In August 2018, former Coast Reporter editor John Gleeson offered me the position of arts and entertainment writer for the paper. I leapt at the opportunity. I had been writing news for more than 40 years, but throughout that time, I’d often turn to the arts pages first when I picked up a newspaper. It would ease me into grappling with the day’s mayhem of harder and sadder stories.
Here was an open door to working on arts news, instead. I couldn’t say “yes” quickly enough. I hadn’t even discussed it with my wife, who, when I told her what I’d agreed to said, “You what?” A fair question, having watched for years as I scrambled for stories and cursed the relentless deadlines. Also, I was following accomplished, veteran arts journalist Jan DeGrass, who had done the job for 18 years. Jan might have petite feet, but those were big shoes.
Nonetheless, John said, “make it your own.” I had no idea what my “own” would look like. I’d have been thrilled just to be able to make it look anything at all like Jan’s. All I could do was dive in and start talking to the hundreds of Coast musicians, visual artists, writers, dancers, and all the devoted administrators, volunteers, and supporters who help make local art possible.
I also made the choice simply to be a reporter and not a critic. It might seem tempting, with a licence to “make it your own,” to say whatever you think about any art you’re looking at, or book you’re reading, or music you’re listening to. But what did I know, beyond my own under-educated opinion, about ballet, book-writing, or Brahms? (I still don’t get Brahms.)
My excitement about certain exhibits, or albums, books, or plays might occasionally have spilled over into a story. But any lack of enthusiasm, I did my best to hold in check. That’s because, while not all art might be moving or impressive, the people who make art always are. What they were trying to say or explore with their work, their seriousness, sincerity, and creative joy would be at the heart of any story.
After three-plus years, having submitted more than 500 articles and photos and more than 165 Art Beat columns, I now leave this privileged post. Compared to the intensely busy jobs that the editor and news reporters at the paper have, the part-time arts job is an ocean breeze. I wish my successor a balmy ride. My advice: If you wake at 3 a.m. obsessed by questions like, “Can abstract impressionism ever be non-figurative?” never mind. Just ask the artist what she likes about that kind of art. The story will tell itself.
– Rik Jespersen
