We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Haley Slamon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Haley below.
Haley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
One of the worst things about being an artist is practically everyone who views your work will immediately try to sort you into a box, usually a box you don’t fit in. I will never forget as an actor the matter-of-fact way casting directors have talked about what roles I could and couldn’t play, based solely on appearance rather than talent. Almost every time I attended a workshop throughout college, teachers casually advised because of my weight I would be playing comedic characters, mothers, and best friends. It was seen as a given going after romantic or sexy leads would be a waste of time. In starting to sell physical items, the assumptions made about me have been different (I don’t get called too fat to be at a craft fair the way I’ve been called too fat to be onstage), but the suggestions I pigeonhole my art to be more profitable are very similar.
It’s a common school of thought in business, in order to create your brand, you should first find your marketable assets, your “look”, and then fully commit to that representation of yourself. Not only is this approach harmful in the way it forces limits onto creators, it’s becoming more outdated and ineffective by the day. Social media has bred a culture seeking authenticity and variety. I have yet to meet a creative person with one interest, because unlike corporations, artists are curious, multifaceted, constantly evolving people. Why would you cap the audience you can reach by making one type of art?
When working independently, I don’t want to feel cornered into producing the same things over and over. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to run a company based around just crochet, or just music. I use titles like “Multimedia Artist and Performer” because if I need a box, it’s going to be the biggest one available. The ideal Slamon Creations supporter won’t expect a single type of content. Instead, they’ll respect me as a full package; for what I make, what I think, and how I’m growing. Cultivating that type of audience is a longer process, and there are unique obstacles in pursuing my goals, but personally it’s worth it if it means creative freedom and self-sufficiency. It’s been encouraging to share the start of the journey with people who bought in early!
Haley, 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?
When composing his operas, Richard Wagner attempted to achieve his ideal of a “Gesamtkunstwerk”, which roughly translates to “total work of art”. He believed the elements of music, acting, dance, lights, sets, and costumes all work together in harmony to create something greater than the sum of each part. This is more or less what I’ve been striving to become as an artist for the last twenty years.
Since childhood I’ve had a love for all things creative, and have continually sought out new opportunities to learn. It didn’t matter if it was a carpentry class, a knitting circle, or a piano recital, I wanted to be involved. Music was a constant at home, and singing quickly became my biggest passion. Thankfully other people recognized that talent, and it became possible to pursue training at both Oakland School for the Arts and Columbia College Chicago. Performing with large groups like CAKE and Pentatonix at a young age gave me the professionalism I carry today, while still allowing me to expand my toolkit of skills by working in a multidisciplinary industry. I’m so grateful for the support system and resources I’ve been given. Without those experiences, my ambitions would be completely impossible.
As someone who is disabled/chronically ill, I’ve unfortunately had to transition away from working in public spaces for now. However, that hasn’t stopped me from trying to make a living making art. Currently the focus is on selling crafts online under the name Slamon Creations. The eventual goal is to expand that brand to include all of my content and services. Nothing makes me happier than the freedom to express whatever I want in my work, and owning a small business is the easiest way to chase that dream. I want to be the kind of artist who people can bring any project idea, big or small, and trust I’ll be able to make it happen. So far, that flexibility has led to some amazing custom pieces.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My journey to keep creating over the last three years has traveled an unexpected path, and it required resilience every step of the way. Regrettably, one of the biggest battles has been self-advocating in an overworked, for profit medical system. The amount of time it takes to get proper diagnosis and treatment for an uncommon illness is incomprehensible until you experience it firsthand. Attending appointments, waiting on hold for receptionists, driving to and from the hospital, waiting in line at pharmacies, all add up to hours of work a week with multiple doctors and prescriptions; oh and of course all of that needs to be done while feeling unwell. Otherwise why would you be going to the doctor in the first place? It’s also important to read the available summary reports and test results, to make sure nothing is overlooked or recorded incorrectly. You would be shocked how often errors happen. Persisting when doctors act like I’m imagining symptoms or being obnoxious is always a struggle, but I’m determined to stay healthy for as long as I can. Resilience often means speaking up again and again if you know something is wrong. Eventually, hopefully, someone will believe you and be able to help.
