Last year I read the engaging biography, “Kiki Man Ray” by Mark Braude, a book about Kiki de Montparnesse, companion and muse to artists Man Ray. While in New York this fall I had the opportunity to view the mesmerizing new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Man Ray: When Objects Dream.” In both the book and the exhibit literature, it was explained that Man Ray came to photography almost by accident. He originally went to Paris to further his painting career, but realized his passion upon discovering the wonders of photography and what could be done beyond conventional “picture taking.”
As many of you know, I studied architecture, with hopes of a career in design and building, but a part time job in lighting tore me away. The evolving industry kept me engaged for over 50 years. Over the years I have met many people who, like Man Ray and me, did not follow an expected path, but still enjoyed a rewarding career.
My old boss, while studying at Carnegie Tech helped sculptor, David Smith prepare some of his work. Whenever we visited the Cleveland Museum of Art, he was drawn to the brutal welded piece (Pilgrim) featured in the center of the contemporary gallery, at the time. While he was an excellent lighting designer, I think some portion of him secretly wanted to weld steel artwork. Another talented lighting designer really wanted to do toy designs. I’ve met accountants who wanted to create video games, marketing people who hoped for a life in comedy and sales people who really wanted to create musical theater.
It is easy to discount this in two ways. Many people say you should only follow your dreams, otherwise you will be unsatisfied. Others feel the fantasy job is a pipe dream. The real world tells us there is limited room in multiple professions. Part of growing up is buckling down and taking the work that is available. I like to consider an alternative to those ideas.
I don’t know if I would have been a good architect, but I was pretty good in my lighting career. I think there are many people, probably all the people I mentioned above and many of my friends who could succeed in almost any career, within reason. An acquaintance from high school became a bus driver. I do not think I could have survived that job choice and he probably wouldn’t have excelled in lighting. Within reason, we might all be suited for multiple avenues of employment. Some will be interesting, others a bit more boilerplate, but there can be lots of ways to earn a living.
I used to joke, no child pines for a career as a “lighting person.” Doctor, fireman, baseball player, sure, but the talented people I have encountered in my life as a lighting person have made significant contributions to the industry. They have earned the friendship of scores of people and have aided in the profitability of the folks who owned the company, or the company they started. Within the slice of time we are allotted on this planet, should we ask for more?
Lighting by Jeffrey 