The exhibition in Lincoln was successful. Considering I didn’t do a lot of advertising for it and it was only up for at total of 4 ½ days, there was good attendance. I got some nice feedback. You just never know what to expect. I noticed something new this time around with putting up this show. Physically, things are getting a little harder logistically – in other words, after mounting the show, my body hurt! WTF?! I’ve also noticed that lately, making my art has been making me a bit achy. My latest piece has been coming together slowly because I’ve definitely pulled something in my back and I’ve had to slow up how much I do each time I work on it. Because I’ve been pretty much sitting in the same position tying knots for a year and a half , my body has responded with some cramped up muscles, pinched something or other and some stiff hip joints. Alas, I am no longer a spring art chick. I’m not a hard-core gym body and work out every so often, but it’s time to build in some sort of regular exercise routine or I’m going to feel like the rusted out Tin Man with no oil. I‘ve definitely taken for granted that in the past, I could easily move large canvases up and down stairs, move furniture and all kinds of stuff with little to no problem. Surely, I will be able to that forever, right? Nope, those days are definitely in the past. Your personal health is something an artist definitely should never take for granted. You should not neglect your health physically, emotionally, mentally. All of it. Whenever I get whiney about how I feel, I think about one of my art heroes, Frida Kahlo. The woman had a busted up spine, crippled foot, miscarried her only child and participated in a crazy relationship. During all of that, she still painted and made her art. Now, I’m not trying to diminish or invalidate my feelings, but if Frida can produce work despite those obstacles, I’ve got no excuse for not making mine! Last night, I was lamenting to a friend who is a curator that I wish I could have a small team to move and hang my work for me. She laughed and said only a very small group of artists have that privilege. True that, but one can dream.
Art Hurts
