Monday, June 16, 2003
My First Art Show
Sweat. That's what a warehouse without air condioners gives you. Sticky, humid, sultry heat that rolls over you like you were standing on Venus. That's how I spent my three hours last Friday, with the acute feeling that I was out of place in the art show.
I came out of the show with conflicting emotions. It was gratifying to show my work, to receive somne praise, and to see people viewing and discussing it. Howver, it was also discouraging to see how many people walked right by. Of the work at the show, I think mine was most like to mainstream - that is to say, I don't think it fit the haute couture crowd that came to the show. Vivesection paintings, homoerotic latin-influenced paintings, decorative lamps, Pee Wee Herman and a nun, and photos of the Saint Louis Arch. The audience was alternative and eclectic - not at all like my art. The end result was that akin to having a Target framed art aisle in the middle of the Guggenheim. The greatest praise I got was from individuals that Micheal and I invited from our office who were not of the same crowd, and said they found my art to be the most 'normal'. Or conforming to the majority aesthetic, I suppose.
Some of the art appeared to be shock art, of a type, and prompted Kristin leaving just a few minutes after arriving. Parker had gone a little too many times over to the video display of fetish art for our comfort zone. Ironically, just minutes after she left, Steven appeared with a date, having travelled two and a half hours to stand in the sweltering warehouse and view the show. It was greatly appreciated, thiough I am afraid that the five hour trip might not have been worth the effort it required. I recommended a nice restaurant, but my driving directions were poor and led them a three-hour search. A three hour search.
I didn't sell anything, but the positive feedback was nice, especially from the UF Dean of Students. I'd like to show again, maybe next time in some venue with more related art. And air conditioning.
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