CALIFORNIA-LIKE DREAMIN': AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ICON 4 BOARD

Issue #5, by Bill Russell

Fourteen years ago, my wife-to-be and I moved from New York City in order to realize our dreams in sunny California. We felt rejuvenated at the new possibilities available here. Illustrators will have the same opportunity next year when San Francisco will play host to the Icon 4 Illustrators Conference.

In this open letter to the Icon 4 Board of Directors, I would like to urge them to set up a program that creates an atmosphere, attitude and content that reflects the history, culture and spirit inherent in California and Bay area specifically. California may just provide the antidote to the malaise that many are experiencing in the Illustration industry today. Recent downturns have not been pretty. Illustrators have become mired in the problems of dwindling fees for art, the consolidation of media, stifling competition, the preponderance of clip art, limits on free speech, pressures for political correctness, an increase in all-rights contracts, a lack of healthcare for small business, etc. The Guild has been active in countering many of these. An awareness of these issues is important yet we need to hear from creative Californians who have managed to excel through hard times and have been part of inventing a new culture. The lesson of California lies in how the dreams of Californians have been and will continue to be fulfilled. The conference board should invite speakers that can speak to this.

Here are a few outrageous possibilities for a keynote speaker or two:

Underground Comics: Robert Crumb

New Age/Wholism: Ram Dass

Political Activism: Angela Davis

Underground posters: Frank Kozik

Music: Mickey Hart

60's Counter Culture: Wavy Gravy

Book Publishing: Dave Eggers

Sexual Revolution: Annie Sprinkle

Beat Poetry: Michael McClure

Technology: Steve Jobs

Illustrators need a new dream…a California-like dream.

Comments, etc. to Bill@Billustration.com

You can also see the archive of Bill's past columns.