Artist Spotlight #15: TOBAN NICHOLS
We're spotlighting artists in our Sustainability Network whose creative practices push us to think differently about how we live and work. For TOBAN NICHOLS, a sustainable career as an independent artist means "relishing the work I do, not hating it, or myself. Not feeling limited by someone, or some company."
Tell us about yourself, Toban! What do you do, and where do you find yourself in the art ecosystem?
I consider myself a visual artist but most of my work takes place in the video or installation spheres. Print work is also a big part of my practice. When I was younger I tended to be very specific and regimented in how I categorized my work. (I was pretty regimented all the way around, to be honest.) Age and experience have shown me the way to “relaxification” and a general “chillaxifying” of my strident rules. Only in the past, maybe, 10 years have I really been able to stop putting classifications on everything I do. I will admit that used to be very important to me. Classifying myself, what I do, what other people do, making comparisons... It’s all a lot of mental work, to be honest, and something I just don’t have the time or patience for anymore. I’ve never had many patience, and even less so (about 0.0%) as I’ve gotten older. I’d rather spend my time making the work than creating rules to govern it.
As far as what I do in the world, I’d like to leave some sort of legacy behind. I don’t yet know that that is. I hope it involves me putting joy out into the world through my work and the things I do. I hope my work, especially my video work, has a sense of humor and wonder about it. I hope it spreads that out to those that see it. Even the more serious topics I’ve delved into--I hope people can see the humor in it.
What's occupying your time lately?
I’m working on my first documentary feature film about a competition between my Mother and my Sister called Beyond The Trees. It’s the first time I’ve taken on something of this magnitude and I'm freaked out almost daily about it, but pressing forward to get it made. We’re in post-production now and beginning a funding campaign to raise money to finish the film in the next few months.
I also run an online home goods and t-shirt shop that I try to constantly update with new stuff. And on top of that I’ll be starting a new body of photo work in the next few months, and hope to finish another new video before the year is up.
As you know, we're all about collaborative exchange here. How does collaboration manifest in your process?
I would love to say that I do everything on my own and need no help! I’d love to say that I am amazing and know how to do everything I’ve ever wondered about. I’d love to BE ABLE to do everything myself. But, truthfully I don’t know how to do most of what comes into my head, so I either have to learn how or collaborate with someone who does. The performative aspect of my work often needs people with much more talent than I have, so collaboration is key to what I do. I need subjects for photos, actors for videos, performers for everything. Even other people who can do what I do, but bring ideas to the table. It’s essential for us all to work together towards a common goal.
A few years ago I did a set of photos with dancers who made all these incredible abstract poses while I photographed them. I longed to be able to stretch my body in the ways they could, but for someone with a permanent neck and back injury, those days are long behind me. So, I collaborate. The same goes for anything: if I can’t do it, I find someone who can, and has an interesting vision, and who feels like a kindred spirit.
How do you see your field changing over the next 10 years? What do you want to see more of?
Today’s culture is so oversaturated with content creators and people suck up content online like never before. Even people like my Father and Mother are consuming video on their phones. A jarring revelation for me since only a few years ago neither of them were able to use email. I don’t have a clear view of where any of that goes next, but I do think it’s up to artists, those who consider themselves true artists to put quality out into the world. Not to bend to what YouTube content creators find funny, charming, or acceptable. We, artists as higher beings have to do more, have to stretch our ideas and be better. Make complex, interesting, thought-provoking work. Not slamming YouTube in any way, or content creators who slap together funny cat videos. Not doing that at all. I just want artists to put something better out into the world.
What would a sustainable career look like for you?
Funny you should ask... For most of my adult life I’ve maintained a full-time art career as well as a full-time side job to make money. I’ve worked for some of the heavyweights, too. Last year I decided I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I’m not going to split my time and my creative energy between two opposing forces. I’m currently in the process of figuring out what my next step is (after this documentary is made) and where I go from here, but I do know that whatever I do next relates to my own creative endeavors and is focused on what I want to put out into the world, not something on someone else’s agenda. Sustainability for me looks like a self-driven force, relishing the work I do, not hating it or myself. Not feeling limited by someone, or some company.
