“There is No Fair…”

I cannot count all the times I have heard, “…it’s not fair that this person or that person is doing a gig and they aren’t any better than I am…” or better yet, “Yeah, I know how they got the job, they know so and so and are F’ing so and so or are part of the so and so family…”

Both above statements are true and false.  Take your choice and add a multiplicity of different permutations and add them to the mix and they will all work.  There is NO fair in this business and like so many of the Art’s related metier’s, there are no real ways of succeeding in the Biz.

Of course, if you are part of that very tiny group of privileged individuals who are hangin’ with those individuals making the decision to work with you whether you are a stylist, photographer, model, make-up artist, etc and I am one of those decision makers in the food chain, then perhaps you have an in.  I say perhaps because a decision can change on the turn of a dime.

An example and I won’t mention names goes like this…”So and So is a really good hair stylist and I want to work with her…”.  But So and So make-up artist doesn’t really feel comfortable working with this person for some Dumb F’ck reason that shouldn’t mean zip to the final product but does.  It does because there is a chemistry that I want and without it the final product will not be the same if I don’t use those two incredibly ego hungry yet talented individuals. Well, I have to make a decision based on this type of complication and decide if I want to risk F’ing up my shoot for a minor caprice that may occur if I put them together in to the mix or go with someone else.

I end up not using the hair stylist.  The next time I want to work with her, her agent conveniently says she is not available…Now, she lost a  potential job working with me for a rather prestigious magazine and decided to make me pay for a while for my sins

Now, was it fair that she got nixed in lieu of the make-up artist and his little caprice?  Probably not and it wasn’t fair.  But it happens every day and the sooner you realize it, the sooner you will understand that if you let it pass graciously, you may be considered the next time for not making such a big deal out of it.

Above Image by: Mary McQuillan

Part 10

Bruce Jones, Photographer, responded to my Post “The Politics of Fashion Photography Part 6“ with his very illuminating thoughts. I felt it was worthy of a separate post so here it is:

by: Bruce Jones

This is hardly unique to “fashion photography.” In my former life as a freelance corporate communications producer, I had plenty of opportunity to observe how the game is played in the executive board rooms of the Billionaire Boys Club. If you have any aspirations of climbing the management ladder of a Fortune 500 you learn the rules of communication: you don’t piss people off, even when they deserve it; you don’t bring your personal problems to work; you keep your personal opinions to yourself; you don’t gossip about somebody else’s rotten attitude in the break room; and you network network network, which means above all maintaining good relationships with the people you’re already working with.

Congress follows Robert’s Rules of Order, not because they’re a bunch of antiquated stuffed shirts, but because it provides a formula for how to vehemently disagree with somebody today in a manner that allows you to cooperate with him tomorrow.

I also worked as an actor/director in theatre for a lot of years; it’s a collaborative art form, and its pecking order varies–I’m directing you in this show; you may be directing me tomorrow. Asserting power needlessly when I have it is likely to bite me in the ass later when I don’t.

Every major institution, particularly if it involves the generation of money, is based on a management hierarchy that gets smaller in numbers at the top in inverse proportion to the amount of influence wielded by the few who occupy the big offices. And it’s pretty hard to predict today who that’s going to be tomorrow, so smart ladder climbers know that getting in a snit with a peer has little present upside and huge potential downside down the road.

Heck, even a functional family understands that it’s best to hold your tongue when you’re angry because otherwise the words that come out get sandblasted into the memories of the people you care about and can sit there for years, gunny-sacked away for ammunition in a future disagreement.

The irony is that your advice is only partially and very selectively true. Your stylist was a bitch who, in spite of her rotten attitude, now works for a company you’d like to do business with. Apparently your outburst didn’t help you, but hers apparently had no adverse affect on her career. The fashion world is full of annoying divas, both photographers and models, who can’t accommodate all of the requests they get for high-end work. Annie Leibowitz is a notorious walking disaster in her personal life, and her inability to manage her business affairs in a professional manner has her infamously in trouble with bankruptcy courts, but I just saw her starring as “famous photographer Annie Leibowitz” in a Hewlett-Packard commercial yesterday. Any one of us who follows fashion photography could name a dozen lesser-known photographers with equal or greater talent who would be far less drama (and $1000s less expense) to work with than someone with this much baggage who always runs her productions massively over budget, but I’m assuming her reputation–both the good and the bad–isn’t affecting her bookings any.

