"The expression of oneself creatively demands not only a sense of self, honesty, and imagination; but time . . . the time to listen, the time to concentrate. To have time, is one of the most important instances of privilege (and therefore oppression) in this society. If everyone had access to the same opportunities as everyone else--would there be such a creature as 'artist'? Art would not have to speak for everyone if everyone could speak for themselves. Because of the privilege accorded to and/or fought for by artists in this society, the presumptuous assumption that some of us whether by genius, skill, or inspiration are better able to express 'our circumstance'----I refuse to call myself or others 'artists.' Accepting money for work and associating with art institutions only contributes to the class system of art and artists. There are poets, performers, cooks and the like among us. These words refer to what we do. But 'artist' refers to who we are in a context that inescapably implies a difference that furthers oppression rather than challenging it."
Marty Pottenger, individual editorial statement in "Lesbian Art and Artists," Heresies 3 (1978): 3.
