i don't even know what made me think of this random goal- but one of my goals for 2010 was "have my paintings hang in a coffee shop". little did i know, all it would take was me carrying my tiny paintings in a peace sign covered basket to a local coffee shop, walking up to the counter and talking to the sweet owner. i said "so, want to look at my work and see if you like it enough?" and he took a peek and said "i like your stuff! want to be our featured artist for may?" (which ended up being pushed back to june due to some crazy weather issues...). so there it was- a goal realized. and it felt kind of good. and kind of scary.without the help and constant (and i mean constant) encouragement of my dear friend C, i would not have pulled this off. she encouraged me to paint more, she watched my kids for me and walked screaming lulu out of the coffee shop after she threw a glass of water on the floor while i was setting up the show. she checked in on me and told me she was proud. and she's my fabulous PR girl and gives me credit when i discredit myself. so i give major props to her!
and props to johnny, for driving the kids around the block 50 times while i wired the backs of every painting that he carted into the space for me, all during the crazy lunch rush. try hanging paintings during a lunch rush! it's insanity.
this was a total learning process for me- and let me tell you, i had no idea what i was (or am) doing. all i know is that i made some things (i have about 20 paintings and photographs up) and hung them. they look nice. to me. and that's all that matters, right? it's kind of cool to see my paintings in a public space. my little painting hanging over the head of the person with the mayonnaise smeared on their mouth! it's a little trippy. i have learned that sometimes you have to work with what you have- i originally brought WAY too many pieces, and had to edit which ones to use when i found out that i had to use the nails that were already in the wall (it's a very old brick wall...with not so many nails). and so i couldn't hang them the way that i wanted to. and every time someone came into the coffee shop when i was hanging the pieces and opened or closed the door, they would fall off the wall. and for some reason i thought it would be a cool idea to bring ALL THREE OF MY WILD CHILDREN TO HANG MY FIRST SHOW. that wasn't the best idea. so i'll store that in my file for the future. like i said, it's a learning process.
i'm not fooling myself- this is small beans. but it's a start, and it's a symbol of something bigger for me. setting a goal that seems silly, or unachievable, and then just doing it. even though it feels uncomfortable. or like i'm faking it. but really, we're all faking it until we make it, right?
so tomorrow is my modest little opening. and i'm pooping sequins over it.
(back story- lulu took a poop on the deck this weekend while playing in the kiddie pool. we noticed that it seemed sparkly- and upon closer inspection we realized that IT HAD SEQUINS IN IT! (clearly she had about 39 carrots, too). and even though this picture will certainly offend and disgust some of you- i had to include it so you could see that I DON'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP. she poops sequins. and now i have a new catch phrase. which is amazing.)