In addition to the resilience I’ve needed to get good medical care, I’ve had to find the resilience during this period to essentially change careers. Performing live with others is still my greatest love, and by far my most practiced skill set. Starting an Etsy as a primary source of income was hardly the original five year plan. The pivot was caused by circumstances that were out of my control, but I take pride in the fact that I’ve stayed committed to art. Some skills transferred quickly from one industry to another, but marketing products involves many unfamiliar elements. Before opening a shop, photography, editing, accounting, and contract writing were things I needed to pick up. It hasn’t always been fun, but it is always an adventure. I’m still learning everyday, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
After over three years of near total isolation, this question is a touchy subject for me, so I’m going to be blunt: I have very little interest in building a thriving creative ecosystem with people who show no interest in protecting my health. A basic thing our society could do for artists is provide us with safe public spaces to share our work, yet for the last three years, we’ve failed to do that on so many levels. Venues refuse to upgrade ventilation systems, provide testing, or enforce protective health measures because it’s considered too costly. Colleagues and fans alike refuse to wear masks because it’s considered too inconvenient. Our government continues to push the narrative that the pandemic is over, despite the reality that in the U.S., hundreds of people are still dying from Covid, thousands are being newly disabled by long term symptoms, every day. The tests, treatments, and vaccinations we have are all less effective than they were a year ago. As our national emergency declarations end over the next month, the cost of those things will be further privatized, leading to increased prices for average Americans. Instead of choosing community care, it’s largely now public policy to live in denial, and to push the burden onto those already most harmed by disease: disabled, chronically ill, immunocompromised people.
Disability and chronic illness affect every marginalized group. Statistically, marginalized groups become ill and disabled at higher rates, directly because of the systems inherent in their marginalization. It is a farce that artistic industries want to pay lip service to “inclusivity” and “accessibility”, while simultaneously abandoning their most vulnerable workers. I am not a firefighter, nor am I in healthcare. Demanding I risk my life to sell a necklace or sing a song in person is beyond unreasonable — it is complacent complicity in the disabled genocide we are living through. I consider myself lucky. Leaving the industry I trained twenty years to join and social distancing indefinitely are privileges most don’t have. Lots of people are fully aware, just by going to a job, they must choose between their own safety and paying rent.
I understand this answer doesn’t feel good to read. It doesn’t feel particularly good to write, but these things need to be said more often if change is going to happen. Other creatives may feel uncomfortable getting called out for their behavior, but my principles and my life are more important to me than being liked. Frankly, the trauma I experience daily has robbed me of much of my sympathy for that discomfort altogether. I am watching the majority of my country agree it’s acceptable people like me die en masse so they can get “back to normal”. I’m watching my communities happily assist in our own annihilation. Many artists who I’ve worked with, who called me family, have shown their progressive values become empty words the minute they are asked to take any action, even a simple one like wearing a mask. They seem perfectly fine with their “normal” no longer containing me. How am I supposed to get over that? How are artists who were told for years, “If you’re really that at risk, maybe you should stay home.”, ever supposed to feel welcome in artistic spaces again?
Before trust can be rebuilt, harm needs to be acknowledged, and behavior must shift on a national scale. Individual action matters, but fixing these problems will require large organizations providing supportive infrastructure. Groups like Project N95, which will send you free masks if you are unable to afford them, are crucial lines of defense that could be expanded with more funding. Companies and shows making millions off artist labor should be paying to make their events safe for everyone in attendance. We all deserve better than the old normal, and it’s not too late to start pushing for improvements.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SlamonCreations
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slamoncreations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069215587863
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-slamon-ba8922152/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SlamonCreations
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr14j6WnvRieQJA-1oaFa-A
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/haleyslamon https://www.tiktok.com/@slamoncreations haleyslamon.com
Image Credits
All photos by Haley Slamon