead. I still have a ways to go in terms of my abilities in every way. I’m still working and evolving. Getting work remains an issue. The work I have been chosen for is amazing, but it is not enough for financial security yet. At this point in my life that is a central issue – but most of my mentors said that doing great work was the key. So I continue with that in my mind, and try not to let insecurity get the best of me.
I am still a committed artist. I don’t think that will change before I stop breathing. I rarely have a moment in the day where sound is not spinning through my mind. I remember my commitments and my love of this, and the richness I feel every time I have the chance to make art and work at making it better. It is easy to remember this truth: Art is much more than entertainment. Art gives you spiritual and literal sustenance.
And now, go eat some art. 😉
John Wiens, Conductor 