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ART LOGIC
There is some peculiar logic and unfortunate misinformation about artists in Anya Sebastian's response letter [Letters, Nov. 16:
] to Lynn Boca concerning the art exhibition of young artists at Gerald Peters Gallery. To preface, it is clear from Sebastian's description that her son has been dedicated and focused on his art from an early age. Good for him! On the other hand claiming that her son has been selling his work since age 16 as criteria that her son deserves to show his work is contrary to her explanation of the culture of art as "dysfunctional [and] laced with commercialism and greed." Selling work and working in the studio to hone one's ideas and skills are separate identities. Unfortunately today selling work has become an important ingredient for judging work.
Often it takes many years to develop ideas and craft. There are artists who have talent, insight and genius, such as Egon Schiele, who develop their work early. They are not in the majority. Deciding to continue working as an artist has always been a tough choice and difficult journey. Today the world of art is very quick to find the newest and youngest artist to present as the next art star. Showing at the Gerald Peters Gallery is a coup that many artists of all ages would like to do. Just who gets into shows and why is sometimes about connections, sometimes about money, sometimes about luck and sometimes about the work. But the bottom line for artists who are passionate about art and making art is the work itself. This is a force that takes them through all the tough times that may last many years.
I also take exception to Anya Sebastian's last sentence that states that "the untalented won't make it anyway, no matter how much money they have." Vincent Van Gogh never sold his work in his lifetime. His early drawings show his lack of talent and awkwardness, yet with perseverance he found a way to make marks and describe his world. His extraordinary work is not about talent at all. It is passion, perseverance, exploration and creativity that allow an artist to come into their own. Talent is an extra ingredient that can sometimes help and sometimes hinder. So I wish young Christopher good luck on his art journey and remind him to study artists past and present who were and are passionate about art, not the art market.
Diane Rolnick
Artist and Instructor
Santa Fe Community College
BABY TALK
Your article regarding birthing at St. Vincent Hospital [Outtakes, Nov. 16:
] was very hurtful to me as a labor and delivery nurse there for the past 18 years. You gave the impression that St. Vincent is a hostile and unfriendly place to bring a child into the world. I think this is very far from the truth. The vast majority of the staff of Women's Services at the hospital are caring, loving people who hold the miracle and importance of birth in the highest regard. We very much appreciate the contributions of the doulas in our community who provide invaluable support for women giving birth to the next generation. Their's is an important and often indispensable role. It seems to me a shame that an apparent personal vendetta between doulas would put into question the value of our work as nurses, doulas and other support personnel in providing what I really believe is caring service to our patients. I know that there are many mothers in this community who do not feel that they were "put in harm's way" by delivering their babies at St. Vincent. Quite the contrary.
Anne McConnell, RN
Women's Services
St. Vincent Hospital
COURTING DANGER
I am glad that the subject of domestic violence has gotten some attention in the Reporter recently [SFR Talk, Nov. 9:
; Letters, Nov. 16:
]. In my view it is the single most neglected issue today. We hear a lot about soldiers in Iraq (and rightly so), but in sheer numbers of people affected (a large proportion of the adult female population, not to mention their children) domestic violence is a much more pervasive and urgent issue.
In the loose coalition of agencies and charities involved with the issue of domestic violence, one that falls very short of being helpful in my opinion (and experience) is the family court. In the Santa Fe Family Court they have a doctrine that can be expressed "Marriages go wrong. A child does better with two parents," and, "It doesn't matter what the father is like, he is still the father." (These are direct quotes of a Priority Consultant at SFFC). To me it is common sense that abusers make about as good parents as they do husbands. I think the only parental "right" they should enjoy is to contribute to the financial security of the mother and child through child support.
But the SF Family Court in its blindness will force the escapee victim mother and her child to have a relationship with the father. This is cruel to the mother-who would rather forget the torture she has been through and the torturer-and exposes the child to the very real danger of abuse: emotional, physical and sexual by the abusive father. It is in this way that domestic abuse propagates. The kind of mentality that leads to domestic violence-a distorted sense of entitlement, an inability to empathize with the plight of others, a charismatic public persona and a secretive, mean and selfish private persona-is exactly that which also leads to child molestation.
