Posted on February 9, 2019, in 2019, An Artist's Life, Bolivia, Creative Process, Inspiration, Studio, The West Village, Working methods and tagged accusation, accused, afterwards, arguably, around the world, aspect, blessing, comments, country, creative process, develop, education, Facebook, foreign travel, forge ahead, grateful, handful, influences, inspiration, inspired, Lake Titicaca, late in life, logic, messages, ownership, presumes, remaining open, research, sentiments, shock, singular, source of inspiration, stealing culture, Studio, supplemented, tasked, telling, thanks, touched, travel. Bookmark the permalink. Comments Off on Q: It is well known that you gain inspiration from foreign travel. Has anyone ever accused you of stealing their culture?.
Make a Donation
RSS- Pearls from artists* # 693
- Q: You started the Bolivianos series in 2017. It has been 8 years since you created The Champ. This endeavor of focussing on a series for almost a decade’s timeline shows that you embody stability as against many artists who tend to hop on to the next inspiration they find. How has discipline, stability, focus and punctuality defined your works apart from being inspired by Bolivian culture for the series Bolivianos? (Question from Vedica Art Studios and Gallery)
- Pearls from artists* # 692
- Q: Another exhibition was described as “a journey from identity to authenticity.” Does that resonate? (Question from “Pastel, Passion, and Perseverance: An Interview with Barbara Rachko” in .ART Odyssey: Healing)
- Pearls from artists* # 691
- Start/Finish of “Showman,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 26” x 20”
- Pearls from artists* # 690
- Q: You take 3-4 months to complete one artwork. How do you plan a series such as Bolivianos over a year’s timeline and over the years? (Question from Vedica Art Studios and Gallery)
- Pearls from artists* # 689
- Q: Over your 40-year career as an artist, you have managed to keep presentation, technical, subject matter, conceptual consistencies in your art practice and work. How do you manage to filter out inspirations that might be luring at that moment but do not support your art practice? For example, you master pastel works. There must have been moments when you might have been inspired to make oil works. How do you keep such inspirations aside. (Question from Vedica Art Studios and Gallery)
barbararachkoscoloreddust.com 
Q: It is well known that you gain inspiration from foreign travel. Has anyone ever accused you of stealing their culture?
Feb 9
Posted by barbararachkoscoloreddust
The Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca
A: Yes, a few people have done so via comments on Facebook. It came as a shock.
The logic of such an accusation presumes ownership. I don’t believe any person has a claim to owning culture.
Travel is arguably the best education there is. My travels around the world, supplemented with lots of research once I return home, are an important part of my creative process. This is how I develop ideas to forge a way ahead. It is difficult and solitary work.
Every artist is tasked with remaining open to influences – however, wherever, and whenever they appear. Somewhat late in life, travel as a source of inspiration found ME. And it has been a blessing!
People around the world have become fans. Many send messages of thanks saying they are proud that some aspect of their country’s culture has inspired my work. I am always grateful and touched to know this.
Comments are welcome!
Share this:
Related
About barbararachkoscoloreddust
Barbara’s thoughts on art, the creative process, soft pastel, the inspiration she finds in travel, what it’s like to be an artist in New York City, and other wisdom for artists as we travel our solitary and sometimes lonely roads.