So, a year ago, just after I launched this campaign, I was offered my dream job. Working with a company with 80 centres, 1200 staff and over 10,000 students. My role has been to develop the arts curriculum, train teachers, work with parents and install 'best practice' at the ground level whilst creating events and moments to fully engage with the visual arts in an integrated curriculum. It came with a healthy salary and a lot of comfort and security.
I did not make a single piece of art for myself, and stalled my book... in fact, in that year I only read two books (a significant shift from my practice of two books a week), and one of those was a skim read of 'Reggio atelier' practice.
So... 2024-2025, the season that will always be called... 'the year of my dream job', or the 'break from the chaos' has ended. My one year contract has closed, and I am looking forward towards freelance and contracted work again.
This morning I met a guy called Eugene, and he asked... "what do you do?" I went through the usual convoluted answer of 'an artist, education specialist and a pastor' and about half way through the word pastor realised that I really did choose a collection of potentially low paying career pathways. Don't get me wrong... there are a lot of people that make a lot of bank from all of these areas, but the convictions I have would not allow me to make the choices that many of them do. I'm not willing to take a salary as a pastor, and the arts seems to be 100% dependent on being in the right place at the right time; an adventure that I will never grow tired of.
So why am I writing this... In short... I'm grateful for you and your support. Believing that this eclectic artist/educator/author/pastor will continue to make his colourful, hopeful dent on the world and on culture at this time. I am grateful that you see value in the conviction to 'have love without agenda' and I'm grateful that your here on this journey with me.
