How can I fully immerse myself in a painting when I just scrolled past a cringe meme?
My time on instagram lately has been sucking the energy out of me, I couldn't use the app mindfully. It was only quick scrolling, like running through an art gallery. I follow so many amazing artists, but my mindset on the app and the way the app is designed, did not give me the space to really appreciate a thoughtful post in a swarm of filler content and advertisements. Destroying my attention span.
Comparing the psychology behind most popular social media sites to a slot machine is not far off. I see that our time is sold by big tech, and it is not in our best interest. To spend more time scrolling, online shopping, targeted ads, and submitting to an algorithm, means the less time we spend doing anything of value for ourselves. When I use the phrase "living online", I mean it almost literally. Our phones are a black mirror we look into like a portal into another world. With my art currently based in nature, rural community, and the old ways, I feel spending a lot of time on instagram as it's intended, goes against my own message.
I realized Instagram is not built for my initial purpose. Art needs time and attention to be appreciated.
Artists and small businesses are told we can't do well without a social media following, how scary if that were true. That gives me more motivation to thrive off of it.
There isn't a perfect substitute, but some awesome alternatives. Like websites, zines, galleries, live performances, street art, videos, physical art, ect.
(Live painting next to my installation in a park, part of an art show with some great people. 2014?)
I'm grateful for my job tattooing people where art is physically alive. Bleeding alive. It is magic seeing how me and my shop mates don't have to rely on social media to bring in our clients, it feels so real. I appreciate the local "word of mouth", it makes me feel more alive than I ever did living online. Meeting people who were referred to me by a trusted friend is the greatest honor.
At the tattoo shop I have most of my etsy items available for purchase, the experience is vivid when someone checks out your art prints in person. I love seeing their reactions and which print is their favorite.
My plan of action is to make a brand new instagram with the intention of redirecting people to my website, and to keep in touch with friends who are exclusive to the app, who I don't want to lose touch with. I will carefully follow less accounts so that my feed is shorter. I created this website so I can have my own homebase on the internet, where big tech does not have its influence. I also am more open to creating videos for youtube, since you don't have to be online to film. I don't expect everyone to even check out my posts here, but my time away from the black screen is more important. I am not going to "look cool" with very few followers and 3 likes on my posts, and while most equate online attention to the value of an individual, I say screw that. Since when is being cool online punk?
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