Monday, November 23, 2015

recapping and looking forward

Well, the Five Rivers Arts Alliance Art Festival & Sale has come and gone! I had a lovely time, and I'd like to say "thank you" to everyone who came out to support local artists! Special thanks to Catherine Worthington, Polly Smith and Donna Jason for all of their efforts, as well as to the musicians, the clean-up volunteers, and everyone who helped to make this show happen. In case you didn't hear me interviewed on WCME that morning to promote the show, I can assure you that DJ Jim Bleikamp was a kind and welcoming host. He put me at ease and the interview flew by rather quickly. What a relief! 


My display!

I'm happy to say I sold quite a few magnets to new and repeat customers, and I had some really meaningful interactions with show-goers as well. I'm grateful for you all! 

Familiar, friendly faces adding to their collections! 

The next event on deck is the UU Church of Brunswick Holiday Fair! I did this show last year, and I'm looking forward to participating once again. Mark your calendars: Saturday, December 5th, 9am-2pm; 1 Middle Street, Brunswick, ME. This is a friendly little fair with a nice assortment of local artists and craftspeople...and the food is yummy, too! There is lots of on-street parking available, and the municipal lot behind Curtis Memorial Library is just a stone's throw away. Hope to see you there! 

...and yes, I do have one more art event up my sleeve for the month of December, but I'm going to save that for a later post. Details are still being worked out, but I can assure you, exciting things are happening! 





Wednesday, November 11, 2015

the question

"What do you want?"

The question was asked as I bit into my sandwich. I stiffened. I chewed awkwardly, reaching for my napkin, knowing I was getting mayo all over the corners of my mouth.

"What do you want?" He looked at me.

Why was I nervous all of a sudden? He was calm. I wasn't. Why? I knew the answer...but no one had ever asked me the question before. Who was this guy, really? A businessman? A consultant? A genie? A friend? What came out of my mouth surprised me: the answer, wrapped in excuses, doubts, "realistic" alternatives. Like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" when the department store Santa posed his question, I was blowing it, blowing it. I stammered. Why was it so hard for me to verbalize? I was so used to years of being dismissed, of being told "yeah, but," or "it just doesn't work that way," or "too bad it's not practical." I found myself bracing for that familiar figurative slap. I looked at him. He waited. Something in his eyes told me that slap wouldn't be making an appearance. I took a deep breath. The real answer came out...and then, we were off and running.



There is a new moon today. They say that the new moon is a good time for putting your intentions out into the world. They also say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Allow me to squeak for a moment. If you've been reading my blog, you already know that I am an artist; you also know that I've been inspired by my recent surprise trip to San Francisco and the beautiful public art all around that magical city. You might even recall that people have said my artwork makes them smile- it makes them happy, it makes them feel good, it gives their spirits a lift. How do I combine all of these elements and *gasp!* manage to make a living doing it? How do I sell my work without selling my soul? How do I make a positive impact in my community and get paid at the same time? I suppose the first step is asking the question...so, I'm asking. Where is the need? What are the possibilities? Here's a thought: I had a show at the Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing in Lewiston a few years ago, and it was incredibly gratifying...are there any hospitals/clinics/hospice houses/etc. out there who might be interested in purchasing uplifting artwork for their waiting rooms/lobbies/consultation rooms? Brainstorming can be very powerful. Anyone out there have a constructive suggestion they'd like to share with me? I would love to hear what you have to say!


Monday, November 9, 2015

'tis the season...

It's November already! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here...and you know what that means: holiday shows are right around the corner! Let the promotion begin. 

The Five Rivers Arts Alliance Art Festival & Sale (formerly ADAA) is THIS WEEKEND! I will be at the group show at Coleman Burke Gallery inside Fort Andross, right next to Frontier. There will be food (including a cash bar courtesy of Frontier on Friday night), music, and over twenty artists participating. I will have paintings, mixed media/collage, prints, magnets, and holiday cards! Get your shopping done early and support local artists at the same time! Here's the info:

*Friday, November 13th, 5pm-8pm
*Saturday, November 14th, 9am-4pm
*Sunday, November 15th, 1pm-4pm
Coleman Burke Gallery (next to Frontier)
Fort Andross, 14 Maine St., Brunswick, ME 
www.facebook.com/events/872213262886132/

The poster, featuring artwork by Polly Smith! 


 PLUS: Tune in to WCME on Friday, November 13th at 8:30am to hear me interviewed (along with Jane Knox, another Five Rivers artist participating in the show)! If you don't live in Brunswick, don't fret: you can listen online! Here's the link: www.radio9wcme.com. It's funny: when I first heard that Five Rivers was looking for participating artists to speak on the radio, it was the night before Terry and I went to San Francisco. I was feeling so excited, I didn't think twice about volunteering...and now I'm getting a bit nervous! I guess that's a good thing, right? Wish me luck!

My solo show at The Gorham Grind will be up for just a little while longer (Saturday, November 14th), so if you haven't gotten there yet, you still have a chance! This awesome little coffee shop in the heart of downtown Gorham is worth visiting. You MUST try the Rocket Fuel! 
118 South Street, Gorham 
207-839-3003

Fueling up with Rocket Fuel! 

December is shaping up to be a busy month as well, including shows and surprises! Stay tuned for details!