BlogHer - Who Does She Think She Is? - Comments

I thought Art is Work...

Creatively Belle — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:24:30 -0600

I have a creative business and it is work. I design, make and sell jewelry. I work.

I love what I do and it doesn't feel like work did when I was in the corporate world but that's only because I love what I do now.

But even for those who volunteer and are in the creative world their time is to be respected for their efforts.

What examples are to be given to children if art and creative activities aren't treated as equal to any other area in life? Isn't creativity vital for life, family and society?

All the best,

Belinda

Great Earring Holders - great presents and no more messy jewelry tangles!

Another who was a sahp...

nelle2nelle — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:56:46 -0500

though my circumstance was different in that I worked at home and had no involvement in the arts.

I am drawn to this thread by way of sahp experience, as well as currently writing a blog novel that centres on the life of a very acclaimed young musician.

Over the last few days, the issue of work vs being a sahp has reared its ugly head again on a feminist board, and it makes me ill to see us dis each other's choices.

More power to those who choose what is best for them, making no apologies for their choice.

nelle

llhaesa

I was a stay-at-home Mom for

Mersea — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:33:48 -0500

I was a stay-at-home Mom for 13 + years during my first marriage and when it came time to work I had no skills. Very hard to find a job! Now I am remarried, worked for 4 years then got sick and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Hard to find a job that will work around this illness. Now I spend my days and nights drawing and pencil painting and trying to sell my artwork and greeting cards. I also do Pet sitting and companion sitting- gotta find a way to support my art habit! LOL

www.aheartofmersea.etsy.com www.aheartofmersea.blogspot.com www.aheartofmersea.com

Someone Finally Recognizes....

MiaHysteria — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:28:34 -0500

That there are those of us out there trying to etch our lives into what's accepted in 'mainstream' as an important and worthwhile endeavor!

As a stay at home mom of 3, having come from government work, taking years to make a niche from a creative outlet and fight for its acceptance not only with my family and others, but even within myself...I can say this isn't easy to do. I have since given up that enterprise simply because the demands of caring for a special needs child, fighting the fights and trying to keep some assemblance of a straightened ~~life~~ house are great. I haven't given up the creative outlet...we can't forget that writing/blogging is creative too.

I look forward to seeing this. Thank you.

~Mia.

My blog is General Hysteria~

Who Does She Think She Is?

jen lemen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:44:35 -0500

Women have been struggling to balance family and career as long as women have been in the workplace. And over the last decade, we've seen progress. Partners expect to have to share household responsibilities to a certain extent; modern couples understand the need to take turns so each person gets a shot at making particular goals a reality.

What happens, however, when a woman decides her future is not in the office or the classroom, but in the studio or the theater? The arts require a serious time commitment, long before substantial paychecks follow--if ever. Many women decide to push their creative dreams aside because of this, and others, determined to find material success and recognition for their work, decide partners and children simply don't mix with the time commitment required.

The documentary film, Who Does She Thinks She Is? addresses the audacity of women who refuse to choose between family and art, determined instead to elevate art and convince their family and friends that this path is as valid as any other. The documentary tracks women who have refused to choose art over family and who are giving themselves over to the commitment of the call to create that will not let them go--bring their loved ones along all the way.

Here's the trailer:

Do you feel the pull between art and family? How do you navigate the desire to create with the voices of society that say the only work that matters is the work that gives you the most pay for your time and efforts?

Watch this space for interviews from women artists who are living into these dreams--with their families, with their partners--refusing to choose one over the other, determined to integrate their call to art with the deep connections they experience with the ones they love.

The film opens at the Angelika Film Center in New York on October 17, 2008.

Until then, check out inspiration from amazing mother artists Hula Seventy, Chookooloonks, Kim Indresano, Me Ra Koh and Keri Smith.