Ok ~ my turn to be honest: While “snotty” (your word) may be a bit
over the top if one were to characterize your post, I can manage a
few other adjectives… And you say here that, “at times, you have
stood up for beaders”…
I’ve been a professional jewellery artist for over 22 years. I make
assemblage, component jewellery., that is, I work primarily with
beads. When I got my first computer, a mere 5 1/2 years ago, thanks
to a non-jeweller friend’s alertness and consideration in sending me
the link, I found Orchid. I have been a steady reader ever since.
Much of what I read here is ostensibly irrelevant (directly) to my
production. Much of it, admittedly, due to time constraints, I must
delete unread. But, let me make an argument for what I perceive as
the fundamental purpose of Orchid: Communication, Connection, and
Education. These qualities are not ~repeat: NOT~ exclusionary. We are
here to learn from each other and, hopefully, forge a sense of
community - global, artistic, professional, even, at times,
personal. I may not form ingots or cast my own metals, etc. but let
me tell you - I do read and learn from everyone here. I have
discovered worlds of sources, techniques, philosophy,
history, technical business advice, etc., etc., etc., so
far BEYOND the scope of my erstwhile “limited” activity, I would no
more think of marginalizing anyone’s input or area of expertise here
than I would in my daily newspaper. Reading Orchid, following - or
even just dipping in occasionally - threads which are ostensibly
"Off-Topic " to me, makes me think outside the box. I never know from
where the next inspiration or new - (omg !) “Thought” - may come To
be blunt, I think it presumptuous of you to declare some sort of turf
imperative here, positing that Orchid is - or should be - restricted
to the more "legitimate " arts of metalsmithing and lapidary. I
represent neither of these skills, and, yet, here I am.
I realize my tone is not as diplomatic as I would have it be, if I
took a day or so to think about my answer before writing, but ,
frankly, I need to respond to this thread now, while my thoughts and
emotions are vivid… I don’t intend to make this personal. But, that
said, I have to say that I do take personally the idea that my
fundamental concerns are somehow “different” from that of what too
many in this profession consider their exclusive domain; I have been
standing up for respect for my niche in this business for over 2
long decades. Before the bead shops and Saturday afternoon stringing
classes. Before the flood of artsy-craftsy beading magazines. And
SOME of us make a living at this. Full time. No “fall back”, no
"second income" status. And from what I read, clearly, not even all
of you metal smiths and lapidaries can say the same. I am in no mood
to hear about self-deprecating “bottom of the pit” this - and having
to "plow through more “irrelevant” posts that - and “unto itself”
(?!) the third thing -!
So, maybe it’s just me, and maybe I’m being overly optimistic and
ecumenical, but here is how I see it: Orchid is a forum limited only
by the imagination and/or experience of its contributors for the
discussion of ALL things pertaining to the creation, promotion, and
appreciation of the Jewellery Arts - including some of their
"messier", more nonlinear, less “high tech”, more offbeat aspects -
like - oh - mine, for example… It’s fine to propose a second thread
or forum; hey - in my view, all avenues of communication are valid -
it’s all good. But I will not quietly suborn any more of this
attitude -not here! - especially here - on this forum of
professionals and (not so professionals) - that my work - my time,
my materials, my years’ of perfected skills, my artistry, my long
hours, my anxieties, my broken back - is somehow less valuable, or
less valid for inclusion in the communal discussion, than yours.
And if subject matter happens to come up, occasionally, that is
annoyingly irrelevant for you, then, just like me - you have a
"delete" button. You can even delete this post.
Respectfully and Wearily,
Margery Epstein
