“In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.” - Patti Smith
I was older when I first read that, in Patti Smith’s book, “Early Work 1970-1979,” and I’ve never stopped wishing I had been younger. A lot of my choices would have been different with this ethos guiding me. When you’re young and creative, in America, especially, there are a lot of great artists as bad role models to go around; at least there were for my generation, but I think that may be changing. You know the story: Artist is tortured, writes enduring album, dies at 27 from an overdose. Or, artist builds a successful career, but sacrifices family and a stable home life to do so. Artist cuts off ear in a fit of passion. Artist drinks, smokes, sleeps around, wakes up in beds he doesn’t know with people he’ll never know. And my favorite, for which I have been paying for years (pun intended): The starving artist. The idea that any artist worth his salt should struggle, be broke, and like it.