I’m excited about this book! I think musicians, particularly blues musicians, would be great sources for this book. For example, Furry Lewis was a street sweeper almost his entire life and John Lee Hooker worked at an auto plant while recording his first hit singles
Great suggestion. I was already thinking a lot about jazz musicians, but you're right that bluesmen's stories would be just as good. I did not know about Furry Lewis and John Lee Hooker's day jobs—noted!
Hi Mason, I have been married to an artist for 45 years. The economy and gentrification has changed where he has worked and our lives together considerably. For year's he can could get good studio spaces for about 25 cents/ sq. ft. Now these space are condos and upscale shops and he is working in the bedroom with a storage space to house all his work. I hope you will be able to include artists living in recent times. I loved your first book and have ordered your book on women in the arts. Good luck!!
Thanks, Linda! I have a morbid fascination with stories like these about the extremely low cost of living for artists in earlier times, even as recently as a couple decades ago. I very much want to carry my book all the way up to the present day and do justice to how radically things have changed in a relatively short time. In the meantime, I found William Deresiewicz's new book, The Death of the Artist, to be a very good and perceptive (albeit depressing) study of the uniquely difficult financial position of most arts workers today—you may want to check it out. And I hope you enjoy Daily Rituals: Women at Work!
First - great news! I'm really enjoying your newsletters - and it's a great topic
Second - Kafka is quoting Moby Dick ch. 32. Melville talking about writing his book. “For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draught—nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!”
Thanks for the kind words, Matt. And my apologies for the confusion re: Kafka/Melville. The title of my newsletter is Subtle Maneuvers — that phrase is from a Kafka letter. The proposed title of my book (and the title of this *issue* of the newsletter) is Time, Strength, Cash, Patience — as you rightly point out, that's from Moby Dick (such a great passage!).
This is SO GREAT. Warmest congratulations, and godspeed! If anyone is equipped to crush this, it's you.
I'm curious what era(s) the book will span. I ask because Kickstarter, Patreon, GoFundMe, and other contemporary crowdfunding initiatives are fascinating. Think of what Amanda Palmer, for instance, has done over and over again, under great scrutiny/criticism.
Thanks, Abbey! Currently I'm planning to go from the Renaissance all the way to the present day, delving deeply into a number of particularly rich, lively art scenes along the way (and skipping lightly over others in between). I do want to wind up with a look at the crowdfunded artist of the present moment; hopefully the book will kind of explain how we ended up here... though it may also feel like bit of a downer ending!
Congratulations, when I read the title I thought "man this is a great idea", how come noone ever wrote on this subject ! Makes total sense with your editorial posture. As for your deadline, you can do anything you set your mind to (quote Eminem ;). Looking forward to reading it !
The proposed book title is indeed from Melville. It's the title of my newsletter — Subtle Maneuvers — that comes from a Kafka letter. Sorry for the confusion! (I thought about explaining that the proposed book title is from Moby Dick, but it ended up seeming like too much — but now I can see that I probably should have done so. Maybe I'll go back and revise to make this more clear.)
Thanks, Sabrina! I ask myself the same question all the time . . . how did anyone manage to do ambitious long-term creative work and pay the rent? The answer isn't always encouraging (so many successful artists had family money/parental support! also, life used to be so much more affordable!) but it is almost always interesting or revealing . . .
The new Magritte biography talks about his career as an art forger (including Cezanne), I was shocked! But of course Genet was a criminal early on as well.
Arriving late to this thread but VERY EXCITED about this topic and love your humble, brass tacks strategy to getting it done!!! Will you touch on artists whose work is possible, in part, by virtue of their roles as primary householders (with partners who provide financial support)? Not quite patronage since they are doing lots of other non W-2 work in addition to their art, but still....I feel like these artists—traditionally women—are often not taken as seriously ...On another note, consider the story of recently passed "The Screaming Eagle of Soul" Charles Bradley, who worked as a cook and James Brown impersonator for twenty years before being discovered in his 50s. His unwavering positivity, commitment, and hope in the face of living on the streets and other difficulties is beyond inspiring. Thanks, Mason, for just "keep[ing] your hand moving" (Natalie Goldberg)--your work is changing lives and making the world a better place!
