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12/18/2006: "Ambassador for Art"

As "artist's" we tend to attract certain labels. Most people have heard the quote that we have "artist's minds" or live in our "artist's world" as if we are a group living and working outside of regular society. I am not criticizing this response, just making an observation from personally hearing these statements. With this perception in mind, it makes me realize "we" have a part to play in this labeling. I am a very introspective person. I see the world in shapes and symmetry or asymmetry. I do not partake in certain things in life, like watching a TV series or the news and therefore rarely know the most recent current affairs. I can spend months polishing a finished sculpture and be without all consciousness of time other than, "it is night time" or "it is daytime".


Complex II at Mar-A-Lago
Anthony Senecal with Julia Cake taken with Complex II on Display at Mar-A-Lago

I shy away from discussions on makeup and hairstyles, knowing that I will have no nails left after completing each sculpture and my hair and skin will leave a lot to be desired. I see no beauty or excitement in the average car and see work as a means to buying more sculpting materials. This leaves very few discussion topics other than my love of art, so it is not so difficult to see where this labeling originates.With these thoughts in mind, it is welcoming when we have an opportunity to express ourselves in front of an audience to show that we are regular people as well.I recently had an invitation to visit Donald Trump to show him a sculpture I had just finished. By the very subject and title of this piece, COMPLEX II, a most beautiful lady too demoralized to face the world but knowing her beauty will be recognized and appreciated one day, it too exacerbates the "artist's label". I sculpted her to be displayed, showing her back only and intentionally left her with a semi-polished finish, one grade from a beautiful shine that only her eventual owner will come to appreciate and understand once the "Complex" series is complete.From this meeting with Donald, Complex and I were invited as his guests for Thanksgiving Dinner at his Palm Beach Estate, Mar-A-Lago, with around 300 people. Donald requested that Complex II be displayed for the event in the entrance.

What I did not expect and of course did not prepare for was the duty of addressing the guests to speak about my work. After introductions by Donald Trump I was handed a microphone, and became an Ambassador for art and artist's alike. This was not the first time in this position and I hope not the last but it was yet another opportunity to promote the arena that I love and to speak about art as a sculptress and regular person.For those artist's who will have the opportunity to do the same, remember it is not only our art that speaks. Sometimes the picture or piece tells a thousand words but occasionally a few words can make the difference, so be prepared.

Complex II and other works are on display in Phillips Gallery, Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, Florida. Complex I is held by private collector.

Replies: 15 Comments

on Friday, December 22nd, Julia Cake said

Hearty comments "Red Barron". I clicked on your name to try to observe your work and maybe get a better understanding of who and what you stand for. Unfortunately there is a page error or perhaps you wish to remain anonymous. At this stage I can say no more in response.

on Friday, December 22nd, BARON LA ROUGE said

IF I WERE YOU JULIA iwould not want my name or my ART asociated with someone who takes credit for the towers in NY city ,this man is a disgrace to anything that may refect any small sem blance of the "ARTWORLD"IHOPE YOU GETTING PAID THE SALARY OF AN AMBASADOR ,THE PERKS and the PRESTIGE OF an AMBASTODOR OF THE ARTS It must be truly great to meet with such dignified guest and be able to walk away knowing there might be cake crumbs on your chin and did he invite you up to his harem of BLUE WOMEN iheard thats where he gats his women fromthe planet of blueWHO CARES ABOUT ARTin the last days of the empire lets all get high on NEW Wine and PEACOCK TOUNGES before the barbarians come over the walls although i think they have arrived and youare talking to one in the picture.

on Friday, December 22nd, Brad said

More power to you Julia.

on Thursday, December 21st, Julia Cake said

Andrew thanks for your comments. I eluded in my blog that I have little knowledge of cars but my husband explained the analogy you are using and agrees fully by the way.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Andrew said

Julia, in some cases one can both self promote, and be an Ambassador. If you create a scene people will remember, perhaps talk about, but above all perceive as an extrordinary event, then you will have done well both for yourself and the arts in general. If everyone wants to look under the hood of a Dodge Viper, and you ask yourself why, the answer is that this, among automobiles, is something unusual, something out of the ordinary, something extrordinary. Were it only that our work could set itself above lesser efforts by such a wide margin. Then, perhaps we'd draw the same kind of attention that the Viper gets, but from a more sophisticated crowd.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Julia Cake said

I appreciate your comments Mark. I particularly agree with your final line. I have returned to my true passion after being forbidden for many years to sculpt and I hope to now remain free and uninhibited to create.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Julia Cake said

Thanks Jose for your clarification. I like to believe I understand what it means to humbly involve ones self for others or a for a cause or belief without the need or intention of self praise. An early monument I completed more than a decade ago still stands in the city of Cannes and it was my expression of a walk to peace. It was unveiled on the anniversary of the Washington peace treaty signing and marked the end of my sculpting activities for the last eleven years. It is however not for discussion here but I appreciate your thought provoking comments.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Julia Cake said

Thanks for your remarks Gabriella. I envy you having the opportunity to help young children and of course you are right, there are many different forum for representation. Offering more to the young is a particular area I to would like to become involved. I envisage making an impact in the future by setting up sculpting colleges in regions not naturally associated with art, to provide more opportunity for those who have the desire.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Gabriella Morrison said

Julia - not to take away from your achievement, congratulations-, however, addressing a dinner crowd about one's own work is not to act as an Ambassador for the Arts.
I had the pleasure of working for a gallery as an Educational Co-ordinator, on a volunteer basis; introducing groups of school-age children to a number of exhibitions and to their artist/docent.
This gave an opportunity to act as an Ambassador of sorts, on behalf of all the exhibiting artists, and to help segue to lively sessions with excited and curious young people. There is something extremely pleasurable in taking part of group discussions about peoples reactions to work presented, much insight is shared, and individual responses are validated. This sure beats formalized and stilted occasions for public speaking opportunities about the arts, where many people wish for the "hook" to come out and drag the speechifying artist from the podium, so that the devouring of dessert could proceed.

on Wednesday, December 20th, jose said

Julia, I’ll try to keep it simple.

