Why You Should Support Independent Artists

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, we all are being bombarded with one word: "Sale!" It began with the kick-off on Black Friday with plentiful deals trying to convince people-- sometimes, strangely successfully-- that they need to get up at 3AM, haul themselves down to the local mall or store and camp outside in the cold in order to buy things that they probably don't need anyway (wants and needs are very different things). To be clear, I am not against capitalism or even commercialism, but I do believe that as a society we would be far better off  if we questioned our purchases more regularly. Do I need this? Do I truly want this? Can I afford this? Will I want this in a month from now? A year from now? Does this align with my values from an enviromental and human rights standpoint (a lot of things sold in the US are made in countries with questionable positions on these topics)? Does this item add beauty and joy to my home and my life?

With these thoughts in mind, while you are looking for that special gift for that hard-to-buy-for special someone in your life, I invite you to choose somemthing different this year: support local and independent artists.  Everything from handmade jewelry to music by indie musicians (of all genres) to prints of photography can be found online and at local craft fairs. Choosing the path of an artist (or often more accurately, being chosen for) is not an indulgence or an easy endeavor. It forces artists to encounter  uncertainty on a daily basis, to come face to face with all of the things that other people can effectively push away. For many artists, confronting the bigger questions in life is necessary in order to go farther and create new works. We are asked to see beauty that others miss and report back to the world to remind us all how fortunate we are. We are asked to bring forth something that did not exist previously and without which, the world is a little poorer. And, at our best, as creative beings, we are all asked to appreciate what is around us and to find new ways to love over and over again.  This is not merely the task of the artist, but the most basic work of being human. The artist merely reminds us through his or her creations that this is what we are here to do.

Has a painting or photograph ever taken your breath away? Has a song reminded you of a particularly joyful event or been with you when you needed to cry? Have you ever worn something that was hand-made and felt your perception of yourself and how you look go up a notch (and not even because of the compliments you received)? Has a book moved you so deeply that you found yourself reading a specific sentence over and over again? If so, none of these instances were accidents. They added something to your life because someone else-- someone that you may never have met or will meet-- had the courage and perseverence to heed a deep inner calling and to tune out the voices both from within and from the world that said that what they have to offer was not valid or worthy and to still offer it not just to you, but to everyone. This is no small feat. But, it is a vital one.

This holiday season, I encourage and invite you to put your money where your heart is. Find items (or even ideas-- giving to a charity that resonates with you in the name of someone special is always an excellent gift) that support the things you want to increase in the world. Somehow, armed with the knowledge that the top 5% of the population owns more than 50% of the wealth in the US, I tend to believe that maybe we don't need to increase the prosperity of multinational corporations with every purchase we make. This isn't to say they don't have a place in our economy, they do. However, there is also much to be said for supporting the little guy or gal, as well. (*However, if you do happen to be in the 5% of the earners in the US and you're reading my blog, can I just say that, my, you're looking lovely today? Have you lost weight? That's a beautiful... uh,  wait, where was I? Oh yes...) So, when doing your holiday shopping, consider what you are really buying and what you are really wanting to give.

If you happen to be looking for art to give and want to inspire someone you love with beauty they can see year-round (while thinking of you), please consider checking out my prints for sale: http://www.shootlikeagirlphotography.com/ There are a plethora of NYC/Brooklyn images, as well as nature and flowers and  photos taken all around the world, including in a Slovenian castle and along a canal in Venice. Notecards will be available soon!

Lastly, my wish for you is that instead of thinking of the word "sale" when thinking of the holidays, you will remember the meaning behind the season and will be bombarded with the word that describes what we are truly celebrating: LOVE!