Belatedly, thank you for the kind words, I'm so glad the book idea appeals to you. And, yes, I'm planning to includes artists whose work was being the primary householder — definitely counts as a job, and definitely a challenging balance that I'm interested in exploring!
Hi Mason, Reading this one post, having just discovered Substack, prompts me to subscribe. I love your book project. This is an angle on the history of artists I've never seen before and look forward to reading it all. Please do write it!!! I am a lifetime artist rebuilding myself after a fire destroyed everything. There is something strangely magical about having one's slate wiped clean. Starting over isn't so much scary as it is liberating. IDEA - If you haven't explored him yet, I suggest Monet's struggles with cataracts and the scary surgeries he went through before he was able to do his final masterpieces of the water lilies.
Thank you for the supportive words, Kim, means a lot! Love this part of your comment: "There is something strangely magical about having one's slate wiped clean." Yes! I have had this feeling, too, though not after as devastating circumstances as your fire — hope the rebuilding is coming along. And will definitely be writing about Monet! All best, Mason
Haha, good advice! When I think of it as "procrastination," it sounds sort of glamorous, in a tortured-artist way. But when I think of it as "farting around"... well, that's disgusting and I just want to get back to work.
I want to read it NOW!
Me too. I can't wait :)
Thank you for the enthusiastic response! Working as fast as I can!
I’m excited about this book! I think musicians, particularly blues musicians, would be great sources for this book. For example, Furry Lewis was a street sweeper almost his entire life and John Lee Hooker worked at an auto plant while recording his first hit singles
Great suggestion. I was already thinking a lot about jazz musicians, but you're right that bluesmen's stories would be just as good. I did not know about Furry Lewis and John Lee Hooker's day jobs—noted!
Hi Mason, I have been married to an artist for 45 years. The economy and gentrification has changed where he has worked and our lives together considerably. For year's he can could get good studio spaces for about 25 cents/ sq. ft. Now these space are condos and upscale shops and he is working in the bedroom with a storage space to house all his work. I hope you will be able to include artists living in recent times. I loved your first book and have ordered your book on women in the arts. Good luck!!
Thanks, Linda! I have a morbid fascination with stories like these about the extremely low cost of living for artists in earlier times, even as recently as a couple decades ago. I very much want to carry my book all the way up to the present day and do justice to how radically things have changed in a relatively short time. In the meantime, I found William Deresiewicz's new book, The Death of the Artist, to be a very good and perceptive (albeit depressing) study of the uniquely difficult financial position of most arts workers today—you may want to check it out. And I hope you enjoy Daily Rituals: Women at Work!
First - great news! I'm really enjoying your newsletters - and it's a great topic
Second - Kafka is quoting Moby Dick ch. 32. Melville talking about writing his book. “For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draught—nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!”
Thanks for the kind words, Matt. And my apologies for the confusion re: Kafka/Melville. The title of my newsletter is Subtle Maneuvers — that phrase is from a Kafka letter. The proposed title of my book (and the title of this *issue* of the newsletter) is Time, Strength, Cash, Patience — as you rightly point out, that's from Moby Dick (such a great passage!).
This is SO GREAT. Warmest congratulations, and godspeed! If anyone is equipped to crush this, it's you.
I'm curious what era(s) the book will span. I ask because Kickstarter, Patreon, GoFundMe, and other contemporary crowdfunding initiatives are fascinating. Think of what Amanda Palmer, for instance, has done over and over again, under great scrutiny/criticism.
Thanks, Abbey! Currently I'm planning to go from the Renaissance all the way to the present day, delving deeply into a number of particularly rich, lively art scenes along the way (and skipping lightly over others in between). I do want to wind up with a look at the crowdfunded artist of the present moment; hopefully the book will kind of explain how we ended up here... though it may also feel like bit of a downer ending!
