Hum? So I was out in the backyard with Brucie planting this years crop and trying something new and different, again. Yep, I bought into the $9.99 contraption “as seen on tv”. This WILL be the year I get great results after mediocre to poor results in the years past.
So how does this tie to art? Well when I first moved to San Jose six years ago, I had really very little experience in the arts outside of running the galley at my jazz club in Petaluma and my work experience at MoMA (NYC of course) and the Emmerick Gallery. Now, six years later, I’m on the Board of the National Women’s Caucus for Art as the exhibitions coordinator and have a major show going to NYC and have been in about 20 bay area shows each year. But let me digress….
When I first moved to SJ, I attended an art panel hosted by the ICA on “how to succeed and get your work out there”. I sat earnestly on the edge of my chair, taking notes, wanting to soak it all in. The seminar series unfolded and I got a lot of good information; but the last one was a panel of gallery owners. There was a particular pompous ass from LA who touted that galleries NEVER looked at unsolicited work and the only way to make it or to even get an introduction was to make friends with artists already represented by the gallery. I could not believe my ears and remember Kathy Kimball of the ICA looking somewhat panic stricken at his words since he was addressing an audience of entirely newbie artists who wanted nothing more than some gallery attention.
I was so upset and demoralized that I made my phone ringer go off so I could have an excuse to get up and walk out. I went to the parking lot and although I was only 1.5 miles from home, I called Scott and just cried. How am I ever going to make it in the art world?
Forget about the white cube for awhile and focus on doing what you like at a local level. I joined a couple of art groups and got involved, really involved. Something needed to be done – I did it. I showed my art in coffee shops, libraries, non-profit galleries, and kept searching for opportunities and following up. My art is “statement art”, so I looked for every show I could and submitted work for juried shows. Yeah, I have a pile of rejection letters, but with each one I learned something and brought that with me to the next application.
So I’ve planted tomatoes in the back yard – no good, too much shade; planted in wine barrels – lots of leaves but no tomatoes, planted them in buckets but didn’t water enough, oppes. Now this year they are going in upside down – let’s see what happens.
But I keep doing it year after year because I love the process of growing tomatoes and I love the process of art and what it brings my life.
