Brainard Carey

“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” -Søren Kierkegaard

With freedom comes inherent responsibility. Each of us has a life with equal value and each of us has the right to live it to its full capacity. Any hindrance of this right by others who would look on their right to individual freedom of speech, movement, the taking up of arms through a lens of more importance than the freedom to carry on living complicates the very fabric of what it means to be free. My freedom to exist does not outweigh yours, and equally yours does not take precedence over mine. In freedom there is a unity that must be observed, protected, so that every one of us may live on unhindered.

Cathy Linh Che lives and works in Philadelphia. We spoke during the global COVID-19 pandemic when she was working on a poetry manuscript based on her parents experience as Vietnamese refugees. When they were in the refugee camp, they were extras in the movie Apocalypse Now. She has also been doing a daily writing practice with a group called The Grind. The work considers what beauty means in the context of someone who was sexually violated as a young person and how this colors one’s experience in their own body – there are also other tones in the writing. Additionally, she has been working on creating a project where her parents voices are heard over the famous Napalm scene in Apocalypse Now, in which they appear. To hear more from Cathy Linh Che, including further discussion about the film and how her work is a way of complicating the story, listen to the complete interview.

Harry Moritz spoke to us from Brooklyn, New York where he lives two blocks from his studio in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. Moritz works with machinery in his studio and during the pandemic he has been making metal work for various clients including brass doorknobs. This is the first time that the artist has experienced a period of time where every day is structured the way he wants, he is able to work in his studio more and the city is quiet and shut down. Although the city itself feels alien, life in his studio feels normal to Moritz who moved to his studio and into the neighborhood about six months before the lock down began. For years, Moritz has been exploring his own gender and sexuality and is now creating work based on this exploration, rooted in queer porn images inside aluminum bottles. For a conversation about this work, listen to the complete interview.

A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket:

Value your freedom and fight with all your being for the safety and freedom of those around you, even when that means choosing a path of self-limitation.

Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android please click here. All weekly essay pieces in a shareable format are here. The full archive of interviews here.

Books to Read

What are you reading? Add your titles to our reading list here. Cathy Linh Che’s book Split can be found here. The poet herself just read The Chronology of Water by Lydia Yuknavitch.

Deadlines

The Ilanot Review is accepting submissions for their fall issue titled Toxic. When they chose the theme for the fall 2020 issue, they could not have imagined the rise of COVID-19. The initial intention was to shed light on climate change, pollution, even toxic relationships. They ask that submissions be in some way related to the theme of toxicity. While this is primarily a literary journal, they seek artwork for inclusion within the journal as well as for the cover. See the website for more information. Deadline is May 30.

Weekly Edited Grant and Residency Deadlines – review the list here.

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In these uncertain times, our first responsibility is assuring staff, their families and our entire art community is safe. We hope to turn the page on this devastating virus and return to normalcy soon. In the meantime, we continue sharing educational resources and have developed new Facebook Live events, providing an informal and intimate opportunity to meet artists and engage in topics we all love. Follow the GOLDEN Facebook page to join!

Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics. He has written six books for artists; Making it in the Art World, New Markets for Artists, The Art World Demystified, Fund Your Dreams Like a Creative Genius, Sell Online Like a Creative Genius and Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius.

“Get used to disappointment.” So says the Man in Black in the iconic film The Princess Bride. His is a wise lesson for anyone, but particularly for those competing in a world filled with others reaching for the same goal. Disappointment and rejection are part of the game, but getting used to them is something that every artist must do. I’d even go so far as to say it would be wise to learn to thrive with them. Because for every acceptance there will be more rejections but that isn’t a reason to give up. On the contrary, every time you are told no, this should spur you on to try again two fold. Only in this way will you begin to pile up acceptances. Take a look at some of the open calls below for various journals and practice your submission.

Antithesis Journal invites artists living in Australia to submit work for review for the 2020 edition titled Mental. Those living overseas may also apply but must send their pitch to a separate address first for consideration. For this open call, they ask the following question:

“What is ‘mental’? Does it solely refer to the inner workings of the mind? Is it an exclamation attached to an extraordinary occurrence, or inherently tied to mental health? How has the word affected humanity throughout history? How does the label ‘mental’ entwine, enrich or even damage one’s sense of self? Can the word be reclaimed from its loaded history?”

Please visit the website for full details. Deadline for submissions is May 31.

The Ilanot Review is accepting submissions for their fall issue titled Toxic. When they chose the theme for the fall 2020 issue, they could not have imagined the rise of COVID-19. The initial intention was to shed light on climate change, pollution, even toxic relationships. They ask that submissions be in some way related to the theme of toxicity. While this is primarily a literary journal, they seek artwork for inclusion within the journal as well as for the cover. See the website for more information. Deadline is May 30.

Split Lip Magazine accepts artist submissions for consideration. Throughout the year they have some months with free submissions available and others with tip jar submissions available. There is a $50 payment to every artist chosen for the magazine. For details, visit the website.

Praxis Center knows full well that a career in the arts is no day at the beach. We are here to support you as you navigate your chosen path, to offer the very best information and expertise on how to make the most of your ability. Join us today and invite yourself into a world of colleagues, networking, professional discussion and critique and see where it might take you.

Join GOLDEN on Facebook Live!
In these uncertain times, our first responsibility is assuring staff, their families and our entire art community is safe. We hope to turn the page on this devastating virus and return to normalcy soon. In the meantime, we continue sharing educational resources and have developed new Facebook Live events, providing an informal and intimate opportunity to meet artists and engage in topics we all love. Follow the GOLDEN Facebook page to join!

Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics. He has written six books for artists; Making it in the Art World, New Markets for Artists, The Art World Demystified, Fund Your Dreams Like a Creative Genius, Sell Online Like a Creative Genius and Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius.