Art openings are strange beasts. On the one hand, hey, your art is getting out there and people are seeing it, because it got into a show. And it’s lit well and hung on a nice wall, usually white, and there’s space around it that you never get when you hang it in your house, and you can stand back from it and actually SEE it. And there’s often free food and drink (although if it’s on a college campus, then there will be no alcohol). But there’s also the nervousness you get from putting your work out there, wondering if anyone will understand it or if, like what often happens to my work at quilt shows, they’ll just walk away, muttering something about that not being a real quilt. There’s photo opportunities, which mostly drive me nuts. I know I need to take them, but I’d really rather not…
(Thanks, Julie, for taking that one…really it’s best to make me laugh.)
If you’re in the show, you really are expected to stay for the whole opening, even though most of us would rather be sitting in our studios staring at the next piece than standing uncomfortably in a gallery situation, wondering what to look at next. I am the photographer for two groups I’m in, so that makes it a little easier. I walk around and take photos (although I am often lame about it…missing an entire artist at times). I need to go write that blogpost for the group as well…I’ll probably link to it here in a later post, because there’s no way I’m writing two separate posts.
I spend most of the day before the opening trying to distract myself, grinding my teeth, girding my loins for social niceties about my art and their art and all the art. I did get interviewed last night and photographed by two different official types. The interviewer was very nice, although it was a bit strange to “talk into his pen.” But he liked the piece and got it, and talked about his grandmother and mother being quilters, and how his sister would like this quilt. So that was sweet.
It’s also nice to see people looking at your work and reading your blurb and then some of them come up to you afterwards and tell you how much they like it or ask about how it was made (usually people that have never seen an art quilt before)…
Many people have an idea of what a quilt is, and this just blows their minds.
Overall, though, it was a good opening. I was tired at the end. Friends and family showed up and were supportive (always a good thing). The show itself is interesting and varied. I got good vibes off my piece. All good things.
The show continues at Grossmont College’s Hyde Gallery through April 23…I’ve posted this before, but it shows that it’s only open Mon-Thurs, which kinda sucks, I know, but it does stay open until 6 PM.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to do any of the student talks, because I’ll be back in school. But I survived the opening. And the piece is out there. Enjoy.
Kathy Nida 