The 2018 Artists’ Gratitude Project: A Weekly Practice

The potential for positivity, hope, change, and appreciation.

Do you feel the dichotomy? Many artists come from an upbringing of extensive support and opportunity – with training, classes, private lessons, workshops, mentors, supplies, and equipment. Many go onto colleges, conservatories, and masters programs. Yet, as artists in the U.S. today, many of us live with modest incomes to support our families and to keep making our work. Many times – we can end up feeling bitter, resentful, and negative.

Would a weekly gratitude practice inspire and promote personal change, hope, and contentment?

Whether you consider each weekly idea while on the subway commuting to work – or you decide to write in a personal journal – please join us on this journey in 2018. The 52 ideas were brainstormed and then placed in a random order. Thank you to colleagues Valerie Gutwirth, Juliana Monin, and Brian Smith for help launching this project.

Each week, one idea/intention/consideration will be shared.

 

Week 4: Donations

Today and this week, I offer gratitude for: 

Donations of time, money, space, and skills

Today I am grateful for all of the donations to support my work from idea to completion. Annual financial contributions support specific projects and fund collaborators. Space gets donated for rehearsals and fundraisers. Friends and community members offer skills and hands to help with graphic design, web design, marketing, outreach, ushering, stage managing, loading in, and loading out. 

My artistic collaborators continue to go above and beyond inside the studio and outside the space to donate time towards our endeavors – making the work, sharing out about the work, and reflecting about the work during their personal time. 

In return, I give when I can and what I can. I pause to think about the donations of time, money, space, and skills that I can offer back as well to complete this circle of giving and receiving.

 ————-