I wasn’t so interested in being paid. I wanted to be heard. That’s why I’m broke
No panic, I’m not going to launch a crowdfunding to support Ginger Bushido. When I came across this quote by immense jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman I just thought he really made a point.
The relationship bewteen money and self-expression has always been tough for me. When you do something because you believe in it and people appreciate it, that’s your biggest reward. But then I joined a press conference the other day about Ovs project Arts of Italy and spoke to Davide Rampello, an Italian art curator. We had a quick chat, enough time to understand that my vision is romantic. And childish. There is no shame in being paid for the things you do with all your passion. I never worked just for money and I never will, only Rampello made me realize that in the past there was no division between art and earning. Artists needed money from the richest families to create their works and they took it. There was no shame in doing so, the wealthy wanted to show off their grandeur and the artists had that greatness in their minds, that was the deal.
You don’t have to be Ornette Coleman to face such dichotomy. I feel guilty each time I have an idea which could lead also to an economic reward and I want this to stop. More money means more chances to help, to bulid something good for those around me. That’s why I don’t want to be broke anymore.