THE INTERVIEWS
EGMP Interviews are live video discussions and interviews with creative artists
about what it means to be a creative artist in the US.
This first set of interviews scratches the surface of how several of EGMP’s personnel view their art in relation to society and gives us a look at a more personal experience of what their art is like for them.
Elena Greco
Richard Gordon
Suzzanne Ponomarenko
Part 2 of the EGMP Interviews explores through the eyes of creative artists how they live their lives so that those who are not creative personalities can perhaps understand them a little bit better.
There is often a misperception by non-creatives of why creatives do what they do and live the way they live. I want to give creatives a chance to describe what living their lives is like for them on a daily basis, what it feels like to be a creative, and what compels them to pursue their art, sometimes in spite of great obstacles. I think they don’t often get to express that. And I hope to foster an appreciation of each for the other.
There is a distinction between being a creative, as a noun, and doing something creative. People are generally born creative (or not); it is not a choice. Also, people often think of creative people as those who are in the creative arts, but there are creative people in almost every field—science, technology, and anywhere there are innovative ideas, even in government. Being a creative has more to do with a specific set of personality characteristics than with a profession.
The US is different from Europe in that, as a country, it does not support its creative artists. There also seems to be on the part of some of our citizens almost a disdain for those in the creative arts, as though they are superfluous or a waste of time. For that reason, life as a creative is quite difficult for most creative artists and thinkers in this country.
Regarding what causes the difference in attitude here as opposed to Europe, in the US there seems to be a lack of appreciation for what creatives offer to our shared experience as humans. Europeans are much wiser in their view of creative arts and creative people, understanding that the arts enrich our lives and support our growth and well-being as human beings, in addition to supporting our civilization by bringing alternate viewpoints to important issues of society and giving us visionary dreams for the future. They also leave a record of not only what we did, but what we felt, during the time in which we live. I want to give those who do not understand or appreciate creatives a chance to see them from a different perspective in the hope that they might see their role in enriching our culture. Being creative is not better than not being creative (both are needed), but neither is it something to be shunned or viewed with disrespect. Most of all, I want to give creative artists a voice to speak of their personal relationship to their creativity and how living their lives is necessarily intertwined with it.
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ELENA GRECO MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS™
ELENA GRECO MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS™ (EGMP) is sponsored by Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)3 non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of EGMP are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. You can be a part of EGMP, helping us create innovative shows that entertain, educate and enliven and bring our unique entertainment to the community by clicking here:
For more information, please email Elena Greco.