We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sean Danconia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sean, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I can recall a philosopher explaining once how the question, “What is the meaning of life?” smuggled in an erroneous presupposition. That is, they argued that the proper question should actually be: “What is the meaning of YOUR life?”—in other words, “what is your purpose in life?” or at least, to what purpose do you aim it (your life) and why? Otherwise, one would need to be essentially omniscient and omnipotent to answer.
Schools don’t much focus in on core philosophical ideas any longer for various reasons (mostly bad) but it’s a great exercise nonetheless. In my case, I identified those aspects of my values / goals (things that we want to get and keep) that meant the most to me, that I could see building a life and career around, then I focused in on what moves I might make to achieve them in the real world.
My top (macro) value at 17 was to fight for a more beautiful, just, idealistic world filled with heroic, virtuous, noble human beings (doing amazing, inspiring things)—as naive, romantic and/or ludicrous as that might sound to most people. Of course, I haven’t changed my mind. Also, back in the ancient 80’s and 90’s, we had much less sarcastic nihilism that was part of mainstream culture as compared with today (as we often see well presented on shows like Stranger Things—despite the inter-dimensional murderous aliens).
I thought that the easiest pathway to accomplish this goal would be through creative endeavors (film, art, apparel, etc.). To show what life could, should and ought to be by way of concretizing certain values in physical artistic representations or narratives and letting an audience discover them, hopefully inspiring them (spiritually, creatively, etc.) in the process.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’ve recently moved my Gallery and Studio from Dallas to Palm Beach, FL. although I spent most of the last twenty years in California, working in the apparel, entertainment and art world. It’s the latter of those three spheres of creativity that I have found the most rewarding because as a friend once said, “it’s only you and the canvas”.
On that note, while I do intend to reboot my Animation / Media studio here in Florida, I am very focused on permeating the Art market here with my work and thankfully, Floridians (resident and visitors) have a definite understanding and desire for Pop-Artist x Art Deco-ish energy in Art, enjoying bright, vibrant colors and iconographic people / elements.
Couple new partners:
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens: An absolutely stunning venue for art and life itself. Grateful and thrilled with the opportunity to showcase my work with them. Their whole team has been super engaging and supportive. Everyone in the Delray / Palm Beach area should check out this Japanese-created garden and museum.
Haven Palm Beach: Beautiful Art Gallery located next to the majestic Breakers Hotel and iconic “Henry’s” on Royal Poinciana Way, which will be exhibiting my Stark Raving MOD series in addition to other collections going forward. Plus, with their massive wall space, I was able to get in one of my originals right at the front entrance.
Ramen Lab / Louis Grayson: Met a phenomenal restauranteur via the Morikami and we’ve decided to partner on at least three of his locations via my Danconia Space division, installing both permanent and rotating art installations, the first of which is situated at the iconic Mizner Park in Boca Raton, and will feature an 18 FT mural of PopSurreal CyberPunk art which perfectly matches up with his Blade Runner-ish visual aesthetic inside this intimate Ramen-Ya.
Not yet able to announce but first BIG Miami Hotel partnership is in the works and it will be a familiar name to many fans of Japanese cuisine and culture.
Lastly, and not to leave out the West Coast, I’ve started working with the beautiful Ruthless Gallery in Carmel-by-the-Sea, one of the most memorable locations to visit in California (or live in, if you’re that fortunate). Owner Ruth has a wonderful space to explore located at 542 Lighthouse Avenue (93950) filled with art, jewelry and other artisanal creations, just seconds from the beach.
In addition to the above, my own Palm Beach studio / gallery is now open with in-person and virtual appointments for anyone interested in covering up their naked walls. ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Focus: Much like Bruce Lee did, I wrote out several potential paths that I might take in life and focused in on the one that made the most sense. Lack of focus has always been my downfall, when I have (more than) occasionally fallen on my face. There are only so many hours in a day so make each one worthwhile by narrowing down the goals to that which is most likely achievable. You’ll notice older people tell you to do this when you’re young and you will also notice how you often don’t listen to them. As Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind, there are few.”
Active Rest: Lying down looking at your phone? Bad idea. Bonsai, gardening, meditation or reading in nature—great ideas to recharge the batteries of life. Also, Art in the way of older movies and music that are uplifting, inspirational, aspirational. Fuel yourself with the spark of positivity. Try and stay away from modern politics and culture wars.
Curate your world: On the above note, I once took a hiatus for 17 years from watching TV or looking at the news, with RARE exception. And while I missed certain important developments, I was also in a better mood than almost anyone I knew. I curated my world with older music and entertainment from a universe that no longer existed (40’s to 70s) and it inspired my present in ways that others couldn’t or wouldn’t understand. Nevertheless, many people gravitated to and wanted a part of it and so purchased my art and other work in the hopes of tasting some element out of this new world that I built around myself (this was mostly possible in Little Tokyo, LA—harder in most big cities).
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Well, everyone has something terrible to say about the rigged-RussianRandy Ayn—Ms. Ayn Rand—but I was nudged toward The Fountainhead as a very young man and despite the fact that I wouldn’t likely be buddies with the main character (I’m a Bueller man—steal a Ferrari and get out of the quarry, Howard!), the theme of integrity in one’s creative work (and character) were inspiring, as was the micro-verse that Rand created out of that novel, which was loosely based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s life, times and misdemeanors. And who wouldn’t want to live in Falling Water?
“[Dean] “My dear fellow, who will let you?”
[Roark] “That’s not the point. The point is, who will stop me?”
― Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
Zack Snyder was going to do a movie version recently but that got cancelled as Rand is always a lightning bolt for trouble. Michael Cimino tried years earlier and I hear even Madonna optioned one of her plays. Oh, and then there was Brad Pitt and Angelina trying to do Atlas Shrugged at one point, and failing.
Personally, I read, watch, listen and inhale almost everything, from everyone interesting that I can get my hands on. Learn from them all. Take the good and dump the bad. As such, The Fountainhead is a great book for those interested in careers that are creative in nature.
Currently obsessed with outlaw B motorcycle, beach and satanic panic movies of the 60s and 70s, if anyone asks. *✧₊✪͡◡ू✪
Contact Info:
- Website: www.danconiagallery.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/danconia_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seandanconia
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danconia/
