Is pursuing your passion worth the cost?

a discussion with three artists

Once in a while, this question pops up in my head. In this country and in most of the world, artists get taken for granted. The art we create is often what brings life, color and new perspectives to our lives and communities, yet society doesn’t provide systems to let us thrive. 

This is why me and Jazz, my partner in crime at Tagalikha, decided to organize a panel titled Mahal or Mahal: Is pursuing your passion worth the cost? The word "Mahal" in Filipino shares two definitions: Mahal as in expensive, costly, or Mahal as in love. We invited  Keith Lafuente (fashion design), Sacha Carlos-Raps (glassworks and printmaking) and Christie Rafol (architectural design) to talk with us and share about the real cost of creativity. Is it too expensive to be an artist? Is our love for our art worth all the sacrifices? We hosted the panel in downtown Brooklyn, with plenty of snacks to share. It was an amazing time of community with fellow Filipino creators, sharing the highs and lows of this jour…