AIR (Arts Incubator of Richardson)

Interview with Bruce MacPherson, Managing Director of the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts
(by Ekaterina Konovalova)


1. Why did you decide to be a part of AIR?

It is a refreshing new endeavor trying to unite a lot of small arts organizations that may need to lean on each other to help get support, to build, and to grow. It is hard to do it alone. But if you teamed up and don’t see yourself as competing and, instead, help to nourish each other, hopefully, there will be growth. The bigger side of it is the concept of AIR where new initiatives can begin. There is an embryonic stage to whatever that art form is. Whether it is in the performing arts world, which is what I represent, or it could be fine arts, it could be literature – it could be all levels of the arts. There are not many of these kinds of projects around…so why not Richardson?    

2. What is art for you? How would you define art?

Art is a very subjective term, because you and I can look at the same thing, and you love it and I don’t. That’s what I like about art. It means that it truly is an artistic form in the eyes of whoever is looking at it…. While we may not totally understand why someone likes a particular dance or type of music or Picasso or Rembrandt, we all have different reasons and/or experiences for why a particular art form is meaningful to us.

What I like about what I do is that there are no two days alike; no day will ever repeat itself. It’s impossible. It is not like working in a factory where everything is on an assembly line and it is critical that everything be exactly the same. I enjoy that if we’ve got a symphony orchestra or a dance company that is performing the same program over multiple performances, no two will ever be the same. Every performance will be different as the audience changes, the musicians or dancers may get out of bed on a different side, their feelings, their emotions, being stuck in traffic, whatever is happening that day – it all influences the chemistry of the next performance. No two concerts, no two performances will ever, ever be the same. As such, it’s the human factor that makes this all so wonderful.  

3. Who is your favorite artist (painter, musician, dancer, performer, etc.) and why?

I love all forms. While growing up, at one moment I would have Tchaikovsky on my vinyl LP and ten minutes later change LPs to play the rock group Deep Purple. Both are rewarding and refreshing, but choice is all about what mood or mindset I am in.

But ultimately what moves me the most is dance. For me, it is Paul Taylor. He is a living legend; he is the ultimate living American choreographer on this planet. He is right up there with Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham. The Paul Taylor Dance Company has been in existence for over 50 years and Paul is still creating minimally two new works each season. Before we opened the Eisemann Center I got to know Paul and his dance company. We brought him in our very first year, and I agreed to present his company every other year as long as he continues creating new works. I am happy to say, as we head into our 10th anniversary next year, that he is still creating. We have had two world premieres of his works here, and in honor of our opening in 2002 we commissioned “Dream Girls.” It has been a most enjoyable alliance that has helped to nourish our dance community.

4. What is your favorite quote about the art?

Have to go back to Paul Taylor again. It is a very small statement that he made when he was asked “Why?” [Why he does what he does]. And his answer was “I make dance because I can’t help it.” And I think that’s what art is all about. You do it because there is a passion, a belief; there is a desire, something inside of you that tells you, you have to do it. I don’t know if all of us can truly understand or appreciate why someone in the arts does what they do.

It is such a simple quote, such a simple statement but it is applicable to many things that are the driving force between what you do, what I do, what we all set ourselves to do on a daily basis. I do what I do because I can’t help myself. I am happy to say that for 35 years now I’ve been in the presenting field and to this day I still get up in the morning and I want to come to work. I never had a day when I didn’t want to come to work. I don’t know how many people in life can say that, but I truly believe this motivation comes from the recurring freshness that the arts world brings to the table each and every day.

5. What advice can you give to an aspiring artist?

You should make every effort to try and address the feeling that you have in creating that art form you have a passion for—music, dance, painting, writing, acting…whatever it is. I always tell people not to expect instant gratification. Everyone has to recognize that it is a crawl-walk-run strategy. Very few people will come to the plate and hit a home run the first time up; and even if they did, they won’t every time.

It is also important to note there is a business side to the arts. You can be as great as you want to be artistically, but in order for it to be realized and appreciated by others; you need to have a solid business plan as well. I encourage people to broaden their abilities beyond just the artistic talents they may have. It may be beneficial to take business classes on the side, because if they are literally looking to make art into a career, at some point there will be important business decisions required. I say go full speed ahead, but always try to fill the basket with other tools. Don’t be just one-dimensional. Leave yourself some flexibility.