The topic? “selling out”.

My complaint? Those who are less successful bashing those who rise above by throwing the word ‘sell-out’ around.

Yes, yes, I know; the arts are a divided series of industries. I also understand that there are people who call themselves artists due to lifestyle choice or to define their hobbies. Lots of people make art for a variety of reasons and my argument is that it is all legitimate and it is all good. Got that? Great! Now for the tough love…

As a professional working artist, my bone isn’t to pick with anyone but with other professional or aspiring professional artists who condemn the successes of their peers. Quit condemning the successes of others, willya? It doesn’t do any of us a service when a person is condemned for committing an abstract crime such as “selling out”. What does that term even mean?

Well, let’s look at it: to sell out (as defined by the Internet) is to “the compromising of integrity, morality, or principles in exchange for money or “success” (however defined). It is commonly associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream audience.” Well, it looks like all street performers are guilty as charged, since the very basis of our job is to appeal to a broad audience, yet, street performers are generally viewed as artists in the truest sense of the word: those who live on the fringe unafraid to put their work out there, and as a result are considered both cultural heros to many aspiring and working artists and annoying scum to day-jobbers.

Quite often, artists who see financial reward for their work are accused of selling out and choosing money over integrity. I ask: where do you draw the line? And, who’s definition of integrity are we talking about here? Over the years, I’ve taken comfort in quotes from people like Charlie Chaplin, who, put it frankly: “I went into the business for the money and the art grew out of it. If people are disillusioned by that remark, I can’t help it. It’s the truth.” And yet, he is one of the most celebrated film and physical comedy artists of all time.

I’ve even heard the argument that art and money can never reconcile themselves as they are in direct tension with one another. Why is that? Without money, we can’t make our art! To me, that just sounds like a defeatist argument.

One of the biggest ‘sell-outs’ by these standards is of course, everyone’s favourite surrealist, Salvador Dali. Dali famously branded his melting clock imagery from his piece ‘the Persistence of Memory’, and allowed it to be manufactured on everything from coffee mugs to t-shirts. And yet, he is arguably one of the most celebrated artists who ever lived. And let’s not forget David Lynch’s playstation advertisement, the Brothers Quay’s coca-cola commercials, hell, even Devo covering their own song ‘Whip it’ for a dry-mop commercial, just to name a few…

I ask you: where is the problem in that?

When I was younger, I admit to have fallen into that trap. It horrified me to hear my favourite ‘underground’ songs in commercials or see my favourite artists endorsing products… yet, as I got older and started working in the arts I realized that I would have to take corporate gigs to stay alive: in fact, if it wasn’t for those corporate car logos being airbrushed onto my body, I wouldn’t have the resources or time to produce the street acts that take me around the world currently! I learned quickly that a living statue who stands incredibly still and straddles the uncanny valley (while very visually compelling) does not make as much money as an animated, technically skilled character. As I wound further and further into the trenches, I saw my peers as a support group; we were in it together, bonding, fighting, working endlessly to get our work seen and be compensated fairly for it, and I began to feel that if ANYBODY made it, they deserved it for what we all put ourselves through! When my friends see their hard work become successful realities I applaud them, I don’t criticize their choices to get there, regardless of where I am in my position.

The absolute worst insult I have ever experienced was when I was flippantly told that I wasn’t a “real” artist, I was an entertainer. What a slap in the face, considering how much time I’ve put in developing ideas, thinking of my craft and creating moments, experimenting with my medium. Can’t entertainers be artists? Again, I ask: where do you draw the line?

The idea that art is above capitalism is a construct of the 20^th century; great artists such as Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Bach, Michaelangelo… they were artists who produced work under patronage. In other words: they were commissioned to produce commercial work, essentially. And yet, we celebrate their work in the highest of esteem of High Art. To me, the whole notion of ‘selling out’ smacks of the same elitism that created the notion of ‘high art’ versus ‘low art’; it’s that very same attitude that condemns the work that so many talented artists produce. I dare any of you to condemn Banksy, who created probably one of the greatest pieces of street art in history, for being a sell-out after designing a title sequence for the ‘Simpsons’ television show. And if he is, then hell, I only wish I could be as much of a sell-out.

My friend, visual artist Stefan Valent, put forth this interesting idea that selling out is a concept created by fans who hold an internal mythology of what the artist is supposed to be. Because our industries are so non-linear, it’s easy to make all sorts of assumptions about the lives we lead, so I suppose it’s only natural for those not involved to have a romanticized idea that I eat caviar every day, fly first class only overseas, and sleep in five-star hotels EVERY time I travel (hint: that’s not true)–or–conversely, that I starve and suffer, that I don’t EVER compromise my ‘artistic integrity’ for ‘the man’, and that I quietly (and possibly nobly) accept obscurity over the threat of becoming recognized for work I’ve made that I am not 100% behind (hint: also not true). Mythology is too black and white, and the really real world is all sorts of shades of gray. This does not, by any means, delegitimize the work that people do to earn a living.

