by TASI Executive Director, Greg Busceme, Sr.
The Art Studio will be forty years old in a few months and in forty years so much has changed through technology and social and cultural developments. We work very hard to keep our finger on the pulse of our arts community, but (and this is a good thing) that pulse has grown exponentially.
I have always relied on my general knowledge of artists in my community and am very observant of who participates in exhibitions throughout the year. That has become more unwieldy as our arts community expands and grows in diversity and in sheer population.
That is why we have set up an online application for Southeast Texas artists to be considered for showing their work at The Art Studio, Inc.
The application will allow us to make pragmatic and fair decisions regarding who shows in our galleries. It lets me respond to artists who are interested in a show without guessing who I should pick out of the 200+ artists in our region, many of whom I have not met yet. In the worst case, whether you are selected or not, I will offer a constructive review of your portfolio. I hope this opens the possibilities for many up-and-coming artists and we can feel certain that all artists are on equal footing. Artists need to know how to make applications to other galleries, so this is a way to get what you need for a good presentation.
I have learned from our visiting artists that other communities of the size of Beaumont do not have an independent facility such is TASI, along with Beaumont Art League, two art museums (AMSET and Dishman) and a full-blown symphony!
How does this happen? Why does this happen? I have a theory. The Head Down Running Fast theory. We are somewhat isolated from the big cities, and we generally assume that work in the metropolitan areas will, by far, be better than ours. Like in a race, you do not look behind you. You assume the other runners are right on your tail, so you give it all you’ve got. This form of panic drives our energies to incredible heights as our nasty little inner voice keeps saying, “not good enough”. So, when you do get in the broader public eye you find to your amazement you are as skilled as anyone else, and you find that the playing field is more even than you thought.
You also might find there are goals still to be reached but you have the drive, the skills, and the work ethic that makes you a contender in the long run. Remember, art is a long game. Dancers and athletes have the short game, after 30 years old they start endorsing products rather than competing in their field. Jump to artists whose endgame is in the 50’s on up! Have perseverance and dedication, give your art the proper priority, and NEVER give up – on your art, on yourself, or your vision.