contact Masucci at mmasucci@eztvmedia.com or mmasucci@aol.com
I am concerned that something has unexpectedly happened that is damaging the morale and resolve of independent artists both in the US and abroad. More and more I hear stories of the desperation of artists who have committed themselves to relying on the funding of their projects through the system of grants, foundations, awards and other increasingly dwindling sources of non-profit funding. Many of these artists I have worked with over the decades, and some I believe to be truly significant contributors to the Southern California artist's movement. Make no mistake, I fundamentally believe that we should live in a society that embraces public supporting for the arts. I do however, find little sympathy for those who are not deeply in touch with their chosen professions, and that includes an understanding of the prevailing trends in methods for production fund-raising. At this point in time, despite what we would wish, it is simply unrealistic to assume that one can sustain a career based on grants. That dose not mean of course, that there are not those fortunate souls out there who continuously receive generous grant awards, but their numbers are few, and each year, art schools from around the world are turning out more and more competitors for fewer and fewer grants. But art is not going to go away. True artists continue to produce work through a variety of methods, and would do so under any conditions. True artists cannot help but make art. It is simple what they do. Recently, newly discovered venues for art, ( i.e. animation sites based on Flash or other accessible digital tools ) created an arena and audience unexpected by the leading 'experts'.
In 1991, at the first CyberArts International Conference, the pioneering digital artist David Em surprised his audience when asked the question "do you really believe that you can make art with computers?". Em, not missing a beat, looked at the questioner and said "you can make art with mud". Yes, resouces are never a problem for true artists, only for those whose ideas are intellectually and creatively bankrupted and whose sensitivities are mundane. Artists will continue to explore the process of art making with whatever tools they have available, even inventing them when necessary.
Sometimes, EZTV has been mis-understood, by some who believe that it is 'anti-grant'. This could not be further from the truth. We simply do not rely on grants ourselves, although to this day, we serve on various grant apnles to give others funding support. EZTV often works with artists who receive grants of various kinds, but it does not in itself apply for, and therefore receive, grants. This has, oddly enough, forced EZTV to become full-time professional videomakers, and not full-time professional grant-writers. EZTV has built a career path that is ever changing, according to the trends which effect all working professionals in our fields. This has not only made us stronger, more adaptive and resilient, it has perhaps, made us wiser. We do not jump at every fashion that emerges, and select those options which seem at the time to present the most long-term growth and sustainability. Yes, sustainability, for just as ecological concerns must influence our every decision, so too the ecology of an artist's career path must consider sustainability as an aspect of it's process.
I look forward to a more elightened time in the future, when art, just as other cultures acheivements such as education, health-care, nutrition, and a clean enviornment, are considered essential elements of a 'great society'. But I have no delusion that this goal is far away, and that I and my creative collegues may not live to see it occur. THis will not deter me, and should not deter any artist from the gift of creativity, a gift that is both taken in and given to others. More communication between working, teaching and student artists will result in a more effective distribution system for the exchange of art, and for the economic realities that we all are subject to.
resources vailable to all
I am concerned that something has unexpectedly happened that is damaging the morale and resolve of independent artists both in the US and abroad. More and more I hear stories of the desperation of artists who have committed themselves to relying on the funding of their projects through the system of grants, foundations, awards and other increasingly dwindling sources of non-profit funding. Many of these artists I have worked with over the decades, and some I believe to be truly significant contributors to the Southern California artist's movement. Make no mistake, I fundamentally believe that we should live in a society that embraces public supporting for the arts. I do however, find little sympathy for those who are not deeply in touch with their chosen professions, and that includes an understanding of the prevailing trends in methods for production fund-raising. At this point in time, despite what we would wish, it is simply unrealistic to assume that one can sustain a career based on grants. That dose not mean of course, that there are not those fortunate souls out there who continuously receive generous grant awards, but their numbers are few, and each year, art schools from around the world are turning out more and more competitors for fewer and fewer grants. But art is not going to go away. True artists continue to produce work through a variety of methods, and would do so under any conditions. True artists cannot help but make art. It is simple what they do. Recently, newly discovered venues for art, ( i.e. animation sites based on Flash or other accessible digital tools ) created an arena and audience unexpected by the leading 'experts'.
In 1991, at the first CyberArts International Conference, the pioneering digital artist David Em surprised his audience when asked the question "do you really believe that you can make art with computers?". Em, not missing a beat, looked at the questioner and said "you can make art with mud". Yes, resouces are never a problem for true artists, only for those whose ideas are intellectually and creatively bankrupted and whose sensitivities are mundane. Artists will continue to explore the process of art making with whatever tools they have available, even inventing them when necessary.
Sometimes, EZTV has been mis-understood, by some who believe that it is 'anti-grant'. This could not be further from the truth. We simply do not rely on grants ourselves, although to this day, we serve on various grant apnles to give others funding support. EZTV often works with artists who receive grants of various kinds, but it does not in itself apply for, and therefore receive, grants. This has, oddly enough, forced EZTV to become full-time professional videomakers, and not full-time professional grant-writers. EZTV has built a career path that is ever changing, according to the trends which effect all working professionals in our fields. This has not only made us stronger, more adaptive and resilient, it has perhaps, made us wiser. We do not jump at every fashion that emerges, and select those options which seem at the time to present the most long-term growth and sustainability. Yes, sustainability, for just as ecological concerns must influence our every decision, so too the ecology of an artist's career path must consider sustainability as an aspect of it's process.
I look forward to a more elightened time in the future, when art, just as other cultures acheivements such as education, health-care, nutrition, and a clean enviornment, are considered essential elements of a 'great society'. But I have no delusion that this goal is far away, and that I and my creative collegues may not live to see it occur. THis will not deter me, and should not deter any artist from the gift of creativity, a gift that is both taken in and given to others. More communication between working, teaching and student artists will result in a more effective distribution system for the exchange of art, and for the economic realities that we all are subject to.
resources vailable to all