Dianna Cates Dunn » Blog

Is there inherent guilt in being an artist?

Or is it just me? 

Though my linage does not include any direct links to those hardy Huguenots that landed at Plymouth Rock, I seem to have a firm grasp on some of their puritanical beliefs that America society holds on to zealously to this day. I am not referencing religious piety here, I am talking about how our work ethos has been molded directly by those stern, hard working, no-nonsense, hard working, fault finding, hard working, witch burning, hard working, finger-pointing, pull yourself by your own bootstraps, Puritans! (Please do not confuse these Puritans the ones who cared for the ill, fed the children, wanted peaceful co-existence with the Native Americans, decided tobacco was cool and, otherwise, just wanted a quiet life)

Back to that question; Is it just me?

The unspoken, unfounded and uninformed assumption that artist don't really work at what they do gets really old really fast. And if I hear one more person tell me that what I get to do is so fun! (implying there is no work/struggle/sacrifice involved) I may just bite my tongue in half. But still- and more to the point-why do I then feel a twinge of quilt for pursuing my passion? In this age where the dollar is God, meaning the more dollars you have puts you further up that heavenly ladder, is it any wonder that those of us who are not heirs to the Carnegie fortune, and have chosen a certain....no make that an uncertain career...with sometime volatile income swings feel, at times, foolish? 

Well, my fellow artists, at times it probably is.

However, at all the other times, I don't think it is! Remember, we artists are the risk takers of the world. We're the ones who question the norm, challenge the unchallenged, ponder the whys and wherefores, see what others don't, and speak of the unmentionable. We dare to stand apart from the crowd yet, we are the first to appreciate all the individuals that make up the crowd. Yes, we are the dreamers, we are the seers, we provide the mirror that all society needs to gaze in to in order to try to understand itself. We, dear ones, are the Blessed.

Have a differing point of view? Wonderful!! But, please just take a foolish moment to ponder your blessings as an artist before you email me back.