But first let me make one thing clear, you are to be congratulated for what you have achieved, regardless of the feelings one might have for Mr. Trump. I hope it provided you with ample opportunities for future sales and a greater visibility at that level.

However, I disagree, not all artists are Ambassadors for the Arts, far too many are Ambassadors for themselves. As a matter of fact, even in the diplomatic world, many diplomats often put on a show, forget what their mission was supposed to achieve, and revel in self-promotion.

As Ambassador one serves a mission – for a country, for a group, for a certain purpose and goal greater than one’s own love or interest for something.

I have never been acquainted with Mr. Trump personally, but I have found myself in the company of other patrons, and sometimes I have been asked to volunteer the odd statement. On some occasions I gave my thanks and rambled on about my work as an artist, my work was seen, my words appreciated, perhaps not – irrelevant -, and then we all dug into our deserts, before moving on to coffee and a Havana. On such occasions I was not an Ambassador for the Arts.

Am I still being too deep?

There were other occasions where, finding myself in similar conditions, I happened to have projects on my hands that involved other artists.

This is where my first comment to this blog comes in.

If, faced with such an opportunity, I manage to efface myself and get a message across to the audience, taking them beyond my personal agenda, and towards embracing or enquiring further about a broader project, I have acted in some measure as an Ambassador for the Arts, regardless of success or failure in my mission. If, however, I remain in my personal realm, I will have achieved nothing more than good Public Relations.

In my comment you will note that I do not question your achievement (nor do I claim to have achieved it myself). I merely say that you do not mention in your text the scope of your mission beyond the sale of a particular piece and where it, and others, can be contemplated. I said also that I and, surely, others, would be interested to know more of the dynamic your speech engendered.
You have answered us more clearly in your response to Brad by saying you spoke of the need for opportunities and exposure. I would say that this is indeed important. I sincerely hope your words struck a chord with the audience and that you will be able to harness the interest you generated and help create opportunities for others.

Thank you and I hope I was clearer now.

on Wednesday, December 20th, mark said

Nice blog Julia, though I can see how it might rub some the wrong way. Though I create for myself and not others I can not dismiss it lightly when some one purchases a work of mine. To have some one like Trump (who I do not care for what he represents)buy a work is a feather in your cap. I dislike the Trumpness of the world but even I would have done what you did, (and I hate reseptions, playing the artists for the enjoyment of the on-lookers)perhaps not so much to be an ambassador of the art world but more to make connections. It is a role we must play at times even if we dislike it. Does that mean I would prostitute myself? Maybe! But don't we all dream of success (come on everyone admit it) that goes beyond just making great art, even though that is what is realy important. Lets just keep on creating.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Julia Cake said

Jose, I do not fully understand your comments, maybe a little deep for me. I like to keep things simple, there is nothing more in my blog than what I have tried to say. All artists hold the mantle of Ambassador for art. I wish for all artist's to be successful and be rewarded for what they do. These rewards come in many forms not necessarily financial. Success can be achieved by just producing a piece we are happy with ourselves or a piece that another individual receives some joy from.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Julia Cake said

Brad, Thanks for taking the time to reply to my words even when it seems they did not please you in some way. You clearly are very articulate and your work I see is ,in my humble opinion, quite fantastic. My blog is not about me its about the art I love, particularly sculpting, it is also about a topic which not all artists may have considered, exposure and opportunity.If I can write or say something that in any way helps or inspires another artist or indeed any other individual I like to do so. I hope someone found something positive from my article.

on Wednesday, December 20th, Brad said

Something about the contrasts... If you can only notice there is a difference between day and night and have toiled your fingernails into numbs - how naturally wonderful you must be, to pull worthy words out of Cinderella's slipper to express to your highbrow students, that you shan't too, exacerbate the "artist's label." On my behalf, I thank you for not embarrassing me once more - as so many of those other artists always seem to do. I only pray that I may continue to work and meet the standards your talk may have set for my work and my life as well. I'll do the best I can to live up to the standard you've defined for us. BTW, tell Donald he never called me - (555)798-2787. What with Christmas just around the corner - I really need to borrow Tara Connor to help me with some final adjustments for my artist label asap - I think it still needs a little tweeking...

on Tuesday, December 19th, jose said

Ambassador for the Arts is a tough, ungrateful, job. To deserve the epithet you have to put up with a lot of slack from the most unexpected sides and hopefully be able to deliver your message in a way that allows you to attract attention to the project you have at hand – a project that involves other artists, not just yourself - and come out of the ordeal with another brick in your hands to put in towards it.

In my experience, when the artist reaches that point in his speech where he shifts from his gratitude for being in such august company and the generous purchase they have come to contemplate, to the part that really moved him to accept the epithet and try to gain sponsors and supporters for a greater cause he has undertaken – thus truly embodying what the host, most often in jest, called his ambassador for the arts for the evening –, feet start to shuffle under the table, fingers fidget, heads move about looking for a side distraction.

If you have achieved the first and managed to overcome the second, Brava, Julia! And, if so, please let us know more about what these projects might be as the blog left me wanting for more.