East Bay Open Studios

The first two weeks in June I held my first East Bay Open Studios at my studio in Walnut Creek. I was thrilled to have a space to show my work and despite feeling a bit of a fraud since I had not painted in 4 months due to the surgery and recovery time, I was determined to have the show.

The whole process was exciting, to chose the work (it all goes up, framed or not) and all the boxes of more work that didn't fit on the walls got to be nearby for instant access viewing.

And then there was the fun of hanging the work one handed, with my left only, and using any and all other available body parts to help hold up hooks.

My favorite thing about it was the people who came. They found the place regardless of my questionable signage, which, placed parallel to the building, rather than perpendicular, rendered it as about as effective to oncoming traffic as a pencil would be. And they came into my little haven, next to the janitor closet, around the corner, thanks to my in the building signage, every 5 feet saying " Keep Going... You're Almost There...Don't Stop Yet." Those who made it, were truly hearty souls and they honored me by coming!

What was so terrific, was that each person who came through, had a different take on the the artwork. There were samplings of many works, all there for each person to look through and find something that was meaningful to them. One person actually declared a "winning painting" from my inventory. I was entirely amused, because she was the only person who showed any interest in that particular painting, and yet she was sure it was the very best one.

So what I learned, was that every one is differnt and we have different experiences, associations and tastes. What resonates to us in art, is deeply personal and comes from who knows what. I learned never to judge my work again, that it was not for me to do. It is just for me to do my work, and let it have a life of its own. Once complete, the paintings become orphaned puppies, and I must let them go, and pray that they are adopted by kind loving people. :-)

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