TAKING A BREAK

Like everyone else, I’m making adjustments, phone calls rather than personal visits, conference calls rather than meetings; postponing and rescheduling my consulting work and my life. This uncertainty can bring up anxiety, fear, and just plain freaking out.

I took a break from trying to make everything right, right now, and paid attention to another part of my life that I can control, my art. My undergraduate degree is in fine arts, studio art to be specific. I loved my time at university. Twenty-plus years ago I was a “nontraditional” student, meaning I was decades older than the average student. Amazingly, that made no difference. I was treated like any other student, even though I was closer in age to the professors than to my fellow students.

I primarily work with clay. I make functional pieces like cups, bowls and plates, and also sculptural pieces. But I also love working with paper. I make handmade books, cards, and boxes. I also create collage pieces. Selling my work had not been a priority; I thought it wasn’t good enough. However, with the help of a friend, I had my first show and sale last November. Friends and friends of friends bought my work! I was humbled and grateful.

A few weeks later, while buying holiday gifts, I met a blacksmith who makes beautiful knives. I bought one and took his card. I started thinking about organizing a show and sale for artisans who don’t fit into the gallery art scene in Dallas, like the blacksmith, like me.

So, taking a leap of faith I called a friend about a venue, an historic home, to host this unique show and sale. I envision the blacksmith, a woodworker, a weaver, a bookbinder, a jeweler, and maybe someone who works in leather or glass. I imagine all these artisans displaying their wares in an elegant space where the public can come and discover the beauty of function and form.

So, this is my vision: a show and sale featuring artisans in an historic home one weekend in the fall, maybe September. Hope you will join us.