Oh my...yes, I've not only had bad reviews I've been censored and removed from exhibit and my artist books banned. I've been physically threatened and stalked by more than a few religious fanatics who thought my "artistic animalism" ungodly. Other people have to wanted to convince me to stop "promoting humanism in art". Still other people have shouted (literally, in a Gallery) that I "shouldn't be advocating for or promoting happiness and joy because life is a veil of tears". I've even gotten a hand written 2 page letter denouncing me, my artwork and "everything you stand for"....
I could continue this list but I'd rather go read a nice pleasant mystery novel. BTW the artworks that were censored, banned, objected to etc as I mentioned above were the same kinds of art and books you can see in my newsletter and etc today.
Wow! This has to be the most shocking thing I've read in a while. Where on earth do you live that your beautiful sweet charming work could be attacked that way? I do see a mystery thriller in your future!
I used to live in Oklahoma (that's where all of that horribleness primarily happened) but about 13 years ago we happily moved to the Pacific Northwest! Here on the west coast my art (and self) has been warmly welcomed!! It was the oddest of sensations to have the artwork that had been banned in Oklahoma immediately, happily, accepted and sold in galleries here. Same artwork just very different cultures. I like it here much better!!!
Oh I'll bet if we had time together we could both share enough horrible reviews that the wallpaper would curl! Aren't we both strong and courageous to keep going despite it all??!! Keep going!!! Solidarity with you sister!!!
I hear that! I've been a political cartoonist for an alternative newspaper... compared to the vitriolic comments I got during those years everything else is, by comparison, gentle caressing. After 6+ years in those trenches I learned that I'm really not into cutthroat. In fact one of our nephews nowadays teases me that I'm not even very competitive during our domino games. It's true! Domino games are just something to do with ones hands while you talk!! 🤣
This is wonderful! I am a writer (with anxiety and depression) and a retired writing prof who now leads writing workshops. I have to say that my work is truly focused on exactly what you are describing in this piece--the process of thinking, writing, re-thinking, re-writing...etc. I'm not sure if what I do is therapeutic, but I do believe it's healing for the writers in the group. If for no other reason, to help them listen more deeply to what they are (or are not) hearing. To help them discover the story they have been carrying. I tend to treat the anxiety and depression as calls to writers to listen for the story each one has to tell.
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment. I love learning more about how people integrate therapeutic practices into their writing, whether intentionally or intuitively.
This was a great read! I've been reflecting a lot on how my expierience of going to art therapy has improved my art. Not in the technical sense, but the ability to navigate around unhelpful thoughts that arise as i'm trying to make something. This kind of personal story telling is really important, thank you for sharing it :)
It’s a thread that has come up a few times - how therapy for other things is also benefitting creativity. I hope to explore it further. If you have any interest in expanding on those thoughts for my readers here’s some info: https://createmefree.substack.com/p/opportunities-for-create-collaboration
"Writers are anxious and depressed by nature." Not necessarily. Some lived calm, sober, productive lives. Dreiser comes to mind. Percy Walker. James Salter. Cormac McCarthy. The crazy stuff was in the writing : )
I was curious how others would experience that intro line. As I said, it hit me wrong but there’s an underlying sentiment with it that I understand and I do value all perspectives.
"Writers are anxious and depressed by nature. We’re highly sensitive and good at building worlds on paper."
Or we have grown incredibly thick skins and DGAF😆
Could be. 🤣 I’ve been curious about how that intro line would hit others.
My thought was "totally applicable to visual art too!!!" 💚💚
You Sue? Your work is amazing! I bet you've never had a bad review.
Oh my...yes, I've not only had bad reviews I've been censored and removed from exhibit and my artist books banned. I've been physically threatened and stalked by more than a few religious fanatics who thought my "artistic animalism" ungodly. Other people have to wanted to convince me to stop "promoting humanism in art". Still other people have shouted (literally, in a Gallery) that I "shouldn't be advocating for or promoting happiness and joy because life is a veil of tears". I've even gotten a hand written 2 page letter denouncing me, my artwork and "everything you stand for"....
I could continue this list but I'd rather go read a nice pleasant mystery novel. BTW the artworks that were censored, banned, objected to etc as I mentioned above were the same kinds of art and books you can see in my newsletter and etc today.
Wow! This has to be the most shocking thing I've read in a while. Where on earth do you live that your beautiful sweet charming work could be attacked that way? I do see a mystery thriller in your future!
Sue shared some more about this in the interview she did here last year:
https://createmefree.substack.com/p/art-and-mental-health-interview-with-e2e
I am so glad that she persisted in her work; it's such a treasure to see all that she creates!
I used to live in Oklahoma (that's where all of that horribleness primarily happened) but about 13 years ago we happily moved to the Pacific Northwest! Here on the west coast my art (and self) has been warmly welcomed!! It was the oddest of sensations to have the artwork that had been banned in Oklahoma immediately, happily, accepted and sold in galleries here. Same artwork just very different cultures. I like it here much better!!!
And regarding a mystery thriller in my future: only if you write it!!!! I could provide you with my life details as grist for your writing mill!
Maybe I've just had a lot more horrible reviews and am used to it😆
Oh I'll bet if we had time together we could both share enough horrible reviews that the wallpaper would curl! Aren't we both strong and courageous to keep going despite it all??!! Keep going!!! Solidarity with you sister!!!
Maybe because I'm originally from the screenwriting world the literary world feels much more supportive, ha ha! Nowhere near as cutthroat.
I hear that! I've been a political cartoonist for an alternative newspaper... compared to the vitriolic comments I got during those years everything else is, by comparison, gentle caressing. After 6+ years in those trenches I learned that I'm really not into cutthroat. In fact one of our nephews nowadays teases me that I'm not even very competitive during our domino games. It's true! Domino games are just something to do with ones hands while you talk!! 🤣
Wow! That explains a lot. Thank you for sharing, you're a woman of many facets!
This is wonderful! I am a writer (with anxiety and depression) and a retired writing prof who now leads writing workshops. I have to say that my work is truly focused on exactly what you are describing in this piece--the process of thinking, writing, re-thinking, re-writing...etc. I'm not sure if what I do is therapeutic, but I do believe it's healing for the writers in the group. If for no other reason, to help them listen more deeply to what they are (or are not) hearing. To help them discover the story they have been carrying. I tend to treat the anxiety and depression as calls to writers to listen for the story each one has to tell.
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment. I love learning more about how people integrate therapeutic practices into their writing, whether intentionally or intuitively.
This was a great read! I've been reflecting a lot on how my expierience of going to art therapy has improved my art. Not in the technical sense, but the ability to navigate around unhelpful thoughts that arise as i'm trying to make something. This kind of personal story telling is really important, thank you for sharing it :)
It’s a thread that has come up a few times - how therapy for other things is also benefitting creativity. I hope to explore it further. If you have any interest in expanding on those thoughts for my readers here’s some info: https://createmefree.substack.com/p/opportunities-for-create-collaboration
"Writers are anxious and depressed by nature." Not necessarily. Some lived calm, sober, productive lives. Dreiser comes to mind. Percy Walker. James Salter. Cormac McCarthy. The crazy stuff was in the writing : )
I was curious how others would experience that intro line. As I said, it hit me wrong but there’s an underlying sentiment with it that I understand and I do value all perspectives.
Thank you for your words!