Take your pick of examples from the corporate world who have proven to be fabulously incompetent but who continue to shuffle from company to company, precisely because–not in spite of the fact that–it’s a small universe at the top, and people who hire important people like to work with known commodities. You may have failed in your last stop–as Carly Fiorina did spectacularly at HP–but the fact that HP was willing to hire you as CEO in the first place is all the resume you need to move to the next job. I hear she’s running for Congress now. Go figure.

The bottom line is that notoriety and historical achievement often trump talent, disposition, and manners when the good jobs–the ones people’s reputations depend on–are handed out. Following the common-sense networking rules of work-place decorum that you just handed out probably won’t ever HARM the average guy’s opportunities for advancement, but if your talent has gotten you a big enough name, bad behavior probably won’t hurt you either. John McCain’s reputation as a shoot-from-the-hip independent thinker didn’t exactly endear him to the rank-and-file Republican flock, but once he finally secured the nomination, EVERYBODY wanted to stand next to him for the photo op.

Yes, unkind words can come back to haunt you. Unless they don’t.

by: Benjamin Kanarek

I’ve never been a big RAP person. More in to Alternative Rock, Rock, Pop-Rock and R&B.

But Die Antwoord (which means The Answer) from South AfriKa are really Special. They can Rap at 50,000,000 Miles Per Hour and have some really interesting melodic content blended in to the Mix. Their lyrical content is controversial and worth listening to. It says a lot about the human condition in a sector of South AfriKan culture that is  an in your face stark revelation. It also gives one a behind the scene’s look at South AfriKa’s financially underprivileged white minority. Yo-Landi the female in the group is quirky, strange and sexy. I want to call their style of music “Punk wRap”. Why not, it’s like a Punk backlash and Rap wrapped in to a hybridized melting pot. Die Antwoord will be touring in Europe and North America later this year. Could be a real cultural eye opener for all of you Rap Aficionado’s. Have a listen…“Enter the Ninja”

Here is a recent interview with Die Antwoord, just after their first concert:

This may be considered way off topic, but is of such great significance that I felt compelled to share this interview and intermingled video footage from the Space Shuttle and Apollo missions, that will at the very least have you ponder the possibilities.

Dr. Edgar Mitchell earned his doctorates from several Universities and was one of the astronauts to have walked on the moon. He claims that the UFO presence is here and has been visiting this planet for perhaps thousands of years and that contact has been made. He believes that there has been a government cover up since the early 50′s and that this information has been withheld from the public at large. He is also the founder of  IONS Institute of Noetic Sciences which is

located in Northern California that conducts and sponsors leading-edge research into the potentials and powers of consciousness—including perceptions, beliefs, attention, intention, and intuition. The Institute maintains a commitment to scientific rigour while exploring phenomena that have been largely overlooked by mainstream science.

This may sound like X-Files stuff, but when you hear it from a man of such high esteem, it makes one sit up and take note.

None the less here are a couple of videos that you may find illuminating and hopefully thought provoking. I most certainly was taken aback by his revelations.

By Marvin Kanarek

A simple epiphany without the guidance of The Muse.

Have you ever watched a child draw? Have you noticed how deeply absorbed and focused they are while they draw?

Have you visited a group exhibition of children’s drawings created during their early formative years? I have. What struck me was the overall “sameness” of  the work. The use of very basic primary colours. Simplistic two dimensionality. Little if any depth of field. Why if they are encouraged or feel compelled to continue as they get older does their work take on a different personality? Different colours? Alternate realities and subject matter?. Different levels of technique and execution?

