Wildflowers
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There’s a mystification around art and creativity in our society.
Artists and creatives are entering uncharted territory. Our institutions have failed us. Our society has been ensnared in an attention economy. Audiences consume more than ever and are consequently drained of time, energy and motivation with no recourse for where their contributions are going. Creatives are being robbed of their rights to equity. The ecosystem is collapsing.
This is the time to rediscover and reshape how we participate in our economy. This is a time to gain closer insight into how audiences and artists can reconnect. We can find equitable ways - independent ways of understanding and appreciating the value of the work, and the perspectives we gain from having art and creativity as a part of our lives.
Wildflowers
a film by Marc Cunningham
Distributed on Substack
Wildflowers is a poem, a plea, and a love letter to art and equity.
Art is an application of our senses and experiences in communion with nature, culture and society. The better we understand this, the sooner we can make the landscape of art equitable for creatives and audiences alike.
We are at the beginning of a new ecosystem, and Wildflowers is the beginning of a dialogue.
Commissioned by:
In the Spring of 2023, I volunteered to be interviewed anonymously by Makeda Easter for her monthly newsletter, The Art Rebellion. In our conversation, we discussed the mystification (although at the time, I called it mysticism) surrounding art and artists created by the machinery of our institutions to separate the value of the work from the creators.
Here is a description of The Art Rebellion in her words:
The Art Rebellion is a journalism platform and resource dedicated to uplifting and empowering artists, cultural workers, and creatives. Our goal is to help artists understand how they can make their art a viable career path and push back against systems that oppress.
The art rebellion shares stories of artists who work to make their communities better and amplifies the essential role of artists in our society. Through storytelling and journalism, we operate in solidarity with independent, working-class artists and empower creatives to make a living and impact through their work.
We had found each other when I was experiencing a sense of frustration and desperation which I carried with me for another eighteen months of toil and grind as I attempted to establish financial stability for my burgeoning production company. I am proud and relieved that things have finally stabilized, but the uncertainty persists.
Fast forward to the fall of 2024, and Makeda was now creating an installation at the University of Michigan for The Art Rebellion. She asked that I provide a short film, for the video portion of the installation. She asked for something abstract, and I obliged.
Learn more about The Art Rebellion:
Credits
Talent - Rubi, Hadley Mitchell, Ryan Wadzinski
Writer and Director - Marc Cunningham
Producer & 2nd Unit Director - Ryan Wadzinski
Cinematographer - Cole Baglia
Audio Recording - Cole Baglia
Edited By - Marc Cunningham
Music - “Killing Time” by Nicolás Jaar
Special Thanks
Makeda Easter for fostering an environment of transparency and conversation, and for motivating me to create this piece by giving me a deadline.
To the inspiration and the music of Nicolás Jaar, who made his music available to independent artists and filmmakers such as myself to be used in their art.
To Kate Flavin, Sam Carlin, and Will Moore from Beggars Music for providing the licensing for this track.
Learn more about Nicolás Jaar