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Zephyrr at 27 Oct 2006: 08:14
I know that this thread is clearly over, but I'd like to add one quick note. I was a *huge* fan of Wookie's art years ago. In fact, one of the primary reasons for shelling out the air fare and hotel fee for AC'03 was to go see the guy in real life. When I got to his table in the dealer's den and tried to let him know how much I appreciated his contribution to the furry art community, all he had time for was my money. In fact, it almost seemed to me that he expected that kind of praise. What a disappointment.
Now I'm not saying that he should have taken me out for lunch or sat down with me for a nice two-hour conversation, but a person with this amount of power and popularity in any community needs to bear the responsibility of setting a positive example. Of course the dealer's den was *extraordinarily* busy, but an artist who can't make the time to say "thanks" really perpetuates the ugly image that many people have of artists in general.
Now I recognize that it was my own fault for trying to meet an artist in person, rather than enjoying his art from afar. I also recognize that AC is the biggest furry convention in the country. (afaik) What hasn't been (and likely won't be) addressed is the fact that, like all human fans, I have a specific set of emotional needs that must be fulfilled. I'm not talking about marriage, but the lack of a simple recognition of existence is a real blow to one's self esteem.
Quite clearly, this post is going to get a group of folks telling me to "grow up" or "quit whining", but what for? Because those people honestly care about my emotional maturity, or because expression of emotion is generally not accepted in USA? The fact is that everybody has emotions, regardless of whether or not they choose to recognize the fact, and after Wookie's demeanor at AC'03, I can honestly say that mine were hurt. To this day, I cannot look at Wookie's art without a sense of revulsion from the memory.
It's actually refreshing, though, to see that I'm not alone in no longer feeling that appreciation of Wookie's art. Here I thought I was just a mean, jaded bitch for disagreeing with so many people! ^.^
Anyway, as Johnny Storm would say, "Flame on!"
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