On the 7th March, my helpful assistant/hubby Al and I packed up the ute, hooked up the caravan and headed off to the Christchurch Art Show. I’d been working hard to get work prepared for this so great to finally get there!
Friday was the setup day before the opening night, we found the load in area and got to work setting up.
Overconfident and full of unrealistic optimism as usual I said to Al ‘It’ll only take an hour and we’ll be off” Famous last words….
Three hours later I’m sweating, having a tantrum trying to peel off a piece of label that won’t separate from its backing and violently throwing it to the ground while my helpful assistant was staying at a safe distance of approximately three meters away and opting for a tactful silence.
Well, it’s most unsatisfying to throw a piece of paper, after watching it flutter gently to the ground, I realized I needed it and had to pick it up again anyway.
Busy at setup, almost done.
We then rushed back to the van, tidied up put on my show hat and went off to the opening, mood much improved.
The organization of the show was fantastic, it was very well planned and had a lovely friendly feel to it. It’s run by Art Shows Across Aotearoa.
The comradery was great, I caught up with some artist friends and art-lovers and made some new ones, chatting, supporting each other and sharing ideas.
All set to go on opening night.
There are tips and tricks to be discovered and it was great to be with such a wonderful bunch of people who have centered their lives around their art.
Talking to other artists and art-lovers was great.
Talking to visitors about my art was great too, it was well worth spending time clarifying my ideas (I have a diary/sketchbook so am constantly refining what I am doing, why I am doing it and my process).
I love sharing information with people, I always think if it helps with someone else’s creativity that can only be a good thing.
I enjoyed watching the reactions, how the humorous birds put a smile on people’s faces as they joked with each other ‘Looks like you in the morning”, or when a visitor steps in for a closer look and something in the piece connects with them.
A huge thanks to the visitors who stopped to look, chat and those who took a piece home with them. Your support and encouragement are fantastic and contributed to a brilliant weekend. I look forward to seeing you all again!
