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07/20/2009: "SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT"

So, I just got another speaking engagement for art's sake.

It's pro bono and should be fun. I'll be keynote speaker at the National Association of Independent Artists' (naia-artists.org) annual conference at the end of September. This will mark the second time I've spoken at this conference. Cool. This year, it's set for Peoria, Illinois, not the art capital of the world, but here's the thing. It's not that far away. I can drive there within a day, stay in a nice hotel overnight and maybe even see some art in a city I've never visited. What can be better? It'll kick off Peoria Fine Art Fair weekend which I won't be able to attend. Work beckons.
A
s I've gotten older, I've learned to drop my preconceived notions about people and places. It's the only way to travel. You just have to get up early, pack your bags, do a little Googling, get in your car or hop a plane and GO. Just GO. I've never been to Peoria, but soon I will be able to say I have. The cool thing is ... if you're an art collector, it's not just about the art or the artists. It's really about getting out there and collecting EXPERIENCES. I usually tell people that collecting isn't just about the art. It's about being open to life and new things ... no matter where life takes you. Pack your bags, but leave your baggage.


Would I rather be going to Paris, Amsterdam, London or Vancouver? Wouldn�t you? One day I will get to those places, but like charity, world travel begins at home. I have to tell you that much if not most of what I've learned in life has come through travel. I've met some very interesting people within the confines of trains, planes and automobiles. There's something about travel that frees people up and takes them out of their day to day, hum-drum existence. I've actually noticed this while sitting in airports. People actually seem to have this sense of freedom. Stepping out of your mundane routine tends to have that effect on people. Hop a plane and lighten your load. Suddenly, you're no longer some grunt with a number who shows up for work every day. You've been freed. You become reacquainted with your true self and you can even re-invent yourself during your travel time if you'd like. However, this is the very thing that can get some people into trouble. You don't want to re-invent yourself TOO MUCH while away. The next thing you know, you're in handcuffs being hauled downtown for questioning. I would imagine this happens a lot in Las Vegas.

Anyway, an art dealer friend once told me that art people are a different breed. She said they tend to be folks who just set out on their own and explore. That definitely describes me. It's interesting because I've been this way since childhood. I actually remember being a kid and walking through art museums and being spellbound. Nothing has changed. It was all about me exploring art and finding myself in the art. There's an overwhelming sense of aloneness in this exercise. Many people may find it unbearably lonely. I'll admit that it's a bit lonely, but I really find it exhilarating and enlightening. One of the great benefits of traveling alone is it makes you strong. Sooner or later, you become immune to petty annoyances like backbiting and criticism. Even compliments can be kept in their proper place. By the time critics critique, you've long moved on to the next thing.

For some reason, I�m thinking about something that happened to me back in second grade. One day after school, I missed the bus that would've taken me back home. I remember running outside the school building (P.S. 135, Brooklyn, New York) and seeing my bus take off while I yelled, "Wait! Wait!" Have you ever had anything or anyone leave without you? Talk about lonely. At that point, I said to myself, "I guess I'll have to walk!" It never occurred to me that I should go back inside the school building and tell someone that I had missed the bus. So, I started on my trek home. I recall walking along what I recall was the huge, multi-lane Kings Parkway. I saw so many things: bums on the street, kids playing in city parks, but mostly lots and lots of cars and traffic lights. I now call it "Urban Realism." What a canvas! I also recall wearing a heavy brown coat and carrying a brown book bag, both of which left me in a heavy sweat by the time I arrived home.

When I made it upstairs to our apartment, my mom screamed, "Oh my God! Where have you been? We called the police!" That's when I told her what had happened. "You walked THAT WHOLE WAY?" she asked. "Don't ever do that again!" I recall her saying with fear curbed by love. "Next time, go back into the school and tell someone!" she said.

Telling tales wasn't my thing back then, I guess. However, the very next day in school, my teacher Mrs. Klein (a heavyset woman, who sported the world's biggest bouffant hairdo, jet black, cat-eyed glasses with chain around her neck and a girdle that went "SWISH" "SWISH" when she walked) had me stand up before the class and tell everyone what had happened. I vaguely remember the other kids being impressed by my story. Whatever. All I knew is that I had to get home and it was up to me. I got to see plenty of real life art during that long walk. It was all about immersion.

Things really haven't changed that much. I'm still a solitary creature who loves setting off on my own ... especially during art trips. While I certainly have "dream art cities," I'll go practically anywhere if art is in the mix and I suspect the people will be pleasant. Soon, it'll be all about Peoria. What will I see? Who knows? Where will I go? Who knows? What kind of speech will I give? I'm not sure, but I have a strange feeling it'll be about art, exploration and urban realism. Oh ... and this time, I won't be shy. I'll sing like a canary. I look at it this way. If I play in Peoria, I�ll play anywhere.

MICHAEL CORBIN IS AN AVID ART COLLECTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING BOOK, "THE ART OF EVERYDAY JOE: A COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL." CHECK OUT HIS BRAND NEW WEBSITE AT WWW.ARTBOOKGUY.COM

Replies: 46 Comments

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think that it mut also extend to the working artist. life experience is one of my most important assets. and i have been blessed with some very unusual ones. life experiences need not be all positive. in fact, the negative ones will give you strength(if you survive)and empower you. if you are empowered and strong, you will have brush power. yes, brush power does exist. i liked your comment about being alone.

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Peoria is a very nice place. I remember taking the backroads driving through miles and miles of cornfields. It has a special charm. One day I'll try to paint it as part of my journey. Best of luck with your visit. I'm sure you'll see some great art and meet some nice interesting people. Maybe you could even post your speach as a blog for everyone to read.

