Art Quote by David Toop
“I was associated with the Artist Placement Group in the early 1970s and David Hall, the video artist, was an Artist Placement Group artist. I was completely broke at that time, and he said to me, "Come and do some teaching" - he was head of department at Maidstone College of Art. And I went and did a couple of teaching days and practically the only person who showed up was David Cunningham [Flying Lizard's main man], with all of this finished work”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Conversation with David Toop, 2012
He recounts a low‑point period when a colleague offered him teaching work, highlighting the scarcity of support and the unexpected presence of a single participant.
In simple terms: He got a teaching gig when broke, only one person showed up.
Key Takeaway
Seek opportunities even in hardship.
Themes
career
art
networking
resilience
mentorship
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
anecdotal
inspirational
When to use this quote
- teaching gigs
- artist collaborations
- financial struggle
- creative networking
Key Concepts
artist placement
economics of art
community building
Questions to Reflect On
- How can artists build reliable support networks?
- What role does mentorship play in creative survival?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may overemphasize luck over skill, ignoring systemic barriers.
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