The film premiere was a lovely event, all the cast came dressed in costumes, some medieval, some Victorian. I met The Lady of Shalott, Lord Tennyson, and Sir Lancelot, who kissed me on the cheeks and made me blush! ha! The film is due to be shown at The Collection from 30th May along with other events celebrating the life and works of Tennyson. How lovely it was to see Tennyson recite the poem, and how it was adapted for film.
I went to support my friends for the Illustration Show, and felt very welcome, but when I went to Fine Art, I was speaking to a friend who told me that just because I'm a graduate I shouldn't expect to earn any money, no, he does a lot of stuff voluntarily…. after that the wine kicked in.
I still disagree. I'm sure that many years ago people said the same kinds of things to black African slaves. Nowadays slavery is frowned upon, but apparently it is promoted within the arts!
Not sure why.
Another analogy that I think of comes from my experiences of an abusive relationship. Financial abuse, keeping money from a wife, is cited on the women's aid website:
http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-arti…
It is something I have personally experienced in the past and emphatically do not want to occur again. I have been forced into abject poverty because of it, and it scares me to think there are still people out there who do not understand that it is a form of abuse.
Hence my insistence on not accepting voluntary work. if it means I do not succeed as an artist, then at least I know I have not subjected myself willingly to some form of slavery and/or financial abuse.
I am deadly serious about that.
I am certain that I can and will succeed as an artist, and will be paid accordingly, and seeing as no one else seems able or willing to pay me so far, I am extremely happy to accept the placement scheme, and I do not accept all the belittling comments I hear from others. I cannot even conceive of it!
