The Artist as Culture Producer

February 15, 2017

In this book's preface, editor, multimedia creator, and author (Living and Sustaining a Creative Life) Louden describes artists as "extending creative energies" into their communities. True, but it's the subtitle that characterizes this informative volume and continues the efforts of her first book: it's a collection of essays by artists who, in their own words, explain how they chose their careers and how they've survived and thrived, creatively and financially. The life stories told here are by visual or cross-disciplinary artists working in a range of media (painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media). Most of them also pursue related occupations (writing, teaching, curating, running galleries). This title is a welcome alternative to so much of the general interest writing on art and artists' lives, which tends to focus on attention-grabbing topics such as multimillion-dollar auction sales, celebrity gossip, or tragedy. The essays steer clear of literary flourishes and artspeak, offering straightforward descriptions of each individual's struggles as they navigated life and career paths. VERDICT Recommended for students and aspiring artists who hunger for this kind of real-life experience, advice, and wisdom, and for those in organizations that work with them.--Michael Dashkin, New York

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