Artists should be supporting each other, not demonizing each other. I don’t know about you guys, but, to me, working a career in the arts industry is like navigating through a flatland filled with landmines at the best of times. So I ask you, the next time you are upset by a success of another artist, what are you: a fan or a peer? And, once you’ve made that decision, act accordingly.

Kate Mior, as Marie Antoinette, says, "Let them eat cake!"

Hey everyone!

I have some exciting news! After several years of being asked at festivals and on the street if I had merchandise for sale, I’ve finally gotten off my butt and designed some things so you can proudly wear your support of what I do! Yay! I’d been seeing those “Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake” appropriations of the ol’ British war-time poster and thought it would be hilarious to, instead, use my favourite quote by my favourite act in parody. Not exactly rocket science, but, I love how they turned out!

You can purchase t-shirts by emailing me directly if you are located in Canada (until we get the shop feature set up on this site!), and I’ve set up an Etsy store for those of you in other parts of the world so you don’t feel left out! Marie Antoinette is totally rocking the pink version on the photo on the right, but there is also a version in black which is available for both men and women! (Sorry boys, would you believe my wholesaler does not have that obnoxious pink colour in men’s t-shirts?). Check back to the Etsy shop and my Facebook Fan Page for random sales throughout festival season

I am also developing a design for Coppelia, the wind-up doll, but, sadly will not have it finished in time for my trip to Australia for the Freemantle Street Arts Festival. Hilariously, I thought I was leaving tomorrow, but as it turns out, my ticket has me leaving on Wednesday. Phew! As it is, one day to finish up a drawing isn’t enough…would you believe I spent an entire evening vectorizing the cake image by hand in illustrator not realizing I was doing it improperly (and hence, why it was taking forever…). The things we do for our art, eh kids?

So, please! Enjoy the merch, check out the schwag and show your support by buying a t-shirt and showing all your friends that you’re the coolest person in the world for supporting street theatre and the amazingly talented artists (hey, that’s me…) in Toronto!

Hey everyone!
It’s springtime! Yay!
I don’t know about you, but I am totally excited by the amazing weather we are having. Today feels a bit cold and looks a bit rainy, but, I sure hope it clears up soon! I’ve already been working and can’t believe how lucky we’ve been with regards to the weather! Yesterday was a record high for March! Way to go, team weather!

Marie Antoinette wows the crowds on an unseasonably warm day at Yonge & Dundas

It couldn’t have come at a better time for me, either, since I recently moved. It was so wonderful to be back out at my favourite pitch, Yonge and Dundas, entertaining all of the March Breakers and Warm Weather Enjoyers. It has been such a wonderful week back at work and I am so humbled and grateful for all of the love and joy expressed by my return. Toronto, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you are simply the best city in the world! Already, I’ve been getting emails and photos, and while we are a long way off from ‘Photo of the Weekend’, I do happen to have a great shot taken by George E. Papadopoulos that was sent to me a couple of days ago! Thanks, George for making the first front-page photo of 2012!

I love street performing and every year on the first day of shows, I feel as giddy as a child on the first day of school. Street performing is in my blood, kids, and the need to get out there and entertain is so great that I typically have my kit packed weeks in advance, patiently awaiting for a day warm enough to get out there. This year, however, I was completely taken by surprise by our first warm day!  Goes to show that you should always be prepared!
It’s almost a pity that  I am jetting off to Australia shortly to participate in the Freemantle Street Arts Festival running from April 7th-9th in Perth as I’m enjoying this weather so much here in Toronto! I will be back soon, though, and am looking forward to enjoying the Toronto crowds throughout the summer in between stops on my tour.

Well, I will keep this post short and sweet but hope that you all had a wonderful winter and are enjoying our amazing weather!

I hope each and every one of you are having a wonderful festive holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate (…or don’t celebrate!). Personally, I try to make the holidays about spending time with the people I’ve neglected throughout the year while touring. I’m not a fan of the consumerism surrounding the season, although in the past I have enjoyed many a wonderful pre-holiday shopping busking day. These days, however, I get too cold easily, I’m often too busy or booked with other events performing to get back out there on the street to do some winter shows. This year, I tried valiantly to make it out on the street to remind holiday shoppers to stop and smell the roses, but, sadly, I ended up being caught up in the frenzy of the season myself!

winter busking isn't for the faint of heart!

