IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH

IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH

A letter containing a special Merton metaphor for a discouraged artist friend


Merton, with a special metaphor, offers insight and sympathy to a discouraged artist friend.  This fellow creator has put much effort into his art business and is disappointed with interest in and sales of his work.  The friend feels he must be realistic (and possibly shut the endeavor down) since it is not bringing in enough income.

I have offered similar sentiments (to what you will read below) in other letters and essays.  This time, I have created a special metaphor to help with putting forth my thoughts.  As always, it is my hope that my words might coalesce my own thoughts, plus uplift and offer insight to readers and artist friends. I will verbalize my ideas again, since (especially to artists) one really cannot say these things enough.  

Disappointment, discouragement, frustration, feelings of "Oh boy, all my effort, creativity and enthusiasm has come to nought" can be the constant companion of the artist if we do not remember and hold onto the ideas I express below.

___________________________


Awww... sorry buddy!

I know it can be hard.  Over the past decade, I have experimented with many ways of offering my abilities, talents, and ideas in the arts.  Some pan out creatively, some bring in income, some do both, some do one but not the other, and some do neither.

We do, often, have to make decisions about the continuance of our efforts, and consider things such as income, "success," effort and hours versus such practicalities, etc.  However, I personally do not think that sales and income are the measure of success in the arts.  And there is the idea, which I express below, that we do not have to think of each endeavor as a separate thing, and judge it by financial success.

Yes, lack of attention and interest in our work (and lack of "sales") can be disheartening. What I tend to do (and this has been very helpful to my self concept, inspiration, and desire to continue creating as my muse rather than sales directs) is to think of ALL my creative endeavors in various areas of the arts as me.  I put them all in one big creative bucket, instead of considering the various degrees of "success" each has (as the world defines it: attention, notice, sales, etc.).  I think of it all as "coming out in the wash."  

What exactly do I mean by this metaphor of a wash-load?  Well, lets expand a bit upon what I have written in the paragraph above.  Instead of judging each thing I do creatively by the world's standards ("Does anyone see it and appreciate it?"  "Are lots of people seeing it and appreciating it?"  "Is it selling and making money?"  "Is it making a profit?"  "Is it critically acclaimed?", etc.), I consider all that I do creatively as sort of one big creation and as me.  I am my product.  Is what I do as a whole being seen, appreciated, bringing home some (not necessarily a lot, but at least some) bacon?  That for me is the question.

What I have explained above, to me, makes sense.  It is a good, practical philosophy for an artist to have.  It will help us to not lose heart and to keep on creating.   Let us think of our endeavors as one big load of creative stuff that we throw in the wash, let it whoosh around.  The whooshing of all those different pieces of clothing (read artistic efforts) makes up us as a person and artist.  The financial part comes out in the wash.  

We do not have to consider each part of our artistic life separately and abandon it if it's not seen, acclaimed, or profitable.  Is the WHOLE of what we do seen, somewhat appreciated, and keeps a roof over our head?  That, to me, is a much better, art and muse encouraging paradigm in which to operate as an artist/creative person.  Pieces of our artistic "wash load" might not individually meet the world's criteria for success, but that does not mean they should necessarily be tossed out  of the wash.  They may be an integral part of us, our process, our growth, our motivation, whether they meet the world's definition of successful, or not. And, later they may be successful or lead us to something that is.  

Besides, to me at least, success is not a terribly important part of MY criteria.  I have pretty much rejected much of the world anyway, though I am human and do, to some extent, live in it.   I think this is the case with many artists, hermits, iconoclasts, persons who are just a bit different.  (And the world greatly needs us, whether it knows it or not!)

Now, even with that coming out in the wash idea in place, and even considering all that I have said above, we may want to adjust our efforts, and we may choose to abandon or put aside certain of our efforts, certain parts of the wash load.  We may choose to stop having colored t shirts or undies (lol) be a part of that load.  But, I do try to remember that it is not the individual profitability, notice or acclaim of an endeavor which, for me, makes the decision.  It is whether or not this thing continues to speak to my heart and soul, whether or not my muse is promoting it in me, and whether or not it brings me joy and vitality when I do/create it.

Whether or not aspects of our artistic output "pay the bills," are appreciated, approved of, or seen by anyone at all, we are (no matter what) putting wonderful, creative energy out into the world.  Again, this is a part of that idea I spoke of above, that artists are very important to the world, whether it knows/accepts this or not.   This energy that artists put forth by creating (whether seen or appreciated or not) IS received by others because we are all one, or at least connected (depending on our spiritual view).  

Just as hermits praying on the mountain do immeasurable good (whether appreciated, approved of or not) so artists (noticed or "selling") are blessing the world. Our creative "wash-loads," (agitating, whooshing and eventually coming out in a nice, dried, pressed, folded wash-load) mean something.  Even if no one comes by to ooh and ah at our wash-load, smell its wondrous smell, see its neat stack of textures and colors, that washer (and dryer too) has been humming along.  It has been sending out important energy to the world.  

Yes, we may have our creative wash-load for sale.  And, perhaps only certain items may be sold and bring in bacon.  But it is OK and good that we go through the process and have our washer and dryer humming along and sending out energy to the world.  Artists and their muses may be hidden away in humble little "utility rooms" all over the planet, their creative washers and dryers humming, and no one may know.  Only a few shirts, or a shirt or pant that we have carefully washed, dried, and pressed to perfection may "sell" out of a whole load.  But it is OK.

It is the humming along that counts.  We are mysterious, lovely, creative machines, always doing a load of creative work.  And, this does send out useful energy into the world.  Seemingly hidden or not, we are all connected and one... and all benefit from the humming energy of those creative machines known as artists.  

So next time you do a load of laundry, pass through your utility room with its washer and dryer, pass a laundromat, etc.,  think of the humble artist, churning out loads of artistic laundry, trusting that his or her work matters, even if only a few pieces of carefully processed "laundry" are noticed, picked up, sniffed, admired for their perfect ironing, and purchased.

Do you like my metaphor?  It's rather silly, but I thought it sorta worked!

Sending you good thoughts and happy artist prayers...

Your friend,
Merton