Pearls from artists* # 696

*an ongoing series of quotations – mostly from artists, to artists – that offers wisdom, inspiration, and advice for the sometimes lonely road we are on.
Although it’s important to make communities with like-minded people — people who are your age, your generation, who are working on projects that have resonance with yours — I am a firm believer in crossing generations to find mentorship and inspiration, and a sense of furthering the craft. So I’d say that as you begin to seek mentorship, be creative about where you look. Look in unlikely places, and make it more likely that you will cross boundaries and reach a wider, more culturally and intellectually diverse audience.
Anna Deavere Smith in Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-Up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts — for Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind”
Comments are welcome!
Posted on April 1, 2026, in 2026, An Artist's Life, Exhibitions, Inspiration, Pearls from Artists, Quotes and tagged Anna Deavere Smith, artists, audience, “Letters to a Young Artist”, believer, boundaries, communities, creative, crossing, culturally, diverse, fellow, furthering, generation, important, inspiration, intellectually, like-minded, mentorship, people, places, projects, resonance, unlikely, Whitney Museum, working. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
I enjoyed reading this. Having community is important. I like how creativity is ageless and community can remind me of this.
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So true! Thanks for the comment!
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