SCENIUS: For your own good
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Yesterday I attended the Alchemy Artists Social, the first in a series of get-togethers we’ve planned to support more and bigger art projects at Alchemy. The topics are based on the needs expressed by those artists at the first Social last month, and they range from how to use power tools, or how to negotiate the (new) grant process, to how to overcome the impostor syndrome.
I addressed our impostor syndrome with a pared-down version of my Lichtenbergianism presentation, given that most of our fears of inadequacy stem from our certainty that we can not spurt out a shinyperfect painting or sculpture or song or cocktail. Whatever we produce, it seems, is flawed. (I will return to this bit on Wednesday.)
As I drove home, I was feeling really high on my own supply of serotonin and endorphins, and I realized it was not due only to my presentation being well-received. It was because I was making it possible for others to create. I was supporting other artists, and for me that’s a major force in any scenius.
I have had the opportunity to boost many artists over my long career, and it’s always a thrill. Am I concerned that they might end up being more successful than I? Quite the contrary: I hope they are way more successful than I.
The point here is that in our Lichtenbergian Precept of AUDIENCE, we have three AUDIENCES:
Those people out there
Those people right here
Ourselves
It’s that second audience — those people right here — our scenius — that engages us more directly than that larger crowd we hope will make us rich and famous. And part of that engagement is support of each other: we encourage our fellow artists in their art, console them when it’s not going well, boost their work to others outside the group, and rejoice in their successes.
Therefore, if you need an ego boost, a feel-good shot of brain chemicals, get out there and boost your friends’ work. It will help, trust me.
