Invisible Work

You know those conceptual artists who have a corner or platform in some contemporary art museum with a light shining on nothing? Visitors come to the museum assessing the invisible piece. Some people are perplexed, others tickled, while some get irritated and even furious that an artist would receive so much attention at a renowned museum for creating nothing. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could show all the inner work that you’ve been doing sometimes? All the shifting of negative habits, cleansing ancestral lines, releasing old patterns, deepening connections to the earth, making quality time for loved ones and practices you care about.

If I were to put the work that I’ve been doing lately into a museum it would probably be a huge mound of soil with several plants growing roots quietly under the surface. Maybe I would place rose quartz, turquoise, orange calcite and coral around for love, throat healing and protection as well as grounding. And maybe I’d even record my voice humming quietly over several speakers. That’s the kind of work that I’ve been doing lately.

Invisible work doesn’t garner the same applause as a riveting solo at Carnegie Hall or The Joyce but it’s vital to us artists. We need the time to practice scales, sit by the water, refine our tone, daydream, edit music and lyrics. Making art just like learning how to sing requires digging down in the dirt.

Despite my work underground lately, deadlines always help me stay focused. And I hope that you will be able to join me for this great upcoming celebration where my group, Rabbit’s Foot, with Brandon Terzic will be performing at the John Coltrane Centennial Celebrating Jimmy Garrison at Shapeshifter Lab on September 15-20th. Save the dates!