Art Problems: Are My Friends Using Me to Get Shows?
When you’re constantly asked for things you can’t deliver, it can be hard to tell who your real friends are. Paddy Johnson has tips.
I'm an artist who also curates exhibitions. Most of my friends are other artists, who often want to be included in the shows I put together. Increasingly, I can't tell who my friends really are because everyone needs something from me. How do I know who is an actual friend versus a transactional friend? —Friendly Fire
You’re navigating a power dynamic dilemma that isn’t uncommon in the art world: You curate art for venues where your friends want to show, but your friends may not be able to return the favor. Plenty of relationships weather this power dynamic just fine, but usually, there’s a long arc to the relationship. Over decades, a relationship will absorb periods of imbalance and still hold.
More problematic relationships suffer from two types of issues: inappropriate asks and requests you can’t fulfill.
