Fundraisers can be a lot of fun. I do work best
under pressure. Perhaps beating the clock is a little too much pressure though.
I was asked to perform in front of the attendees at a local school which was
raising funds for their foundation. There is a tricky balance between what can
be accomplished in two to three hours and what needs to be done before hand.
How much do I do? How much do I leave undone? First things first, I selected a
support. I am a stubborn… determined individual who is slowly learning how to
hear what the still small voice each work or series of works has to say. The
series “Eve” was completed before I was willing to let it go. The panel I
selected already had several layers applied and I knew I would not return to
the theme. All I had to do was seal the surface…. Not so. In my earlier
experiments I had used drywall compound to texturize the surface, a very
unstable substance, especially when being shipped from one place to another…
So, first things first became scraping off the plaster along with all the other
layers. Sealing, adding and allowing to dry six layers before adding the drips
and drops of ink took several days. I decided to add the transfer images too,
leaving them overnight to dry. Was that enough? We would soon find out. I got
there early in order to set up. Lots of plastic sheeting everywhere to protect
the floor, the table and I decided to work away from the walls. I am messy! Someone
mentioned I had only two hours in which to work. Keeping one ear on the
proceedings I decided when enough was enough about one minute before my
painting went on the block. All very exciting. Life is good.
A friend of mine suggested that I send out last
minute invitations to the meet and greet I held at Galerie PAVA last weekend.
Manipulating photos onto a card, taking screen shots and reorganizing my
mailing lists into specific groups are all making the publicity side of this
business easier. Someone else suggested I send out a press release to entice
the news media to visit the show. I was wondering what on earth I could say to
pique the interest of the journalists when I remembered the fundraiser with
which I am involved… Another piece of advise came from the web where it was
suggested that I dig deep and reveal my heart’s desire with regard to my art.
There are a few logistic hitches of course; that comes as part of the learning
curve package. The fundraising event takes place on Thursday night and this is
the long Easter weekend when nothing much happens in the business world. Yes,
the notice is unsuitably short. And, yes, the exercise is worth doing if only
to improve for the next opportunity. I was in a hurry. Quickly writing out the
English version I tried a web translator and handed the “French” version to my
very busy husband to verify. Much to my surprise he was unable to read it as my
writing tends to be poetic and the translation was very literal. He
complemented my competence in French by saying I could do much better and it
would be more easily verified if I did. Okay. I can write better French than
Google. Sigh… Once done he also showed me some examples of other press releases
and I added a short two sentence note summing up who I am, contact info, and upcoming
events. Whew!! We will see if all this effort brings any results. In any case,
it is one more step into the world of professionalism. Life is good.
P.S. The fundraiser is for École Ste.-Jeanne-d'Arc (8505 68A St) in Edmonton, AB. I will be creating a mixed media painting during the evening for live auction. I have about three hours to complete the work before it goes up for bidding. Always exciting. Doors open at 7pm.
Someone told me recently that I move through
life in constant creation. There is not a moment when my mind is idle from
fanciful imaginings. Lately I have been imaging in unusual ways. Creating
includes sewing curtains and talking to contractors. The messy business of
deconstructing and reconstructing will soon begin. I am refashioning my sacred
space. There is a danger in losing my way through the rubble. I am thankful for
the many opportunities I have to submit proposals for exhibitions and to
participate in local group showings. Today I will organize yet another cover
letter and the varied documentation which accompanies each tender. I will practice the songs for Holy Thursday
celebrations. As I do not have the skill to play a musical instrument my
practice will consist of memorizing the verses… I am thankful for deadlines
too. The show in November in CAVA demands production. This time it will be
watercolours. The studio schedule begins next week. This week I am recreating
comfortable spaces for our renters. I take pleasure in creativity, no matter
what form it takes. Life is good.
It has been a while. The Redwater Art Society
reminded me how much fun it is. I threw a phenomenal array of mixed media
techniques at them before we sat down for lunch. The afternoon was spent
putting some of the techniques into practice. Throughout the process we lost
track of the colours with which we began. Some of us had quite a bit of paint
on surfaces other than the canvas! Oh, that is right, we never did get to the
canvas… Control, or lack of control, ruled the day. I was asked several times
if a certain colour or procedure would be appropriate. I always replied in the
affirmative. Anything goes when fun is king. I suspect the constant flux in my
life is teaching me how to accept what I cannot change, how to release
expectations that really get in the way of being present to the moment, and how
to savour the laughter, the joy and the affirmation of our common creativity.
We are all artists in one form or another. Delight comes when we can include
all forms. Life is good.