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on Friday, April 23rd, bondage said

michael. you're absolutely right about the collector needing life experience. i think that it mut also extend to the working artist. life experience is one of my most important assets. and i have been blessed with some very unusual ones. life experiences need not be all positive. in fact, the negative ones will give you strength(if you survive)and empower you. if you are empowered and strong, you will have brush power. yes, brush power does exist. i liked your comment about being alone. i think that most people fear being alone because they are not comfortable with themselves. so, they believe that enclosing themselves in the middle of a crowd will protect them.that's a bit like taking a drug or a drink to make you feel better. it can't really because you still aren't comfortable within yourself.and with my art, i am never bored, nor will i ever run out of things to do. winston churchill once wrote that if you have your art you will never be lonely.

on Friday, April 23rd, bondage said

so, they believe that enclosing themselves in the middle of a crowd will protect them.that's a bit like taking a drug or a drink to make you feel better. it can't really because you still aren't comfortable within yourself.and with my art, i am never bored, nor will i ever run out of things to do.

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on Wednesday, December 30th, how to give a guy head said

so, they believe that enclosing themselves in the middle of a crowd will protect them.that's a bit like taking a drug or a drink to make you feel better. it can't really because you still aren't comfortable within yourself.and with my art, i am never bored, nor will i ever run out of things to do.

on Wednesday, December 30th, how to give a guy great head said

Kindred spirits, Michael! Last summer following a family reunion in the Poconos, I was longing for some city architecture. I went to Scranton, PA, which I had never been to before. UNBELIEVEABLE ornamentation on factory buildings!

on Wednesday, December 30th, Make a Post said

Good luck at that man. Speaking of engagement, it reminds me of myself. I had an interesting read.

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on Monday, December 28th, Wedding Gowns said

It has a special charm. One day I'll try to paint it as part of my journey. Best of luck with your visit. I'm sure you'll see some great art and meet some nice interesting people. Maybe you could even post your speach as a blog for everyone to read.

on Thursday, December 24th, telepresence said

think that most people fear being alone because they are not comfortable with themselves. so, they believe that enclosing themselves in the middle of a crowd will protect them.that's a bit like taking a drug or a drink to make you feel better.

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I admire you. It is a great opportunity to be heard. I wonder if thi conferance will be different from all the conferances I visited. You know sometimes the conference is just the planned event that gives and solves nothing. I hope in your case the situation is different.

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on Saturday, December 12th, Corllins University said

you're absolutely right about the collector needing life experience. i think that it must also extend to the working artist.

on Saturday, December 12th, life experience associate degree said

I come across a piece of art that captures my attention, and if I can afford it, I just go ahead and get it.

on Saturday, December 12th, online degree programs said

will i ever run out of things to do. winston churchill once wrote that if you have your art you will never be lonely.

on Saturday, December 12th, life experience phd degree said

I got to see plenty of real life art during that long walk. It was all about immersion.

on Saturday, December 12th, graduate certificate said

if you are empowered and strong, you will have brush power. yes, brush power does exist. i liked your comment about being alone.

on Wednesday, December 9th, stock market for beginners said

@henry u

i whole heartedly disagree, i am married to an 'artist' and have known many in the 'art' community and the group as a whole is not easily connected with terms like solitary

on Tuesday, December 8th, wedding songs said

The story about your mother wanting to know where you had been brings up my own old memory's. And your so right about it being about "immersion". Sometimes you just have to go where your heart takes you and that is your one and only guide! If you did not have the life experience you would have nothing to base your experiences from.

on Monday, December 7th, Henry U said

I'm not sure that art people are a different breed, but I do believe they tend to be fairly solitary and do indeed just set out on their own and explore. I think that is a measure of their creativity.

on Tuesday, August 11th, Fazzino said

Have fun, and good luck, in Peoria! It's good to hear that it is a relatively short drive away and that it will be a new city for you to experience. It's also wonderful that you're speaking pro bono to your fellow artists. Sounds like you'll be building up some 'positive karma' during September.

on Thursday, July 30th, NYC PI Guy said

I went last year with my wife to the Peoria Fine Art Fair. We had a great time and bought some incredible art! Enjoy!

on Monday, July 27th, Adrian said

sounds far king awsome...just going with the flow as per usual:-)

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on Friday, July 24th, AK said

Peoria is a very nice place. I remember taking the backroads driving through miles and miles of cornfields. It has a special charm. One day I'll try to paint it as part of my journey. Best of luck with your visit. I'm sure you'll see some great art and meet some nice interesting people. Maybe you could even post your speach as a blog for everyone to read. -AK

on Friday, July 24th, debbi(sosum)chan said

michael. you're absolutely right about the collector needing life experience. i think that it mut also extend to the working artist. life experience is one of my most important assets. and i have been blessed with some very unusual ones. life experiences need not be all positive. in fact, the negative ones will give you strength(if you survive)and empower you. if you are empowered and strong, you will have brush power. yes, brush power does exist. i liked your comment about being alone. i think that most people fear being alone because they are not comfortable with themselves. so, they believe that enclosing themselves in the middle of a crowd will protect them.that's a bit like taking a drug or a drink to make you feel better. it can't really because you still aren't comfortable within yourself.and with my art, i am never bored, nor will i ever run out of things to do. winston churchill once wrote that if you have your art you will never be lonely.

on Thursday, July 23rd, Ellen said

Kindred spirits, Michael! Last summer following a family reunion in the Poconos, I was longing for some city architecture. I went to Scranton, PA, which I had never been to before. UNBELIEVEABLE ornamentation on factory buildings! Beautiful textures and sculptured reliefs! There is also a train museum and a great coffee bar (an independent one at that) serving gingerbread biscotti with lemon icing! A wonderful afternoon in an unexpected, unexplored (by me) place!