I have had such a great time exhibiting at Nude Nite in past years. It is the only exhibition I apply to now. It is a huge difference from my past with gallery representations and 20+ yearly exhibitions and art shows all over the eastern seaboard. It was the job of my dreams and “we” (I always include Skip as a major ingredient in my success) had such a great time and sold a lot of art! I miss what we were more than words can say.
One of the things I have suspected but have confirmed beyond a doubt is that “artist” is who and what I am”. It is all I have left of me. In past years I had plenty of descriptions I could identify with. I used to be a wife, a mother, a creative facilitator and a picture framer. Time passes and I cannot actively claim these titles anymore.
I did not know how much being an artist meant to me until this past month. I was describing this month's financial needs. I needed sculpture stands, clay, a pedestal, and of course, the jury fee. I was met with kind but concerning responses. “Perhaps you could just go to the exhibition, enjoy the art and not put so much pressure on yourself to create, go before a jury and nervously wait to find out if my work is good enough to exhibit”. I literally snapped back “Please do not take this from me”. This is the one exhibit I actually have the resources and space to make small pieces of sculpture.
At that moment, I realized I was really willing to stand up for my creativity. I have not stood for myself these past assisted living years. I need to create work and then share it. This is who and what I am. This is defining me. I am rebuilding myself as a creative artist and loving it.
