Juried Art Show | Art on the Green 2014
This weekend I had the opportunity and the honor to have my piece "Aware" shown at the Juried Art Show at Coeur d'Alene's Art on the Green. It was my very first art show ever.
I was incredibly nervous when I finally made the decision back in March to submit my piece. But I wanted to see how my work would fare, not so much win anything but just see if it was something that would be considered good enough or even "artistic" enough for a prestigious art show.
And yes, Art on the Green is prestigious. Artists from all over the country come to show/share/sell their creations at this event. There were at least 200 vendors this year alone.
I waited in anticipation for an email congratulating me on my acceptance or an envelope in the mail with my returned submission signifying "better luck next year." It felt like an eternity.
My name listed in the Juried show section of the event pamphlet | Art on the Green 2014
But one morning as I had started my routine, feeding the kiddo, feeding myself, getting him dressed and then checking my email I saw one in my inbox that sat there looking like all the others. It's presence however meant that I would be in an art show. They don't send an email if you don't get in.
I was elated! I couldn't have been happier in that moment. Something I had created was worthy of being exhibited at such a prestigious event. I felt very grateful. I began to make my arrangements to get my piece ready for the show. I had it printed on the finest fine art paper at the finest printer here in Spokane. I began to research frames and what would be the best fit for the piece. And just a few weeks before the show it all came together and I felt I had a masterpiece. While I didn't by any means think I would win the grand prize I felt that I had a fighting chance. I was, however, just glad to have been accepted into the show.
Dropping off my piece for the show was indescribable. I had the kiddo in toe as I was trying to lug my piece to the submission desk, him screaming at me because I wasn't holding his hand and eventually just having to leave him in the grass as I finished the walk across the yard in order to deposit my treasure. The poor volunteer had to follow me back to my son as she explained all the necessities of submission and pick-up for the show. It felt less than professional on my end. But after I had strapped him back in his car seat to make our way out and on to the rest of our activities for the day, a sense of pride came over me and I felt like a real artist. In just fourteen hours or so my creation would be shared with thousands of people over three days. It would reach more people in those three days than it having been on this website/Facebook/500px for the entire year. And for that I was incredibly grateful.
Aware hanging on the temporary walls at Art on the Green 2014
Art on the Green began the next day, Friday. I would have loved to go down and see it that first day. But I wanted to share the experience with the Hubs and so waited until we could all go as a family Saturday morning. We walked along the vendors' tents, me pretending to be interested in what they were showing and selling, but just wondering where the Juried tent was. We came around the corner and I saw it up ahead. I squealed to the Hubs and he asked if I wanted to go straight to it or continue along the tents until we reached it. I tried to hold off and say that I could wait as we continued along the tents but he could tell that I needed to see my work right away. So we made our way to the tent. I nearly burst into tears. There were so many beautiful and interesting pieces hanging on temporary walls and there was my photograph next to them with my name underneath. I felt proud, happy, elated and grateful. I think we stood there staring at my photograph for five minutes just enjoying that it was there.
That's me!!
After I was convinced of having my fill of staring at my own piece we continued on, of course taking time to look at all the other talented submissions. There was a very good showing. And all the vendors exhibited such talent as well. One woodworker took our eye with a clever game/coffee table that, once we ever have enough money saved up to purchase one we definitely will. It was an impressive piece of woodworking. The live music was beautiful and fun and the entire ambience of the festival was joyful despite the ridiculously high temperatures that had been beating down on the Inland Northwest for the past several weeks.
Before we left for lunch we sat in a little shaded rose garden and watched. It happened to be in the perfect spot to watch spectators viewing the pieces for the juried show. The perfect spot to watch them look at my piece. Mine was in a little alcove. So people would walk along the walls looking at the artworks, come to the alcove and enter looking at the first one across from them and then turn to look at the other two walls. Whenever they came to the wall that mine was hanging on they would stop and take a little longer to look than they did the others. At least that's the observation the Hubs made. A few even had conversations about it, pointing to different aspects of the image. It was a magical moment to actually see people enjoying my work right in front of me.
Me and my piece at the art show!
We picked up my piece the next day. It did not win any prize and was not purchased by someone. But I learned, especially after a week or two of self-doubt about my work, that my work doesn't need to win some grand prize in order to be good. It doesn't need to be "liked" by hundreds of people on Facebook or reach "popular" on 500px. If I can get someone to stop in the movement of their daily life for even twenty seconds and get them to consider something by looking at my photograph then I have accomplished more than any prize at an art show. A sweet friend from church who went to the festival as well and looked at the art show submissions, she being an incredibly talented artist herself, commented that my work should have received the grand prize. Her comment meant a lot and I'm glad that she enjoyed my photograph so much. And while it would have been financially incredibly helpful to have won the grand prize I think I received more joy watching people enjoy my work more than any joy I would have gotten from a prize.