The Illusion of the Elitist Artist

"Sport is more popular. Why should tradies tax dollars go to pay for an elitist pass time. the average person arent remotely interested in the convoluted navel gazing of the art community. Supply and demand. If there are too many artists and they can't make a living then it's not up to the tax payer to fork out more dosh. I would rather some disabled kids get funding than a load of pretentious wankers."

This was someone's legitimate response to arts in Australia.
This is why I often eat only frozen vegetables.
This is why I either make my costumes or source them from thrift shops.

My work critiques woman's roles in society in a dreamy, fantastical, cinematic way. Does that make it less valid? Less worthy? Am I simply too bored to get a real job? Really? Given I just lost a job that I loved because Australian's don't read books either...

This makes me so mad.

Australian people as a whole need to realize that we are brainwashed by media to only enjoy simple, straightforward things. By all means, sport can be fun, but there is more to life than it! TV shows don't have to be black and white, movies don't have to be all action and boobs. Music, oh dear Loki, don't even get me started on popular music; you guys know that there are more than four chords right? Beer is not the only alcohol available. Why do the masses chose to be so influenced by peer pressure?

Despite what the stereotype suggests, I don't come from money, nor will I inherit any great sum of it. I don't do this just for fun, I do this because it's the only way I know how to fight; fight for my world to change, fight to make my children's world better. I do this so that I might inspire someone else to join the fight, to give them hope that things could one day change.

That doesn't sound very elitist to me.

Now, here's some of my latest work...

And that, boys, is how it's done

Unfortunately for me, being a practicing artist doesn't pay the bills. So to get by I have a job in retail as well. I do actually enjoy it, so I guess that makes it all ok.
But, every shift I work I get hit on, asked out, or "pet-named". It's something I have to deal with all the time as a woman. Sometimes it's sweet, I get made to laugh, I am classily handed a business card with a number, but other times it's quite degrading and demanding and rather misogynistic.
Today, however, a true gentleman walked into my shop, and I feel it's worth sharing.
I was sitting behind the counter, reading my book, as is actually part of my job, and I was quietly approached by a man with a friendly smile and two large coffees.
"So I have two coffees, and I was wondering if you might like one,' he said to me.
"Really?"
"Yes really, for you, if you want it," he replied.
"Thank you," I returned with true sincerity.
He returned my smile with warmth, and wandered around the store, bought an item, wished me a good afternoon and left.
There was no smut, there was no assumptions, there was no pressure, and was not very long. And it made me feel lovely. Now that it was it supposed to happen.
Now if only it was Elijah Wood or Tom Hiddleston doing that in my store...