We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bruce Checefsky. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bruce below.
Hi Bruce, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Creativity means working outside the box. Artists observe the world and respond. We see things differently and, as many would agree, with clarity and purpose, often at the expense of redundancy. We are not suitable for all jobs. An artist carves their own path in culture and society. We create our tools and develop a language to describe our work. Explaining what we do comes at a cost too great for many of us. But put a group of artists in a room and, unlike a corporate board meeting or politicians trying to heal by hurt, we get things done. It’s our nature to produce results. We solve problems creatively. It is inherent to our process and, where we differ from most other professions, is our ability to invent, imagine, and predict a world that has yet to happen. We designed the box and know where the exits are.
Risk is getting up every morning and believing art makes a difference. I chased my dream, put aside the opportunity to work in other sectors of our economy, and joined a cadre of people that had done the same. Without regret, as difficult as the art profession can be, with little more than an open mind and heart, strong political fortitude, and a commitment to community, I found purpose in my life. I measure success by a willingness to continue to pursue a quality of life, not a quantity of goods, the riches of which are paid by experiences.
Bruce, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I work out of a large warehouse building in the Midtown section of Cleveland. I have been there for thirty years, building film sets for short films, writing, and producing photographs. While I do not live in the space permanently, I work there full time and, depending on the project, seven days a week and late into the night as needed. I have the studio setup with a full kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. I could not produce the films I’m interested in directing without the studio space, or, conversely, if I had to rent a space each time we develop a project, it would be cost-prohibitive. I am not a commercial filmmaker or photographer. Ideas and possibilities drive my work. My films have appeared in film festivals, museums, galleries, film theaters, and art house cinema clubs nationally and internationally. Cleveland is a good place to make these films because of the wealth of local talent, low overhead production costs, and proximity to New York City, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, all major film screening markets. My production and direction of recovered short films created a niche film market. I work closely with talented cinematographers, film editors, musicians, actors, and set designers. I have filmed over twenty short films, most of which are completed. Others are still in post-production. We are currently in pre-production for the Monsieur Phot based on a film scenario written by artist Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) set to begin in May. I am working with designers and selecting actors for various roles. Upcoming screenings include the hour-long program of short films at the McDonough Museum of Art in Youngstown titled Lost and Unmade: The Films of Bruce Checefsky. Screenings will also take place in Europe this summer.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Supporting artists is a broad spectrum of answers. Similar to any profession, artists need to make a living with their craft and enterprise. A thriving community exists where there is financial and moral support, creative collaborations, and a general sense that artists often can, and do, contribute to a meaningful culture which translates into a better life experience. In the visual arts and film, my primary fields, the bulk of the industry exists in major coastal cities. That’s not to suggest that Cleveland does not have a thriving industry. We’re filled with creatives in every branch of the business. We live among the doctors and lawyers, bankers, real estate developers, politicians, and business owners. Our work is as meaningful to us as their work is to them, but we need a better arts economy for the individual artists, not just the non-profit museums, orchestra, theater, and community centers. Until we acknowledge artists for their unique contributions and talents, and compensate them, we will continue to lack the impact of the major markets.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I learned early in the process of being an artist that what we make is less important than how we make it. The life we live as artists is greater than any product we make. Art is a lifelong journey with bumps in the road sprinkled with success. None of that really matters. Breathing in the sweet smell of life, trying to understand and interpret it, offering passage ways to our viewers and users, is paramount to a life with art. Whether you make, collect, or just enjoy art, creatives make that experience possible.
Image Credits
Photo credits: Bruce Checefsky