Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. In 2016, social media platforms ruined themselves for artist Gwenn Seemel. That was the year they stole the last bit of agency from their users — replacing chronology with algorithms — and rendered themselves obsolete to her practice. In this podcast, Gwenn talks about her decision to leave social platforms altogether; the personal, professional, and moral reasons behind her choice; and the surprising human and financial outcome of this bold stance. Join Gwenn and Cory in a discussion on the human aspect of relationships, the collective nature of art, Capitalism as a force of destruction in the world, and a few solid tips on how to run your business away from social media, but still online and connected. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes long-time friend and artist Gwenn Seemel to ask her why she recently decided to leave social media. [4:09] Gwenn touches on her business ROI fears without social media as well as some surprising psychological aspects of pulling away from the platforms. [6:14] Increased emotional strength and stable income are Gwen’s current state of business despite using no social platforms. [7:08] Standing up to Facebook’s — and most other social platforms’ — moral grayscale. [12:11] Leaving social media: the need for resiliency and building mental health. [15:15] Building one-on-one relationships with buyers and collectors. Gwen explains how she manages her contact list. [22:34] Tracking inventory when your body of work has grown substantially. [26:48] Patreon — and patronage — is not charity. Gwenn and Cory touch on the underestimated benefits of this type of platform. [33:30] Gwen’s invaluable Patreon tips. [36:06] When you can’t be your own “hype-man” – tips for the socially disinclined. [38:23] Cory probes Gwenn’s thoughtfulness and the process she uses to think through questions in-depth. [42:10] Jobs With Justice and why Gwenn cares about proper pay for anyone in any job. [49:29] Did Capitalism lift the stark majority of the masses out of absolute poverty? Gwenn debates passionately for the dismantling of the aforementioned system! [54:22] The German business example — welcome to the board! Cory shares his own luck as it relates to a discussion on capitalism and the state of the world. [57:06] Why did Cory choose to go to college despite growing up in an ecosystem that didn’t foster it? [58:56] Cory thanks Gwenn for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Gwenn Seemel’s website All My Friends Live in My Computer: Trauma, Tactical Media, and Meaning, by Samira Rajabi Taffy, Amanda. 2021. The Role of the Arts During COVID-19: Gendered Expressions of Resilience & Empowerment. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Artwork archive Jobs With Justice The Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in the Twenty-First Century, by Erica Smiley and Sarita Gupta Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com
