Fulfilled my birthday wishes by deconstructing hustle culture with artistic expression – such was Art Club event number two!

Read more: Deconstructing Hustle Culture with Artistic Expression

Art as Social Practice

TLDR: Society sucks, let’s better it by throwing darts at paint balloons.

Social Practice Art: what is it and why is it important? You tell me.

Hustle Culture

Do you have ideas for art projects and activities that you think are super cool, but don’t pursue because they’re expensive and won’t make you any money? Do you end up avoiding pursuing even artistic endeavors that do make you money because they seem overzealous, like no matter how many pieces you draw or publish or sell, you’ll never reach the level of success that you envision for yourself, that you tell yourself is a “sufficient” level of success to warrant your time and financial investment in it in the first place?

Do you, then, end up procrastinating even the smallest projects, even ones you enjoy, despite so many of your friends and family telling you – “your art is so good! Why don’t you sell it?” and “You could start your own business and put your art online!”

Do you stockpile these minute feelings of resentment that you feel you should be able to do art just because, but feel like you can’t unless it’s productive or monetized? And then experience cycles of – “I’m gonna sell my art! I’m gonna do it!” and then “f*ck this, it’s not worth it,” over and over again?

These are feelings perpetuated by the pressure of hustle culture. The narrative of hustle culture tells us that we must monetize our hobbies in order to warrant our doing them; we must monetize ourselves in order to have worth. And hustle culture is derived directly from capitalism. If you don’t experience these feelings, I envy you. If you do, well, you’re not alone.

Check out the full Facebook album here!

Art Clubs: Intent and Method

While each art club has its own respective intent and itinerary, the general idea of hosting art clubs is to provide my community with the opportunity to practice art in alternative ways that they would otherwise not have the safe space, resources, or group support to do so.

Intent

For example, the intent of the first art club was to begin fostering relationships with fellow artists in the Swamp House community that I hadn’t already – namely with women I’d met in other social settings. It was successful! I have since spent time and had insightful conversations with these women, with whom I am developing friendships with!

In contrast, the Birthday Art Club event which involved throwing darts at paint balloons provided us all with the opportunity to share in an activity purely for the fun of it that resulted in the creation of something beautiful and unique.

Method

There is indeed a method to my madness…

1. What tools and materials do I have at my disposal that need “using up” or otherwise should be repurposed?
2. What are the various activities that I can execute from combining these?
3. Which location is best suitable for each activity? Is it available to me?
4. What are the takeaways of each activity – a literal product or a “lesson learned”?
5. How do these takeaways create an impact on my community and its members?
6. To what extent do these activities harm our environment?
7. All in all, does the constructive impact on the community outweigh the harm on the environment? Does the activity warrant the use of the materials?

Next Art Club

What artistic experience have you always wanted to try? Have you any pieces you are struggling to complete and would like some feedback? Is there a lesson you’d like to teach about art that you feel is important? Let us share and collaborate in these ideas. Please send me a message about them – even if you live across the world, or cannot attend the next event, but would like to see what we can make of your ideas.

Due to the Oden Brewing Spring Equinox Festival 2023 on March 25th, the next GSOVIBES art club event will take place in the second half of April, so keep an eye out!

Flyer will appear here!