It begins the first time a creative child shows artwork to Mom: “Look what I made!” thrilled when it gets taped to the refrigerator. The creative soul finds meaning in showing what’s been created to others.
Saturday morning the streets of my downtown were filled with clanks and clunks of tent poles being assembled into displays. Most artists worked from muscle memory at that point – a requirement when it is not yet light.
The tent city is erected. Artists hang or arrange their work. By the time even the early bird shoppers arrive, an art festival exists.
My display at the Fall Festival of the Arts DeLand
I enjoy every part of showing at this Festival, held in my hometown an easy ten minutes from my home.
I had experimented with some new construction methods, triptychs with a raw-edge canvas backing. Would people respond well? (Grateful – yes!)
I had created a number of smaller pieces for the Festival. Would that work yield sales? (Grateful – yes!)
I put together a body of work that I believe creates a cohesive statement of artmaking methods and content. Would the judges consider it worthy? (Grateful – yes! I received an Award of Merit.)
Mostly a day of showing at a festival is a day of conversations and storytelling. I have learned how to describe my work in a very few short sentences for those unfamiliar with what I do or textile work generally. (The marketing phrase for this is “the elevator speech,” the answer you would provide on an elevator to the query, “What do you do?” It’s an important skill.)
I had lots of great conversations with other artmakers interested in technical issues.
And the behind-the-scenes with other artists, the friendships formed quickly with those who will be your neighbor for the weekend, are always meaningful. I was between a very fine painter and a very fine printmaker.
After day two comes breakdown. Clank clank as tent poles come down. Re-pack the car. Mental inventory making sure everything is in place. Then, during the short drive home comes the first deep breath. Done! Begin to unwind. Now I think it’s time tz z zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Shhhh. Don’t wake the artist. Before nodding off, Bobbi wrote: If you would like to look more closely at one of the new raw-edge canvas pieces, you can find it on my website HERE
(I’ll get the second one up on my website this week.)
For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating
Thank you for reading.
I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com
How I keep in touch:
BLOG POSTS - once a week: Mostly about what I am creating in the studio. If you would enjoy receiving blog posts by e-mail, please subscribe here: I post and send by e-mail each Sunday evening. BLOGS-BY-EMAIL
NEWSLETTER – about once a month: Mostly news of exhibits and my way of introducing new work. You’ll get FIRST LOOKS at new artwork and members-only discounts. You’ll hear from me about once a month. NEWSLETTER