An Art Deco kinda' year

Today I had some time to kill between an interview and the NAMIC career fair. So, I did what any single girl in the City with dreams of being Carrie Bradshaw would do. I visited the New York Public Library at Bryant Park. I'd never been inside, even though I've passed by numerous times (and taken a picture in front of the lions :* ) But I'd always meant to go, and felt like it was my bibliophilic duty to do so. Aside from being a beautiful marble palace with corridor after corridor of subject-specific mini libraries, it was a quiet oasis on a busy metropolitan street. And I wish I could say I chose one of those rooms and curled up with a good book for an hour, but I didn't.

The woman at the information desk - very nice by the way - excitedly implored me to join the Art Deco Design: Rhythm and Verve discussion, "Starting now, just beyond those glass doors!" Now, if you knew me, you'd know that I'm not an art aficionado, but that I am a lover of trying new things. I visit museums frequently, but I've rarely - if ever - participated in a curator's (or in this case, art librarian's) discussion of an exhibit. So, I figured I'd give it a try...and I loved it!

The curator made a case for the undervalued art style. She framed it with events of the decades the pieces were created, and her story made me think deeper about our current time, economic and social trends. Back then - 1919 to 1939 - Europe, and the U.S. in a uniquely American way, went through boom, bust and rebuilding periods. French couturiers bankrolled the design of everyday items, like wallpaper, to entice the rich to resume purchasing luxury goods during the bust. As the curator said, "Even Matisse did some carpet work." This circumstance reminded me of a story I read a few months ago on the "Luxury-Magazine Bubble" that's predicted to pop amidst the current recession.

Right now, everyone is having to reinvent themselves - "do carpet work" - to make it. As a recent graduate, I did have a small sense of that fabled Millennial Generation entitlement - minus the stereotypically horrible work ethic and unrealistic salary expectations. However, I've had to quickly let that go through this humbling job search. I still have high ideals of what American journalism/media is suppose to be, and great expectations for myself in it, but right now I'd really just like to pay a bill. One more thing on the discussion: the curator said that a lot of the works artists created during this movement - pop culturish and apparently not MOMA-worthy - have now been turned into "bastardized" design imitations found on department store junior apparel. Her phrasing and stuffy art world disdain for the common made me laugh (Target is awesome!!!), but I extracted a warning out of it.

Never let others undervalue your work to the point that it can be turned into a "bastardized" version of your original intentions.

Don't lower your overall standards during this rough time; you'll regret it later if you do.