I signed the lease on a commercial studio space today.  Pretty excited.  Pretty scared, (see ‘Complete the Journey’ post from a couple of days ago).  I’m working through the fear, but this is a BIG jump here.

And now the real work begins.  The work of moving, the work of building and making this space my own, and, of course, the work of creating.  That’s why I am here, after all.

Photograph ©James Lout 2017

I had a chat with a new friend here, James, the other day about this.  James is a very talented, very creative young photographer here in Grand Junction.  I love his work.  He doesn’t have studio space yet.  We talked about the Chicken / Egg quandary that we all face in this business:  You need a studio to get clients, but you need clients to get a studio.

I am of another philosophy: If you build it, they will come.

That’s a very scary proposition, maybe a bit over confident, a bit over simplified and a bit overreaching of reality, but it seems to be the nature of my particular journey.

But there is more to this idea of having a space, MY space, than just a place to do business.  It’s not just an address and a place to put my desk and store my lights.  This is my dream, come alive in real time.  A place to dream more, to grow and explore and see more light.  I know of what I speak.  I had a studio in my ‘previous life,’ a space of my own.  It was not just a place to photograph clients.  It was a place to create.  A space where ideas were born and brought to life.  It was a creative incubator, a space to hide from the world and make things happen.

And now I have a new space to make my own.  A space to create, to think, to work and to make things happen.  Business will happen here but this place will not be limited to capitalist endeavors.

This space needs to thrive on creative energy.  To make this a living, breathing creative space, I need to give as much, or more, than I take.  I hope that other creative souls will find this space and use it as well.  I hope that I can open these doors to other artists and that they will come to create, to think and to share their creative spirit with this space.

Doug Vojtko shooting at Mike Davenport Photography Studio, Wisconsin

I did that before.  Many photographers used my old studio.  They created amazing work there.  Together we shared, we learned and grew, and we all felt free and safe to explore. I know it works because I was a witness.

If you build it, they will come.

Not just clients, but creative souls.

So, James, come and explore light and create more beautiful images.  Paul, come, bring your guitar and play and move the world with your music.  Rachel, come, breathe life into the dead bones of the desert and sculpt beauty where there was none.

All of you come.

This space needs a soul.  It needs creative power.  Help me create this space with the power and energy of your art.

I have built it.  Now come.