An Artist’s Wisdom

MARTHA PATTERSON

ABOUT HER

For some artists, a background of joyful vision or disheartening experience may be a strong foundation for one to pursue art. However, for Martha, it is purely a familial matter. Growing up in Newton, Massachusetts, she attributes her artistic quality to her mother’s encouragement.

“I need to be creative - always. It’s in my blood. My Mom was like that. Without it I’m not happy. There’s that old cliche “art is a rat,” but I love it anyway.”

Admirable and unique, art is an essential thing for Martha which she draws happiness from. Although debunked, that theory of seventy percent of one’s intelligence inherited from the mother may apply to Martha. Coincidentally, we may try to identify qualities that are similar to our parents’; an experience that’s gratifying or possibly an indirect way of holding our parents accountable. Nevertheless, it must be comforting for her to have a supporting character to identify with.

Now 65, She is no stranger to guilty pleasures like cigarette smoking.

“I’m all right but I do have the bad habit of cigarette smoking. I quit once but took it up again.”

Her habit seems imaginable as cigarette smoking is commonly associated with writers, inexplicably. With no intention of promoting it, a cigarette is enjoyable for smokers—minding their own business and definitely aware. Lifted and lit, a stick allows one for a quiet time where thoughts, together with the smoke, wafts gently.

“I listen to the radio (music and news) and sometimes do needlework for a hobby. It’s very labor-intensive but soothing and the finished work can be beautiful.”

For pastime, she resorts to relatable things such as listening to the radio. Music makes one succumb to the playful rhythm and results in us being taken aback by its relatable lyrics. Like her, it comes normally to stumble upon news when you meander on the radio from station to station or by your own volition. Another relatable hobby of hers, especially for people who enjoy staying at home and enjoying a simple and soothing task, is needlework. Free from worry and anxiety, needlework is satisfyingly undemanding yet creative.

ON NEW YORK AND CAREER

“ Manhattan was bold, busy, energizing, sometimes violent, and full of crazy talent.”

Passionate and pure, Getting Over New York shares with us the hardships that she went through. Broadway, as she describes it, is a different animal. A wild, savage land feeding off aspiring talents wanting to make a mark. A variety of productions, plays, and music projecting a certain allure to which artists are fascinated. Countless opportunities combined with uncertainty, she reflects on how the competition was unforgiving there.

“They’ve all done worthwhile creative work before arriving there; they’re just trying to prove it again and make a living at it. And most fail, simply because there are so many others there trying to do the same thing.”

Art, when pursued as an occupation, is an irony to its personal and unique characteristics. To be acknowledged demands a distinct touch from the artist only to result in the possibility of failure from doing the same thing with others alike.

“Don’t give up unless you get too burned out to continue.”

Over time she felt her health failing and struggling with it made her resort to leaving New York, eventually. However, she shares with us her wisdom on weighing passion versus health. Remembering the experience, she always thought that she would have been an actress or singer-songwriter had she not left New York. A career is not worth it if it means losing more of you than feeling fulfilled. She encourages those in the performing career to keep at it, but a phase of being burned out is a sufficient reason to go otherwise.

“My existence is once again satisfying, with the rewards of recognition for my work and the sense of a possible creative and artistic mission.”

Art is unconstrained. Moving out from New York, allowed her to re-dedicate her purpose for art and is now finally at peace as she comfortably describes. A career goes a long way and fulfills the necessities of an individual. However, dedicating art to places free from comparison allows it to be more rewarding for the artist. One is immersed into the rich experience of the artist’s touch by solely looking at art’s ability to express. Simply dedicating it to one place will diminish this value for expression.