Joseph Beuys famously said “Everyone is an artist,” referring to his belief in a universal human creativity and the power of art to bring about revolutionary change.

Beuys Felt TV performance. Photo by Lothar Wolleh.

Lately, many thinkers have been using the word “artist” to describe someone who acts as a force of change – who does something different to shake up the status quo and make us look at life and work in new ways. Read Seth Godin’s definition of art. Read his book Linchpin to see how he uses “artist.”

Godin is so influential (I am a huge fan and follower) that many, many people have adopted his definitions of art and artist.

Deep Thought Thursday

Here’s the problem: If everyone is an artist, where does that leave you? What do you call yourself?

How does what you do differ from the “artist” who discovers the cure for an epidemic or the “artist” who maneuvers a brilliant business takeover?

I was gifted a pair of these Smartwool socks designed by artist Laura Tyler and am just crazy about them. I always say “I’m not a sock person” – meaning that I’d rather go sock-less – but I’ve already worn my pair several times during this cold weather we’re having. And, yes, I’ve washed them in between.

This was a perfect gift for me! (Thank you, again, Laura.) I hope the lucky people on my Christmas list like them as much as I do.

What gift of art do you hope is under the tree for you? (Think big! This is Santa we’re talking about. The guy knows how to deliver.)

How important are awards for your art career?

Do they bring opportunities?

Do they lead to sales?

The Clyfford Still Museum opens in Denver tomorrow.

The Abstract Expressionist painter who retained most of his work out of a loathing for the art establishment is finally getting what he wanted in life: a museum showing only his art – 95% of his life’s work.

Installation view of the Clyfford Still Museum inaugural exhibition. Photo by Raul J. Garcia. Image courtesy Clyfford Still Museum.

There’s no doubt that Still’s ego was ginormous.

But there has been debate since Still’s death in 1980 over the part of his will that left his paintings to any city (city – not museum!) that would build a museum for them. The strict guidelines made it impossible for most cities to consider such an undertaking.

The winning city turned out to be Denver – a city he had no strong connection with. Read more.

Thirty-one years after Still’s death, many works that have never before been seen will make their debut in the Clyfford Still Museum.

Choose

You can choose which deep thought to respond to:

What if every artist had his or her own museum? How do we choose which artists get their own museums?

What role does ego play in an artist’s success?

Is it worth leaving a legacy like this if you don’t enjoy success during your life because you’ve kept all of your works to yourself?

Ginny Stanford, Autumn. Acrylic, 42 x 18 inches. ©The Artist

How important are sales to you?

How important are sales for your self-esteem?

How do you keep going when your art isn’t selling?

“If it’s easy, it’s probably not worth pursuing.”

Discuss.

I’m always on the lookout for topics for Deep Thought Thursday, so I love it when a gift appears in front of me – like this tweet that showed up in my Twitter stream yesterday from one of my favorite art-thinkers/writers/critics.

ART IS PROTEST.

- John Perreault

What do you think?

Longtime readers of the Art Biz Blog know that I write a lot of how-to posts. How to start a page on Facebook. How to attract fans for your art. How to fix your blog.

In the future I plan to write more advocacy posts.

What I want to know from you is . . . what do you want to see on this blog?

What do you want to learn when you come here or how do you want to feel when you leave?

What questions do you have about building your art business? Be as specific as you can. I don’t like writing or sharing “mushy” posts.

What information do you need for your new direction?

What do you want to read more about or less about?

Tell me.

My mom and dad viewing the William Struby art exhibit I took them to at the Norick Art Center in Oklahoma City.

Art viewing is nothing if not a connection between two minds, in my opinion.
- Edward Winkleman

Discuss.

©2011 Debora L. Stewart, Luminous Vista. Soft pastel on sanded paper, mounted on archival board, 14 x 24 inches.

An artist said to me:

I often don’t like my work until a year or more later. Maybe I’m too close to it.

I always thought that an artist’s most recent work was her favorite, but I guess that’s not necessarily true.

Are you more critical of recent work and grow to like it more as time goes on?