Kim B

Kim  wrote on my Facebook page yesterday that her husband “is a greatly admired artist,  his materials are costly he has a hard time getting by, I’m happy to say he has never asked strangers to fund him. You know You are really out there. People don’t ask others to pay for their blogs please take me off your list asap.”

I did reply to Kim, who fled my blog and my Facebook page in  horror.

It is true that I am really out there, but $3 billion was raised last year for crowdsourcing projects around the country, and I was not nearly the first. I said I didn’t have a list and wasn’t a good secretary, and I was afraid she would have to just remove herself and leave if she was unhappy.

She is a “huffer,” a term I use for people, who storm away in outrage when they see something that offends them. I think Victorian ladies did that a lot. They just “huff” out of the room.

I was not as happy as she is that her husband is struggling, and sorry she was so proud of it..

I did wake up this morning thinking of her husband and I felt badly that he did not ask for the help that is being offered to so many artists and writers now.

I was sorry that he does not have the same kind of partner that I have, she always encourages me to seek help for my work and is not happy or proud when I suffer.

In fact, she gives me the strength to do things like camera fund, it is not easy for me.

Suffering is worse than pride, I think. And not always necessary. I have suffered plenty, and not suffering is better, given the choice. There is a  great philosophical choice there, and I am in the thick of it.

For all that, my fund to buy a $3,000 Canon re-converted Monochrome camera is well underway. I received about $1,500 via Paypal yesterday and have not yet checked my Post Office Box (P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, NY., 12816.) the main avenue for the funding request, I only started the campaign two days ago. I don’t imagine contributions will arrive until tomorrow or Thursday.

I appreciate these contributions so much, most are for $5 and $10 and I am only using the blog to make the request, not a crowdfunding site. That is meaningful.  The money is not about the blog, which is and will remain free, that is a completely different story.

Earlier in the day, Steve e-mailed me to formally resign reading my blog and said I was “cyber-begging,” which he found outrageous, given my obvious wealth and taste for luxury (trips to Cape Cod and Vermont). I admit that writers have a long history of begging for money, as they never seem to have any. Charles Dickens passed a cup after his readings, and wrote a “Christmas Carol” as a desperate effort to earn some money.

I used to beg my publishers for money, before they all were taken over by corporations. They don’t answer the phone any more, not if writers are calling.

Robyn was also displeased with my request: “I would never ask anyone for money…sorry…I work and save til I can afford it ! I was really surprised you did this! Now, if you’d needed help for one of your critters, that’s another story!” I asked her why she thought I didn’t work and save, and I also asked her where she thought the money for all of those photographs she loves to see of the critters (for free) come from. I wonder if she ever thinks about where the money for the hay, farrier,  vet care and barns and fences comes from.

I know the answer of course.

Some people do not see art or writing or photography as work. Crowdsourcing  – the collection of small amounts of money from large numbers of people to help creative people and others in need – has revolutionized and democratized creativity. In Germany, writers and photographers are given salaries for several years so they can establish themselves. That would be seen as a heresy here, and frankly, not something I would wish. But in some parts of the world, art is recognized as being important.

Almost every farmer I have ever met wonders about people like Robyn, they go to the grocery and buys milk, but never considers where the milk came from or how it got there. It is natural to take things for granted. Farmers can’t afford to do that. I guess I can’t either. I do work hard, and I would love to save some money.

I am not looking for someone to pay for my life.  I’m managing that. Neither am I in crisis or drama. Either way, I will survive.

The camera would help me get to another level – it is black and white digital camera – and also benefit the people who get to see the photos I take every day.  I will be honest, I want to keep growing as an artist. From my messages and mail, my work (and Maria’s) is meaningful to people, I see that also from the generous and supportive contributions coming to me for this project.

“Thank you,” said Susan,” for sharing your words and photographs, I read them every morning, they mean a great deal to me. I appreciate being able to support this work in my small way.”  She sent me $20. I appreciate it too, Susan, and thanks for understanding that writers and artists and photographers also need to make a living, just like Robyn and Kim’s struggling husband.

It is hard enough to be an artist in this corporate world, it is a wonderful things that artists don’t have to struggle as hard as they used to.  There is now some help out there.

Americans are spending billions of dollars on crowdsourcing sites to support writers, artists, inventors, documentarians, filmmakers. I’d love to talk to Kim’s husband and steer him to indiegogo.com, where so many very respected artists are learning that they don’t have to struggle quite as much.

Thank you for the contributions, they mean a great deal to me, I suspect I am at least halfway there. I am proud they are all coming from readers of the blog, and that I did not have to reach outside. This camera – built for black and white digital use – will help me see the world anew, and hopefully you as well. I will do the best I can for it, and for you.

I am determined to find my zeal, as Joseph Campbell says, and live my life. I will never be shamed into thinking there is something wrong with that.

__ You can contribute to the fund via Paypal – go to “Friends And Family” and sent the contribution to [email protected] or you can send a check or other payment to Jon Katz c/o Post Office Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Thank you.