Art Attack – That’s Mr. Dragonwagon to you
John Rankine
3/28/2013
Ah, life in a small town. It got back to me that some “friend” had called me “the male Crescent Dragonwagon” due to my shameless self–promotion.
Compliment taken.
I love Ms. Dragonwagon and consider my autographed copy of her Passionate Vegetarian my cookbook Bible. I also admire Crescent’s fierce devotion to her work and the fact she became a hit international writer and started the Writers’ Colony way before the advent of social media.
I’m the first to admit this column is self-serving. It’s been obvious from day-one I’ve used it to promote myself as an artist, to comment on community issues (there are some who think I should just stick to art) and to further a personal agenda.
It is all about “me,” because in all honesty, I don’t know how to write any other way. I’ve tried writing in second and third person and it just didn’t work.
One has to have a fairly healthy ego to publish a weekly opinion piece you hope people are reading.
I’ve had total strangers come up to tell me how much they enjoy my writing, and good friends, who for their own reasons, never mention, good or bad, my column at all.
I’ve learned to not take it too personally either way.
Occasionally you get an evening phone call from a local, prominent businessman thanking you – for saying things he agrees with but can’t publicly voice for fear of losing business.
Having an opinion in a small town does have its price.
There are people who will never set foot in my antique store or climb the stairs to The Space or purchase a piece of my art because of my mouth.
Having an opinion will land you on Facebook or a Geekfest thread where total strangers and people you know, (some who you thought liked you) viciously attack not just your humble opinion, but your character as well.
And I’ll also take it as a compliment when an editor from another paper uses 1,300 yawn-worthy words to criticize my column, completely missing the point – yet again.
But enough about poor me – let me tell you about my FABULOUS new art exhibit that opens this Good Friday at The Space with an opening reception from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. and that continues through Easter weekend from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. All are invited.
P.S. – A reminder of ESSA’s “Chairity” event at the Inn of the Ozarks, April 1. This is one of the non-profits main fundraisers of the year. Some great chairs from Eleanor Lux, Jim Nelson, Bob Norman and Danny Coy to bid on. Hope you see me there.
P.P.S. Another self-serving, shameless plug for the Creative Energy Project’s video launch promoting its two new events timed for the May Festival of the Arts. I’ve only been privy to a little raw footage of Jeremy Mason McGraw’s promotional videos of Robert Norman’s, Spheres and the artist MUGS portrait series – but what I’ve seen is really great. Rumor has it that little Oen Evans and Larry Mansker steal the show. Everyone is invited to Caríbe, Wednesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. to view both these classic shorts.
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