Simple answer that only came to me right now.

Personal Life Experience!

by Marvin Kanarek

Anyone who has lived in Europe as I have, especially in any one of the three “Latin” countries, France, Italy, or Spain has definitely spent time in bistros, cafés and bars. Sometimes it’s just a neighbourhood joint that you frequent. Other times it may be a new place where you meet with some friends. Coffee and possibly a side of Calva is an integral part of life in Paris. I can’t begin to count the number of cafés, bars etc… That I frequented during my 9 years in Paris and in a few small towns in Burgundy.

The one thing that impressed me was the quality of the coffee, espressos, and the crème. You could order what is called a Café Américain which in essence was a watered down version of the “normal” caffeine. The hundreds of cups I swallowed where served in hundreds of unpretentious bars and bistros. No fancy names. No “Baristas”. No Ventis. No Grandes. No Soy Mocha Lattes. No NoCal, LoCal anything. Just plain normal great coffee, usually of the 100% Arabica variety.

Then I returned to California where something called Starbucks and their mysterious green circled logos began popping up all over the pastel coloured face of Los Angeles like some out of control case of acute acne. What was this place with some strange woman as it’s figurehead? My curiosity got the better of me. Like a cat ready to be killed, I ventured into this mysterious place in Beverly Hills. Two mistakes, right from the onset.

So I wander in sometime in the late morning in need of coffee. Just a coffee. I am immediately taken aback by the laptop versus human being ratio. Steve Jobs’ progeny was well represented in the trendoid décor. I also noticed people deeply ensconced in the few plushy club chairs in some corners. They looked like they had no intention of leaving for a long time. Were they homeless? Others sat staring longingly at their cell phones cradling them in their hands waiting for the personal validation that would come the instant that their fashion accessory would chime, bleep, blip or play snippets of some Auto-tuned piece of shit called music! Don’t these people have pockets, messenger bags, or purses for chrisse-sakes?? Does the phrase,”get a life” mean anything here? Two people, a man and woman, sat face to face at a small table. Both heads down. They where transfixed and hypnotized by their Blackberries. Not a word uttered, not a stare shared between the two of them. The beginnings of a wonderful well deserved and deep relationship I’m sure. Does the phrase “human connection” mean anything to the two of you?? Minutes passed and then I realized that I might be a tad impolite staring at these numb humanoids. Then I realized, everyone was too “busy” to even notice what I’m sure was my gaping mouthed stare.

My trance was broken by a woman who boldly approached a male and his MacBook Pro. He feigned surprise as she stood before his club chair. Surprised?? Bullshit!! I could almost hear him screaming “Somebody notice me, please. Someone, Anyone!!”. Well there she was! First words out of her mouth. “Is that the new MacBook Pro?”. Wow! A match made in heaven! A great and profound love story in the making! Lucky guy! Blessed woman! I silently wished both of them, their cell phones, their Blackberries, and especially their new Macs much happiness and enlightenment! I felt all warm and fuzzy bearing witness to this moving and momentous union. Imagine the memories they’ll share! Wow! E-Harmony, caffeine and technology all in one fell swoop. Doesn’t get any better than this! Shit! I forgot! I need a coffee! I approached one of those mysterious masters called “barista”, another customer was ahead of me. My eyes wandered during the interim. Huddled in the corner, I noticed a familiar face. His head was down…

He was in the company of a woman who looked like someone of the agent or manager ilk. What astonished me, was that nobody noticed him! Preoccupation with texting, celling and laptopping will do that. No wonder there’s so many god-dammed car accidents! Anyways, I certainly did notice him! Man! Does Tom Cruise have a huge head or what? I thought. Seriously it’s enormous in relation to his body mass. I could tell even though he was sitting.