The criminal justice system in Santa Fe, on the other hand, with its DV-educated and -aware police force, an intelligent, just and hard-working district attorney, and its very helpful and sympathetic victim advocates, is a model of how society should respond to domestic violence and abuse.
Lundy Bancroft, who has counselled more than 2,000 perpetrators of domestic violence over 15 years, in his excellent book
Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men
, states, "The treatment that protective mothers so often receive at the hands of family courts is among the most shameful secrets of modern jurisprudence." He is hoping that family courts will reform. It would be wonderful if Santa Fe Family Court were to lead the way. But how do we effect change with such entrenched and misguided ideas and, dare I say, personnel with a vested interest in the status quo.
Antonio Salvador
Santa Fe
NAILING IT
Boy, did Zane nail our moribund art scene to its weathered cross [Zane's World, Nov. 23:
]. As an arts professional here in Santa Fe (that is, I earn my "living" from this very same business I'm about to poke with a stick) I have to agree that, all too often, "another gallery opening…is about as stimulating…as another trip to the frozen foods aisle at Albertson's…." Except that the fish stick packaging looks, I dunno, feistier, somehow, than the average box full o' art that passes for an opening in Santa Fe. Can't we mix it up a little more, folks? Surely we can afford a gorgeous mistake or two?
Kathryn M Davis
ArtBeat Associates
CAMPING OUT
As a musician in Santa Fe I have been/done/seen/performed for pretty much every gig possible. From a cultish touring group, to the infamous variety show hosted and produced by yours truly, to huge accolades, then only to observe the dismal demise of my creation. I've dealt with drunk band members, overachieving peers, egotistical club owners, overly honest audience members, famous drugged-out drag queens, and the list continues…I've released singles overseas to huge accolades, dealt with big-wigs in Gotham, and had my encounters with the best and worst of the record industry. No, I'm not bitter. I'm ecstatic! I had the absolute pleasure to perform in Santa Fe [at Aid and Comfort] and make my mark (low cut dress included!) and it was phenomenal!!! The Aid and Comfort Gala was incredible! All the folks involved treated me like a real diva! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now but here! Thanks to all who contributed and made the night what is should be, fabulous! You all looked amazing. Molto Bela!!! Thanks J [J Spot, Nov. 30:
] for the great review! I love high heels, dykes and camp! (Even camping!) Let's keep the music going in Santa Fe! (Even if it's too much for some corporate institutions, ahem!) I'll keep going if you do!
Teri Lynn Browning
Santa Fe
AT WHAT COST?
I don't have a problem with the wage hike [Outtakes, Dec. 7:
] when it refers to those people who are providing for their families. The idea of a living wage for these folks is fair. However, I do have a problem with paying teenagers using this same scale, as I believe the consequences are negative. The first of these is that these young people can expect good pay without earning it, and a valid question would be whether pursuing further education is affected by this. Secondly, teenagers simply lack the work experience necessary and need to learn the value and responsibility of a job, as many need to be monitored constantly. Finally, the vast majority of these young people do not have an economic need. Grouping them with those that truly support their families is unfair and leaves me to question what a living wage means.
Furthermore, now that people are able to make more money, what's to stop landlords from raising their rates? If you are truly concerned for the well-being of these people, as you should be, why not institute a freeze on these rates? For that matter, since you obviously have the power, why not implement a freeze on all those industries and businesses which help create the high cost of living in our city?
By placing the burden only on businesses to pay more, you still fail to solve the problem of high cost in the long term. I believe that I have raised legitimate issues and only ask that you consider them at your next meeting to discuss the living wage.
David J Romero
Santa Fe
CORRECTION: Photographs of Susan Abod on pages 3 and 28 of the Dec. 14 edition should have been credited to Malka E Michelson. SFR regrets the omission.
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