Happenstance or happening?

In May of 2010, I was returning a rental car to the Zip Car lot two blocks from my apartment. I had just come back from a wedding in Vermont. It was evening as I was pulling the car into the garage and I noticed there was an art gallery next to the space and my curiosity was piqued. I walked by the space on my way home, but the space was locked up and there was no information outside the building indicating hours or anything else. I shrugged my shoulders, let out an internal "hmph" and kept walking. Over the last year and a half, I've walked by the space numerous times, but ironically, never when the space was open.

I bring this up because I was having a conversation about this very space to friends of mine at a dinner party back in early November.  I was talking about how I really wanted to check out that gallery two blocks from my apartment as it seemed like the kind of space that would be approachable in regard to showing our work or to perhaps have a group show there. This is the very conversation that sparked my interest in seeking out a space on my own and the reason I started writing my blog again.

Flash forward a month later to early December when I received an invite to a show called ArtQuake from an artist I know from graduate school.  We've kept in touch via Facebook and when she invited me to the event, I noticed the address was in fact the gallery two blocks from my apartment.  Happenstance or happening? Is this the time delay from the Universe? One month? Well, what ever it is, it opened the door for me to check out the space.

Needless to say, I went to the opening. My friend's work was as beautiful as ever and the space itself perfect in my eyes.  It's a community based gallery, supporting local and under exposed artists.  They have an artist's residency in the summer, in between the regularly scheduled programs, giving artists the opportunity propose and curate their own temporary shows allowing the local community to participate in hands-on art experiences.

I stayed for a while, signed my name on the list, and have all the information I need to get myself started on exploring this space a possibility. Next step: taking a walk over there with my business card in hand, with all the information they will need to sign me up for a show.

I'm excited that I will participating in the Sketchbook Project, Limited Edition, Volume 1.

Here's the link. Check it out.

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

I will send you info as soon as I get my sketchbook in the mail and start filling it up!

You'll be able to follow my progress and can to come to the exhibit June 22, 2012 in NYC.

Square Two and an Art Pirate

Hi ho, Kermit the frog here to give you an update about the pop-up gallery/possible permanent space... well, somethings are too good to be true. The landlord of the space out right refused to allow a pop-up experience and then dropped the bomb that monthly rent is $3500. And, to even get in the space, there would be two months rent, one month security and a broker's fee (what effin broker he's talking about, I have no friggin' clue). All in all, about $10,080 to start. Yikes. Even if there were ten people involved, to get started it would be a little over one thousand. This amount isn't so much, but for a teacher who used to make more money waiting tables, yeah, it king of hurts.

Back to square two-yes, I said square two, as that first square is just jumping over the hurdle of knowing, knowing what you want and having the gumption to ask for it and taking action to get it. Square two. What to do? Well, start asking folks, folks I respect and vice versa that want to get something started. Yeah, that's where I need to go next, so that we may pool our resources and take the art world by storm, or, instead of by storm, maybe just a blustery day.


Even with the mild disappointment of not having access to this space (maybe I should just Kick-Starter that s**t) (small revelation), I sat next to an old friend at a birthday brunch today and was relating my story. She has always been a big supporter and is a genuinely beautiful spirit...and even this beautiful spirit, as it turns out, had a dirty secret. She admitted that although she loves my work and can't afford to buy art (and rightly so, most people can't), she had right-clicked on an image I posted on Facebook, printed it nine times and framed it.


She pirated my artwork.


My instant reaction was that of happiness. I was flattered that my work was pirated. In fact, I loved it. Piracy in the art world happens all the time and knowing I'm part of the whole agglomeration makes me giddy. If she pirated my art, who else has?


Here's what I made her send me, what my pirated art looks like...

Apparently is does come to you...or Be careful what you wish for.

Every year for the past three years I have applied to the SmallWorks show at 440 Gallery in Brooklyn. The first year (2009) I submitted three pieces and was happy to learn I was accepted. The work was strong and I felt confidant about the response I had received from the gallerists. The following two years I was not. I know the reason why I was not accepted last year-I had half-heartedly submitted three pieces that I wasn't really excited about, and for some reason, the ones I wanted to submit were no where to be found. Needless to say, about a month later, they turned up...they are small works.

This year, I submitted three strong pieces, a series that I've been developing for the last year. Like 2009, I felt confidant about the work and was certain I would be accepted to this small gallery for their annual show.

I wasn't.

For the past twenty years, I have been developing a visual language and making paintings to support that language. I've also put myself through grad school (twice), was trained in and taught Bikram Yoga for five years, taught art independently through non-profit arts organizations, waited tables to support my endeavors, including travel, and am currently teaching art at an amazing high school all the while making art work that I hope to share with the world. In that stretch of time, between now and then, I have shown my work at small galleries, at an international museum, and at artist run shows. I haven't had the time, nor the trust fund, nor the hipster cleverness (not mutually exclusive) to seek out or be sought out by a gallery. The 440 Gallery SmallWorks show was a glimmer of hope for a busy, overly productive person.

Now, there are a lot of factors that are involved in the selection of artists for a specific show and one of them is the curator. He or she may have a specific vision for the show and the harsh reality is that one's work may not fit in with their vision. It doesn't necessarily mean that the work isn't good, it just means that one person is deciding your fate.

When I wasn't accepted for the 2011 SmallWorks show, I reacted in a multitude of ways. First, I was angry. I felt that it must have been a because the work wasn't good and I questioned the competence of the curator and their ability to recognize good work when they see it. I dismissed this emotion the minute it reared its ugly head because I know the work is strong and that comes from years of doing the same thing.

Second emotion: sadness. I really wanted to participate in a show and this was the easiest way for someone who doesn't have to time to seek out a gallery to exhibit work. Ultimately, I kicked the dust away after I realized that this wasn't the be all end all.

Third: overt resourcefulness. I vowed that I would find a space myself, that I would look for a gallery to start a collective with friends in the same situation. After my last entry, sad to say, my job has gotten the better of me, taking me away from my goal, taking me instead to professional developments, meetings with ICP and taking over the after-school photo program at my school, grading, and helping with re-writing the curriculum for the art department . Needless to say, I was being pulled farther and farther away from my dream. About two weeks later and much to my surprise, I received an email from the folks at 440 Gallery offering me the opportunity to exhibit my work at a pop-up gallery in the same neighborhood with the possibility of the gallery becoming a permanent fixture as an artists collective. They alerted me and other artists they respect to a beautiful unoccupied rental space in need of tenants.

My immediate response was yes, of course. I'm hoping to be involved artistically or financially or both, becoming part of the collective, finally having a repository for my work and the work of like-minded individuals. I suppose that the laws of attraction were at work here. My lesson, (as if I didn't already know this) if you want something bad enough, take action and it will come to you. Indeed, indeed it has.

I'll keep you posted on the follow through.

Two Red Ones and a Purple Mustache

5 x 7 inches

Gouache on paper

2011

Internal Workings

5 x 5 inches

Gouache on paper

2011

Hummingbird

5 x 5 inches

Gouache on paper

2011