“Can I help you sir?” I turned to make eye contact with the perky counter girl. Oh Yeah, coffee! “Yeah sure, I’d like a black, medium sized coffee please”. Blank momentary stare. “No latte sir?”. Umm, no thank you. “No flavoured syrup?” Not really, thanks. “Sir, did you say venti or grande?” Umm, I said neither of those two, I said a medium. Is that a problem? “Of course not sir. Would you like a breakfast blend, a Nigerian or a Seattle reserve cellars limited edition golden portfolio blend?” Ummmmmm, none of the above. Just give me the strongest, blackest coffee you have. From behind me I suddenly heard the entire room rise to an audible whisper… As I turned, Tom Cruise, his enormous head and his agent were leaving the building.

“Here you go sir. Would you like a scone or sandwich?” No thank you. I paid my two dollars. The glass tip jar like some giant Cyclops eye was staring at me. Okay, I get it. Your fabulous barista style of customer service warrants the additional dollar. I satiated the glass globe with a rumpled dollar snack. I saw an imaginary tongue slurp it’s clear glass lips. Cyber love surrounded me as I headed for the door. The cool late morning air of Beverly Hills sent a slight chill through me. I needed a hot caffeine hit to warm me up. WTF!! This tastes like shit!! Much ado about nothing! I returned to the counter with my cup full of the false promise of coffee. “There’s something wrong with your coffee”, I uttered to the perky counter gidget! “What seems to be the problem sir?” Well for starters it tastes a little weak and to be honest, it’s rather poor. Is it a new batch? “Yes sir, freshly brewed”. Yeah, if you like cat piss, I muttered under my breath. “Would you like another cup sir?” I think so I rattled back!.. “Here you go sir”, she chirped. Disappointment and frustration soaked my palate once again! “Is that better?”, she asked, bubbling with perkiness. Oh yeah, that’s just fabulous, I smiled back at her. I calmly walked past the surrounding cyber somnambulant towards the closest garbage receptacle.

I poured the cup of let down into the twisted mosaic of cups, uneaten leftovers, paper plates, napkins and condiments. I slid back out into the cool Gucci, Cartier tainted air. I reflected for a nanosecond on the truism that one man’s garbage is another man’s feast. Or something like that. I reflected on my years in Paris. My experiences with wine and coffee. I knew that I wasn’t one of those snobs who spoke of bouquets and finishes and all that other crap I never understood. I just knew that for me, if a wine or coffee was delicious, that’s all that mattered. This certainly wasn’t one of those occasions. Not much better than typical diner coffee. This crap would be put to shame by any of those hundreds of unassuming cafés or bistros that served coffee in Paris, Without all the fucking syrups, venti, grande, barista bullshit thank you! Then I thought about the arrogance of the owner of Starbucks, I think Shultz is his name, who has the audacity to spread his message of caffeine mediocrity to Paris and Rome! I don’t begrudge his success. It’s the epitome of American Entrepreneurial Spirit! It’s what the real America was once all about. So was the Pet Rock! Here’s a man who spent a fortune on his god-dammed walk in closet in his sprawling Seattle mansion, or wherever it is. Do I want to support that lifestyle? Not me! His outlets in those cities are mere novelties. If that’s what his goal is. Well. Mission accomplished! Being that the overall bar of society has been lowered, I guess there’s room for more mediocrity!

The entities, American Idol, Starbucks, The Arts, Government, Human interaction have all been compromised! We are willing to accept second best, or even worse! We live in a room full of shit and don’t even notice it anymore!

WTF?? I’ll tell you WTF!
 Wake up and smell the coffee!
 And BTW, The Emperor is NAKED!!… Peace? for 2010 and beyond.

by Marvin Kanarek

I’m now being challenged by questions:

What is Art?

Does Life imitate Art?

Does Art mirror Life?

Can Art exist without Life?

Can life exist without Art?

Can you see Art all around you?

Are you an observer of that Art?

Are you a part of it?

Would it exist without you?

Does a gallery wall validate Art?

Is expression that never hangs in a gallery still Art?

Are we all born creative?

Why do many of us kill the creative spirit?

Is life without creative expression a failure?

Are dreams and Art symbiotic.?

Can one note and one word be a song?

