Since I was a boy I’ve been intrigued by the artist’s lifestyle. For me the draw was the sheer bravery of it all. I’ve always respected those who cast aside societal norms and forge their own paths to live a life with freedom and satisfaction.
Many of these brave souls wear tattered clothes and have sacrificed creature comforts and much of the materialism that mainstream society worships for their art. Despite what most people would think, a majority of these people aren’t tortured burnouts. The truth is, most artists who I’ve met who’ve chosen this path are highly intelligent, at peace, and seem happier than the average person who works a nine-to-five job. They blissfully march to the beat of a different drummer, almost as though they live in an alternate reality.
Today I found a YouTube channel created by Joshua Charow, who’s documenting the last of the original New York City loft artists of the early 1970’s for his new book, Loft Law: The Last of New York City's Original Artist Lofts.
The early 70’s were a particularly dismal and gritty point in NYC’s history. Reminiscent of what we’re seeing glimpses of today, the city was suffering from over a decade of steep decline, it was desolate, lawless, and crime-ridden. The difference is back in those days housing was cheap, many times free in abandoned buildings, for those who wanted to do the work of renovating a loft apartment.
Artists of all kinds took advantage of this unique opportunity so they could reduce their living expenses to near zero and devote their life to creating their art. Many of them survived only by helping each other. It’s hard to believe after all these years there are still a few of them left. Through their examples, they’ve lived lives that can teach future generations volumes so I think it’s very important that it’s all being documented.
I had always romanticized this kind of life but never had the guts to directly experience it myself. When I finally began to live the life of a writer in 2017, at age forty-six, I had already had saved a nest egg from working various day jobs for thirty years and practicing my art in my spare time. I often wonder how different my life would be now if I would have started earlier and just devoted my entire life to writing from the get go.
When I left my old life I noticed there was an almost instant shift in priorities. My life felt more full and satisfying. I stopped dressing up. Many of the trivial, materialistic things that I craved and coveted became significantly less important. My art, writing, almost instantly rushed in to satisfy the constant void and endless hunger for more “stuff” that society teaches us is the normal way to live.
I didn’t sacrifice nearly as much as these people did, but feel blessed to have experienced this kind of freedom and deep contentment in my life. There is so much more to this life than just money and stuff, as we’re taught. The day we stop prioritizing and worshipping materialistic things is the day our lives truly begin. Yes, deep devotion is its own reward.
When we begin to face our own mortality we finally understand that we can’t take material things with us but I believe contentment is the thing that really matters and is the thing that likely travels with us to that great beyond.
Be well and make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
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