Or Just Another Excuse to Clean up the Workplace?. . .
 |
| Right brain vs left brain |
Sometime ago when I most
assuredly was not in my right mind (or more likely having lost the memory of
all the stress, hard work and angst that was bound to come), I agreed to join
my good studio friend and artist, Tyrell Collins in participating in the Annual
Pro Arts East Bay Open Studios this year.
When I had my studio in a
separate building at our house in West Berkeley, I managed almost every other year
to join the over 400 East Bay artists who most generously opened their doors to
strangers and friends alike. There, I was on a virtual corridor of studios and
so, more often than not, people came who had no idea about my work, what they
were about to see or about me personally. I’ll never forget the woman with 6
year old in tow who came in from seeing my “Open Studio” sign on the corner of
8th Street and University on a Sunday and asked me, “What are you
asking for it?” I wasn’t sure which piece she was interested in until she made
it clear she was wondering what the rental price of my studio was! Open Studio/Open House – same thing in
her mind.
Opening my studio has always
been an interesting ride, although exhausting. What I remember now very clearly
is it usually took me about a month to clean and organize the studio in order
to show the work in the best light and then another month to get the studio
back into working order. And this was when I was a lot younger! This year I
will be spending the next couple of weeks before opening on June 1 actually
working on the pieces I hope to show. Hopefully, that will give me enough time
to get the studio in “show” order. If not, at this point in my life, I’m
getting more attuned to the attitude, “what is, is.”
But already, there has been a
lot to do. Once I decided to
actually pay my Pro Arts dues and sign up, there was a list of dates to
remember – a date for getting the digital image and studio info to Pro Arts so
they could include it in their 64 page color directory; a date for getting the
16” piece I planned to install in the Pro Arts gallery for the month long
exhibition; a date for posting 8 images on my personal online Pro Arts page
along with my artist’s statement and resume; a personal deadline for getting
postcards and any other marketing materials printed . . . and I’m sure I’m
forgetting something else I’ve had to press myself into action to accomplish in
the last few weeks.
All this, of course, on top
of getting the work done. And not surprisingly, getting the work done is really
all that makes me feel that I’ve accomplished anything whatsoever.
No wonder very few of the
artists I know have little if any interest in marketing their work. It’s a
matter of dusting off and revving up the less often used left sides of our
brains. Which makes the case for my
point – not being in my right mind
when I signed up for Open Studios.
My only hope is this
momentary lapse will be worth the effort expended.
Maybe you should come to my
studio on June 1 or 2 11 AM – 6 PM
and see for yourself?
http://db.proartsgallery.org/ebosGallery_13.php?iconNumber=210
http://db.proartsgallery.org/ebosGallery_13.php?iconNumber=210