Is a song never expressed or committed still music?

Are words committed to a page a story?

Can a story never told still exist?

Can the memory of a photo never taken?

Still be a photo?

Is conversation Art?

Are words never spoken and silence Art?

Are the spaces between notes and chords music?

If you dance within are you a dancer?

Is Art an obsession?

Is there Art in conversation?

Without nightmares would we understand dreams?

Are dreams the escape

Or the reality we never embrace?

Is the artist responsible to himself?

Or his public?

Is compromise the death knoll of creativity?

Can knowledge and technical virtuosity

Become a prison?

Is expression without technical knowledge and virtuosity

Still Art?

If there was nobody to witness, appreciate or critique your expression and creativity?

Would you continue?

Is compromise the child of failure?

Without integrity can true Art exist?

Can integrity be learned?

Can success be appreciated without failure?

Is maintaining your artistic integrity

The only success you aspire to?

Without acceptance are you a failure?

Do you know who you are?

Can you be lost and still be credible?

Can any form of expression coming from?

A state of comfort be valid?

Do you need validity?

Do you fear being lost?

Do you fear being invalidated?

Have you ever embraced the fear?

To kill the fright?

Do you feel compelled to create because you feel important ?

Or because it’s important for you to create?

Are you at peace with yourself?

Do you fear the silence?

Can silence be deafening?

Do you fear Loneliness?

Do you feel committed to the path

That has chosen you?

Do you fear failure?

Can you learn from your failures?

Can success exist without failure?

Do you learn something everyday?

Do you listen to others?

Do you listen to yourself?

Do you observe others?

Do you observe yourself?

Do you understand yourself?

Do you need to be understood?

Can you accept not being understood?

What is Art?

Does life imitate Art?

Does art mirror life?

Can Art exist without life?

Can life exist without Art?

Later… Peace…

The State of the Artist

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

by Marvin Kanarek

“Body Of Work” is here, let’s see where this goes…

Someone who designs a single house is not an architect. Someone who writes a single song or set of lyrics is not a songwriter. A person who owns a musical instrument is not a musician. A single drawing or painting or photograph does not make an artist nor a photographer. The raw talent may be there but is only in it’s embryonic stage… As I’m writing this unfettered by preconception, I remember hearing this term, “Body Of Work” for the first time by Dennis Hopper. All we have as artist’s when all is said and done is our “Body Of Work”. A body of work is like a road map that finitely lays out a path, a chronology. The  progression of ideas and concepts becomes evident. Perhaps even a unified style becomes obvious. It is the signature and fingerprint of the creative spirit that only an extensive body of work can lay bare for both the artist and the onlooker. Without this vital commodity there is nothing to judge, evaluate or appreciate… It is the essential sub conscious goal, obsession for those who’s paths have been chosen. Without the body of work there is no definitive creative personality, no common denominator. Nothing to discuss.

Asking to judge or critique a single piece of work is meaningless. It’s tantamount to judging someone predicated on a single word, or taste just one spice in a complex recipe.

“Body Of Work” is a series of milestones that establish where the artist began, where he or she is now and even possibly foresee where they are going. The body of work for an artist is his or her legacy as much as a stock portfolio or assets are for those driven by money and material gain. A gallery, or record label, or book publisher will not take you on as an artist based on a single painting, or song, or word. A single work perceived by others as genius may inspire them to follow your progress or even assist in your development, but it is the “Body Of Work” that rules supreme. Without it how can you or anyone else understand where or who you are? This path that has chosen us is not for the faint of He-Art! The Muse has left the building… I will now stop…

The State of the Artist

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 7

by Marvin Kanarek

It’s back. I’m not sure why I was left with “Body Of Work”. It’s obvious to me right now that it won’t be pursued during this writing.

Hoping it’s tossed at me again at a later date. Right now what is resonating within me is, acceptance of praise and criticism and the meaning of Art to the onlooker, the listener and the reader. A seminal moment has been revisited for me. My first major tour with an important artist. I was the drummer. Big show in Detroit. Backstage after the show, we were asked if we would sign autographs. We consented and were led out the stage door to be confronted by security holding back about a couple of hundred people (fans).

