Carrying on…
My familial heritage is largely Ukrainian. For most of my life, my family background was of little interest to me. My maternal grandparents left their Ukrainian culture behind when they established their own American family, shortening their surname to a single syllable; adopting “western” sartorial proclivities and American hobbies; furnishing their suburban home in a “tasteful” American style; eating American foods. But on Easter and Christmas, we would spend days preparing Ukrainian dishes that are traditionally associated with the holidays, and the tables would be set with the intricate black and red embroidery on white cotton that Ukrainian women have been making for thousands of years. These holidays would sometimes prompt my grandparents to offer stories of our family’s past. It was hard for me to connect the stereotypically middle-class American people I knew to their recollections of immigration and struggle and assimilation. It wasn’t until I got much older that I realized that what I perceived as a child and teenager to be mere reminiscing over dessert was a precious glimpse into the simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary lives of my grandparents and our extended family and a window onto our deep and complicated cultural legacy. Over the years, I’ve become more curious about my Ukrainian ancestry. Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine has stirred something fundamental in me, stoking a latent pride that I didn’t know was there and connecting me not only to the struggle of a nation’s people fighting to retain their freedom but to a human insistence on liberty that I believe exists within all of us.
Many of you reading this may know my friend and colleague Asha Bukojemsky, whose family is from Ukraine. Asha has been compiling a list of resources and references for us to learn more about Ukraine and help the Ukrainian people, and I’m linking to her ongoing document here with her permission. Thank you, Asha. May peace be restored to Ukraine sooner than later.
And while war rages in Ukraine and in so many other regions of the globe, those of us who remain out of harm’s way carry on… This month: A letter from a reader about their mixed feelings in response to an exhibition invitation, some suggestions for taking a proactive approach to this year’s taxes, and a few thoughts on upcoming offerings.
Dear CP, I was asked to do a solo show with a gallery in New York City, in Tribeca to be exact. Ordinarily I would be ecstatic about this, but I don't really love the gallery or the work they show. They have a decent size following on IG but are not followed by any reputable galleries or artists I admire. They do have an Artsy page and have sold a few of my paintings in previous group shows, and they get decent press. But again, they do not seem to have the respect of the larger “art world.” As an emerging artist who is really having a hard time breaking in, I’m not sure what to do. Should I be worried about aligning myself with a gallery that is not followed by any other reputable galleries and does not show anywhere near blue chip artists? Or should I just be grateful for the opportunity and potential exposure and not worry about the reputation of the gallery? Any insight or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Congratulations on receiving this invitation! I suspect it’s nice to be acknowledged for what you do, but it’s clear you have mixed feelings about accepting the invitation. Let’s take a look at the opportunities and challenges at play here.
Highlights from Ideas & Resources for Art Workers The annual tax deadline is right around the corner, so I’d like to offer a few resources from my list that might be helpful if you dread tax “season.” First, a cool, calm, collected article on the basics of doing taxes as an artist by Katherine Pomerantz for The Creative Independent. I like this article because it’s clear and simple without glossing over the reality that managing personal and business finances takes time and effort. Next, I’d like to call your attention to Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax. Hannah is a working artist and registered tax accountant. Her Money Bootcamp is a year-long font of learning and resources that will help you set a solid foundation for managing your money or help you renovate broken or outdated systems and procedures. Subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on IG for useful advice and encouraging pep talks. Taxes for Artists was founded by Claudia Yi Leon, a working artist with a masters degree in taxation. She offers private consulting and group education on finance and taxes for creative people, as well as a no-nonsense (and often humorous) IG feed with tips and reminders. These are just a few of the resources I’ve compiled that relate to filing taxes, so I hope you’ll explore the whole document. And if you have great ideas and resources to share, drop me a line.
(P.S. One extra note leading up to the 2022 deadline: Amy Davila of ArtSmart, Inc. will lead her second annual workshop on tax planning for artists that focuses on organizing deductions. The zoom workshop is hosted by ICALA and takes place March 31, 2022 at 12:30pm PST. Register here.)
Offerings… I’ve got a self-organized Group Consulting cohort coming up, which is so cool! The cohorts so far have been strangers to one another at the start and quickly bond over the course of six convenings, but this is the first time I’ve had people come to me with a fully-formed group. I’m excited! If this is something you’d like to do with a self-organized group of friends or colleagues, let me know. I’ll be offering another edition of my Growth Planning Workshop starting in May or June. Drop me a line if you’re interested in participating, and I’ll start soliciting scheduling preferences. And I’m always accepting new clients for Private Consulting; email me to schedule a discovery call.
Till next time…
