I reached a milestone yesterday – a featured art show of my work and the work of another artist! This is something that has been in process since January 2020. I interviewed in front of a panel of (like 10?) representatives from the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community and walked them through my process and artwork. They had so many questions! It felt like a flashback to critiques in my college art classes and having to defend my art and why I pour so much of myself into it. The experience was intimidating and wonderful and I was very fortunate to be selected for one of their slots for 2021. At the time March 2021 felt like an eternity away, but for obvious reasons it worked out for the best.

In the days leading up to the show, my dad and I were running around like crazy – building frames, buying mat board, figuring out how to transfer my entire portfolio at one time without breaking anything, and also helping my sister move to Florida. Of course I was also trying desperately to finish one last piece for the show in between all of this. I am so thankful that my husband and I recently upgraded from a sedan to a bigger car. I had 17 framed pictures to transport! It took a lot of plastic wrap and some Costco shoe racks to engineer a contraption to keep everything upright and in their intended places for the 45 minute drive to Wyoming, MN.

I get many questions about how long it takes to make my art. The question always is in reference to how long it takes to glue string or make dots. But this is only a part of what it takes to make art and put it in front of others. Applying to shows, taking art to and from exhibitions, being present at art fairs or the gallery for open hours, framing art, packaging art, mailing art, making prints and cards, re-imagining displays, posting on all the internet platforms, maintaining the website, editing photos, running errands to buy all the miscellaneous supplies needed, bookkeeping…it all takes time. I would have expected that in the days leading up to one of the biggest shows I have ever participated in would be full of making art, but that is not how this works apparently!

So for those of you in Minnesota and you are heading up north or in the area, “A Sense of Place” showing my work and the beautiful ceramic artwork from Lisa Truax will be up at Hallberg Center for the Arts until May 1st. The gallery has reduced hours right now due to COVID, but it is open every Thursday and Friday from 4 PM – 8 PM, and every Saturday from 12 PM – 4 PM. But for those of you who can’t make it, the gallery’s website is featuring a virtual tour of the show! Just click on the circles to move around the exhibit and check it out.

This show is almost a decade of work brought together in one place. It is not something that I have been able to experience before and is a little overwhelming. Please let me know what you think, and I hope you enjoy!

https://wyomingcreativearts.org/virtual-exhibits/virtual-exhibits/a-sense-of-place