sigh. i quit.

[mopinko]

i have kinda decided that i am going to quit the ceramics co-op i belong to. i have been a member for 5 years, and was the pres for quite a bit of that. we have been operating on the edge, at best, and draining the bank account at worst. we are short one member right now, and are worried that we will not be able to find someone in this economy.
the group is seriously dysfunctional. we are 37 years old, we have one original member, and another that has been there most of the time. they bicker like a pair of old biddies. one is a little cracked, and the other is probably certifiable. neither really contributes much, or is expected to. the crazier one make a lot of promises, and kills a lot of ideas with her promises, but never, ever makes good. she is looking at bankruptcy, if she is lucky. she has been living on credit cards, and draining the equity from her once very expensive home. she has been cut off from her credit.
one of the newer members has become quite fixated in her dislike of me. i swear i did nothing. she just always felt that things i tried to do to pull things together were manipulating her, and bullying her. i swear to you i have never raised my voice to her, or pretty much anyone, except the crazy one.
the whole thing has devolved into one of those soap opera ridiculous situations. there have been other such situations, too.
so, i am just tired of it. our equipment is deteriorating and no one will come up with any more money to repair things. a nice cushion when i got there has been pissed away through disorder and bullshit. and they think we should all pitch in and have some fundraisers, the planning of which promises to be a giant pile of poo.
it is very painful. my art space is something that i need like i need water. and without this space, i have no way to work in clay, which will kill me. but i can't take it any more. and it is going to be one ugly mess to watch this shit circle the drain.
i will be the straw that breaks the camels back. i have a large space, and they will sink in about 6 months without me. i feel bad.

there are a couple of options out there for me, none of which are quite as convenient and affordable. for the time being i am happy to be working on my house.
i know i have to just do it. i'll be relieved as soon as i write up that quit note.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Bummer. But maybe something better will come along. *hugs*

[mopinko]

2. i have a couple of places i could go.

there is another group clay studio here in the city that probably has a space. it is a little more controlling, but it is a lot more professionally run. does a lot better at things like sales, gallery opportunities, pr, etc.
farther from home, and little to no parking. probably will pay as much for a much smaller space.
i could also fire with some friends out in galena. long drive, but i don't make that much that i couldn't get into a few firings a year and be fine. dong some remodeling on our house, and could probably make myself a space. i used to really need to get up there and be away from the tribulations of home, but the kids are getting bigger, and not that much of a bother.

i'm mostly sorry that i believe in collective action, and thought that a co-op like this would be ideal. but it is just a bunch of pissy drama.

[seaker]

3. You have worked so hard...

I am sorry

[NYC_SKP]

8. well lookie there, seaker...

OMG!

:loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear mopinko...

Sounds to me as though getting out of there, and into that other place, is just what you need to do...

For your own sanity, and your own creativity too!

Write the note, and save your life...:hug:

[Name removed]

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[mopinko]

7. yes, it is time. enough is enough.

maybe that is all the note i need- enough is enough.

i really need to spend some time with my house, anyway. i have lived here over 20 years, dreaming of the day when..... time for that day to be today.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Can they be made to leave/find greener pastures more to their liking?

It sounds like you enjoy this sort of thing (or you wouldn't be posting about it, you'd simply throw in the towel). I really hope it works out for you. :hug:

[mopinko]

6. the trouble is filling those empty slots.

although i think that the 2 old members will not be around much longer, the new nutso is not going anywhere. besides, old nuts go and new nuts take their place.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Best wishes, mopinko...

The artist in you will find a solution, though leaving is sad and change is hard, I think and I hope your next studio will be vastly better.

:hug:

[Starry Messenger]

10. I'm sorry mopinko.

I'm a ceramics artist and co-op refugee. No advice, just hugs. It kills me to hear stories like this. Sounds like a toxic situation though, which is no good for making art. I hope your luck turns soon.

[mopinko]

13. i'll be fine. i feel bad for them.

unless my president turns things around quick, they are sunk.

[Gonzo Gardener]

11. Hey, Mo, as one door closes another is bound to open up!

I don't know what part of town you live in, but do you know of Lill Street Art Center? http://www.lillstreet.com/

I'm sure it's changed a lot in the 20+ years since I was there, but it's worth looking into.

I know that you've been struggling with this for a while. I'm sorry it's devolved into this. :hug:



Edited to add: I've still got a couple of good connections up your way. I'll be happy to ask around about any available studio space and get back to you.

[mopinko]

12. lill street is the obvious place to go and

it is where the refugees have traditionally gone. one time 5 members quit and went there in the same day.
i am think that maybe i am just not cut out for the group studio thing. i am a bit of a curmudgeon. and sometimes a crank. but i really, really watch my p's & q's with these people. but they are just all so freakin' selfish.
we were planning to do an addition to our house, and i think the best thing is for me to just have my studio there. with a lock on the door. it's not like they don't pester me at work now.
i can get an electric kiln, and fire with my friends out in galena a couple times a year.

i really wanted to be in a community of artists. i see now it is just a bad idea to have to get them to agree on shit.

[Gonzo Gardener]

14. It sounds like you've got a plan.

An addition to your house could be the perfect solution. Instead of wasting your energy trying to get a bunch of selfish bastids to cooperate, you'll be able to spend more time on what's important for an artist... your work!

[mopinko]

16. i really do not have time for this shit, that is for sure.

[lunatica]

15. Nothing drains creativity more than being surrounded with bad energy

Your craft will suffer and then what? Just go somewhere else. It's hard to walk away but the people who you're dealing with will never change.

[mopinko]

17. well, that is for sure +

i can't stand it. talking over ideas with people who are not going to go along with anything that is your idea is a special little hell.