I have been having a discussion with myself about this for awhile. Do artists publish blogs? I am serious about making tapestry and in doing that about expressing something important--I am interested in making art. But I like keeping a blog. It is a way to push myself to think about things and to try to reach out to the fiber community and maybe even to see what other people think.
I don't want my blog to just be random carpet sweepings from the recesses of my mind however, and sometimes I don't censor what comes out quickly enough.
I have just been listening to Syne Mitchell's WeaveCast radio show. I learned of it recently when someone recommended I listen to her interview of James Koehler. (It is a wonderful interview, so go listen.) I realized today when searching her archives that she has interviewed a great number of tapestry artists. I love this technology and that someone has gone to the trouble to put together these great interviews and share them with the rest of us. James Koehler, Sarah Swett, Michael Rohde, and Mary Zicafoose are the tapestry artists I found. She also did a wonderful interview with Claudia Chase of Mirrix looms in which I found out the looms are assembled at a place called Sunshine House which is a workshop for the developmentally disabled. As an occupational therapist who has worked extensively with this population, I love that! I am so thrilled to find that my loom was made not only in the USA but by people with developmental disabilities. Thanks Claudia! (No, I have no affiliation with Mirrix, I just love their looms--and most of my weaving is done on huge floor looms. My Mirrix is my "fun" loom.)
So all of this got me thinking about blogs and whether they were just more word-making clutter in our already bursting worlds, or if there was anything constructive to add to society/the world/humanity by participating in the blogosphere. I'd say that Syne Mitchell has made a very positive contribution to the weaving community with WeaveZine. But what about my little blog? Is it just distracting me from the loom or am I contributing something?
I think that many artists have this aura of secrecy about them and their work is their communication with the outside world. (Though it does occur to me that perhaps they just don't have time to publish blogs.) Do you have to keep all your methods a secret to be an artist? I like transparency and would be happy to teach anyone my methods. That doesn't make me less of an artist, does it? The art world can be so fickle. Maybe the important thing is only how I feel about it.
Probably what it comes down to is whether or not working on a blog is pushing forward my art-making or distracting me from it. Does it complicate my mind and make me less available to ideas and creativity? Is it just one more stream of words obfuscating what might be really important--lying silent and unnoticed (or avoided) in the recesses of my mind? Or does it contribute something useful? I am just not sure.
Yep, cutting another one off...