This sounds so terrific!! And who knows... maybe it'll inspire some much-needed change in the world of (and pathways to!) financing the arts. =)
Congratulations, when I read the title I thought "man this is a great idea", how come noone ever wrote on this subject ! Makes total sense with your editorial posture. As for your deadline, you can do anything you set your mind to (quote Eminem ;). Looking forward to reading it !
Thank you for the encouraging words, Martin—much appreciated!
I always thought this was a quote from Melville. Google search confirmed this. Did you find it attributed to Kafka?
The proposed book title is indeed from Melville. It's the title of my newsletter — Subtle Maneuvers — that comes from a Kafka letter. Sorry for the confusion! (I thought about explaining that the proposed book title is from Moby Dick, but it ended up seeming like too much — but now I can see that I probably should have done so. Maybe I'll go back and revise to make this more clear.)
Very excited to hear about the new book. Can't wait to read it!
Thank you, Sam, that means a lot!
So exciting to hear what your new book is about!! It’s a topic that fascinates me (seriously: how do artists make a living?!)
Thanks, Sabrina! I ask myself the same question all the time . . . how did anyone manage to do ambitious long-term creative work and pay the rent? The answer isn't always encouraging (so many successful artists had family money/parental support! also, life used to be so much more affordable!) but it is almost always interesting or revealing . . .
The new Magritte biography talks about his career as an art forger (including Cezanne), I was shocked! But of course Genet was a criminal early on as well.
Thanks, that's a useful lead! Will check out the new bio.
Arriving late to this thread but VERY EXCITED about this topic and love your humble, brass tacks strategy to getting it done!!! Will you touch on artists whose work is possible, in part, by virtue of their roles as primary householders (with partners who provide financial support)? Not quite patronage since they are doing lots of other non W-2 work in addition to their art, but still....I feel like these artists—traditionally women—are often not taken as seriously ...On another note, consider the story of recently passed "The Screaming Eagle of Soul" Charles Bradley, who worked as a cook and James Brown impersonator for twenty years before being discovered in his 50s. His unwavering positivity, commitment, and hope in the face of living on the streets and other difficulties is beyond inspiring. Thanks, Mason, for just "keep[ing] your hand moving" (Natalie Goldberg)--your work is changing lives and making the world a better place!
Belatedly, thank you for the kind words, I'm so glad the book idea appeals to you. And, yes, I'm planning to includes artists whose work was being the primary householder — definitely counts as a job, and definitely a challenging balance that I'm interested in exploring!
I am so excited about this book! Can't wait to read it! :)
Thanks, Keena, that means a lot!
Hi Mason, Reading this one post, having just discovered Substack, prompts me to subscribe. I love your book project. This is an angle on the history of artists I've never seen before and look forward to reading it all. Please do write it!!! I am a lifetime artist rebuilding myself after a fire destroyed everything. There is something strangely magical about having one's slate wiped clean. Starting over isn't so much scary as it is liberating. IDEA - If you haven't explored him yet, I suggest Monet's struggles with cataracts and the scary surgeries he went through before he was able to do his final masterpieces of the water lilies.
Thank you for the supportive words, Kim, means a lot! Love this part of your comment: "There is something strangely magical about having one's slate wiped clean." Yes! I have had this feeling, too, though not after as devastating circumstances as your fire — hope the rebuilding is coming along. And will definitely be writing about Monet! All best, Mason
Bought both your books and look forward to reading them. Cheers!
Thanks so much, hope you enjoy!
Congratulations! Can't wait to read!
Thanks, Jillian!
Consider my anticipation stoked!
You had me a Titian & Durer! Good luck with this project and don't fart around starting it :)
Haha, good advice! When I think of it as "procrastination," it sounds sort of glamorous, in a tortured-artist way. But when I think of it as "farting around"... well, that's disgusting and I just want to get back to work.