The At Home with Monsters exhibit has no doubt been written and photographed more times than pretty much any art exhibit ever. I am no exception here. I went to see the exhibit three times spending many hours examining, reading, photographing and trying to soak up every detail I could from the magnificent collection. Not the least of which was Del Toro’s personal notebooks. I didn’t get my creative life off the ground until much later in my adult life. It is one thing I do wish that had happened and I try very hard not to wish for things. Only to work towards them. I did not grow up in any kind of environment that allowed for what was considered something so frivolous and a few times as I got older (into my early 20’s) I had a couple of boyfriends who informed me I had no talent and shouldn’t be bothered. And for some time I didn’t. I was surrounded by creative people and their talent intimidated me and I was quite sure I would never be one of them.
Then I just stopped worrying about it and started to do things. I can’t even say exactly why but I know part of it was that I just got tired of not creating anything and only consuming it. Don’t get me wrong, I am critical as hell of myself and I am nowhere near where I hope to be someday but I no longer wish for it and I try hard not to worry about empty, critical comments. Genuine critique sure but someone just being an ass, nope. It takes time to learn the difference but once you do, you sort of just smile and shrug. Possibly make sarcastic remark. Go about your business.
I am drawn to the weirdoes for inspiration. We have reached a peak in the creative world where the weirdoes have really taken over too. Monsters, fairy tales, superheroes, villains, etc…all the things we were shunned for when we were younger all sit on top of the popular culture heap.
Del Toro’s work is certainly for outsiders but it turns out that the outsiders number into the many thousands and even millions at this point. The universal appeal of the monster that lives in us all is something he has genuinely been able to communicate to the world. And that monster doesn't make us bad. And that brings comfort to many souls.
His unusual upbringing which includes odd things like his father winning the Mexican National Lottery and growing up in a tumultuous part of Mexico- that at one point his father was actually kidnapped and the family had to pay ransom to get him back- twice, brings with it a not ordinary point of view. Del Toro’s work is a wonderful example of how not white washing everything in the states keeps storytelling from growing stale. It’s not a secret that the horror, fantasy and sci-fi genre can sorely lack inclusiveness and for some reason that I have yet to comprehend this is a subject of battlement with some caucasian writers(can you hear my eyes rolling, I wonder).
I am so glad I got this peek into his personal world. His commitment to his art. His success in a world that does not make it easy for the weirdoes. Even though the weirdoes always tell the best stories. Literally, we all know this-with that here are some photos of my favorite pieces from the At Home with Monsters Exhibit.