I do think, however, it is important to take some time out to do something selfless is important   during a season where price tags and purchases demonstrating degrees to which we love one another take precedence.  Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to work with the lovely Mariatu Karmara in a fundraiser for her charity, The Mariatu Foundation. It was my first foray into event planning. Typically, I’m hired to perform at events, but, having spent enough time in the industry, I figured that when Jason Dudek of Accountable Development Works asked for my assistance, I could do it. And, we ended up having an amazing night: held at George Brown College, our fundraiser, “Hope in Action” managed to raise quite a bit of money despite the prohibitively cold weather. I was invited to speak on behalf of ADW and screen films I had made while working in Africa last year (for those of you interested, you can check out a reasonable version of my short, ‘What is Development’ here on Youtube).  Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll cut together the video of my talk. Although…how would that reflect upon a website for a mime artist?

Speeeeaking of work, which is probably why you are reading this, you’re all probably anxiously awaiting any updates about future tours and new work. Well.. currently, I’m in a ‘professional development’ phase, which means, of course, I am working on some AMAZINGLY exciting new material, collaborating once again with my talented prop-builder on something wickedly cool and new, as well as firming up my winter tour that will begin in March! As it was, over the holidays, I got picked up to perform in a wonderful film that is being directed by an amazing director, and that is being shot by a DP who has worked for Guy Maddin! It’s been a great process and I’m excited by the final piece when it reaches completion. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be a good one!

While I’m loathe to make ‘resolutions’ at an arbitrary time of year, I wonder: what are YOUR plans for 2012? Mine involve reaching some fitness goals, building some new material and lining my career up for growth and change. I like to look at it as an overall process as opposed to a final goal that needs to be met. So much less pressure, don’t you think? Still, whatever your goals happen to be, I wish you all wonderful luck and hope you have a GREAT New Year!

I see the best and the worst of humanity in my line of work. I meet all kinds of people and hear all sorts of stories and histories and witness entire lives play out in front of me. I’ve born witness to marriage proposals, heartbreak, acts of bravery, acts of deceit, even acts of cruelty (Jane Creba’s Boxing Day murder comes to mind) and continually see ghosts of downtrodden people quietly accepting and going about a way of living that will eventually take their lives.

Ironically, for a mime, I used to talk a lot. I still do, as many journalists mention in surprise during interviews. But, in recent years, I’ve learned to simply watch and look past the words of others; for how one responds to situations they are experiencing is the true test of character. The benefit of my job is the ability to passively watch the world go by and hope that one day I may understand this humanity that I love so much, and as a result, I find myself with fewer words as days go by.

Sometimes I feel as though I have a lot to say; occasionally, I will make posts like this in an effort to sort out my own understanding of what it means to be a human being on this planet. I also rationally know that my observations are my own, and I certainly don’t treat them polemically. But I so desperately want to arrive at the conclusion (at my life’s conclusion) that humanity is good, that people are fundamentally good and that we all deserve compassion, humility, forgiveness and unconditional love. I do my best in my waking life to express those ideas both in my work and in my personal life.

I’m sure we all go through our moments of doubting the things we want so much to understand. But, it is our unwavering positivity in seeking out the good that is what drives us to continue to do what we love. It is our actions that define us, not our words. I try to live my life honestly, and I try to be as honest with myself as I am with others. My philosophy in life is that “Everything is Permitted”, an idea that originated through the work of Dostoevsky, and it has been this philosophy that allows me to continue to do what I do; for living life through action can be challenging. It requires one to extend beyond their boundaries of comfort, it requires us to examine everything around us deeply and critically. It requires us to be prepared to let go of even the most deeply important things to us: be it a belief system (or, as an atheist, I like to say “way of understanding things”), a lifestyle or even a relationship—sometimes the most important ones, like our parents. And of course, it requires trust: trust in ourselves, trust in those around us. Trust that you will be okay, no matter what.

And you know what, folks? You will be okay. No matter what. Because, from my experience, all people want is acceptance. And acceptance can be hard to grant (..or even accept), but it is out there. If you are willing to grant acceptance, then you will be okay. I do what I do and take the abuse that I do from life because I accept it. I accept humanity. I accept everyone in it. I accept that we are all, in our own ways, supremely flawed. And when I find something in life that is good, and right, then I grab it and hold onto it. Hard. A life of action is a fearless life.

There is nothing to be afraid of in life. And when you find that thing that is right and good, then you need to grab it and never let go.