A very young couple approached me with the tour brochure. The very young man, also a drummer handed me the brochure nervously. He told me that I had now become one of his favourite drummers and would I sign the the booklet? I immediately started to thank him profusely. I also asked if he wasn’t sure that he wanted the autograph of the artist I was backing up. I continued to humble myself before him and his girlfriend. He snatched the booklet from my hands and they both walked away. The seasoned tour weary artist was within earshot. He approached me saying “do you think that the fans want to know that you are normal like they are”?. Whether you like it or not, you are on a pedestal. In my case it was a drum riser. He went on to say, “just accept the compliment with grace, sign the damn thing, then do the same with every other fan” Do it with dignity and humility. Accept the praise. Don’t be arrogant about it. You have touched someone very deeply. Let them leave with great memories of the “encounter”and especially if it’s a fledgling musician, allow them to be left with the possibility of realizing their dreams. Maybe one day they too will be up there on the world stage. Interesting. Lesson learned.

I know that I can only do what I’m capable of. If it resonates within someone, that’s wonderful If it doesn’t, I’m not going to quit! I have received as much praise as I have criticism. What separated the artists from the boys is the obsessive compulsion to get the work out there. Once it does, the critics and admirers come out of the wood work. A thick skinned resilience is a requirement. A balanced perspective of who you are and what you do is paramount. The realization that you have so much left to learn is the fire that has to keep burning. I guess this applies to all walks of life, but it is a much more intense dynamic as an artist. It gets very personal. You are challenged by emotions that are inspired by both the criticism and the praise.

My first show in Paris was both an uplifting experience and an awakening. The gallery owner insisted that I be available at the opening to speak to potential patrons and collectors. I have always been a performer, but never in that venue. I told the gallery curator that this might be a bad idea. Upon his insistence I gave in. There was an elderly, very well dressed woman who was watching from afar. She sat observing me in a chair, cane in hand. I was helping myself to a glass of wine when she finally approached me. She asked if I could stand in front of one of my paintings to answer some of her questions. I of course had to comply. She was very intelligent and soft spoken. She said to me, and I’m only paraphrasing, “There is a lot of symbolism in your work. I see the suffering of humanity, the Joy of Humanity, highly ordered rhythm and movement, well placed and planned colours, layers of meanings and messages”. Am I correct?”. I stared for a moment avoiding her eyes. I finally said without looking at her “If that’s what you see, then it’s there” I knew that the conversation shouldn’t continue anymore, but she persisted. I/you, have to understand that I wasn’t quite there as a painter who had yet accepted this  romanticized “on the pedestal” perception of the artist.

So she asked the inevitable question: “How long did it take you to paint this work?”. What came out of me was “All my life”. She smiled approvingly. I hoped it was over. I was nervous, drunk and under the microscope. She then asked “What inspires you, how do you do this?”. What came out of me was something like: “My inspiration? How does this come out of me?”. “Think of me as a monkey, who with enough time, attempts and lot’s of alcohol and drugs finally puts out something tolerable!”. Both her and her smile quickly went away. I couldn’t deal with being on the pedestal. The gallery owner couldn’t deal with my unpredictability. He suggested that it would be better if he handled the “schmoozing”. My band played. I was relieved. Hadn’t thought about that one for quite a while. I don’t sabotage myself as much as I used to… This one is over… Later?… Again, sorry for typos, etc… It’s the way it is…….

The State of the Artist

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 6

Part 7

An interesting interview with Marilyn Manson. Quite the contrast from what one might have thought of him prior to this interview.

Marilyn Manson is quite a brilliant and forward thinking Human Being. I have also added an excerpt from Henry Rollins speaking tour in Israel, of which he is a staunch supporter.

I’ll say no more and let the interview speak for itself…

An excerpt from the Henry Rollins Speaking Tour in Israel