We all hit that point in our lives where we simply just don’t know what to aim for next. I am at my personal crossroads. I’ve accomplished some wonderful things in my art career so far, but I can’t seem to shake this nagging thought saying ‘What now?’ or ‘Is this it?’ I’ve found in recent years that the more active you are with showing your work, the smaller the art world gets. I met an artist living in Wyoming some time ago who told me that she will only show her work in any art venue once and then that’s it. Why keep showing in the same place? I get it. When it comes to venues, there really are only a finite amount of places worth showing in. I’ve yet to show my work in a major institution like the Guggenheim or Museum of Modern Art, but my work has been in some pretty great gallery and art spaces. Now I’m wondering if I’ve gone as far as I can with my work. I still have work that I want to make, but what else can I do or what else should I be doing?
I’ve talked to several friends about the possibility of opening a gallery space. New art venues opening here is nothing new. The problem is that a lot of the new spaces that open close after maybe 2 or 3 years for whatever reason. My friend Jean is an exception. Last night, I went to her 6-year anniversary. She has managed to keep her space open and we are lucky to have her! I definitely remember several times where she thought she would have to close because it was draining her in the wallet. It is NOT cheap to have a gallery. I want to run an art space, gallery, project room – whatever you want to call it. I think I could be very good at it. I just question if I am truly committed to making it happen here. Do I also want to be in an art administrative position? If you’re going to truly run a space, you have to run it like the business that it is and if your focus is on running a space, where does that leave you with your own art making? I can’t help to think about what a former boss said to me years ago. I was working for an art organization in an administrative position. While I was working there, I was actively making and showing my own work. The director brought me into his office to lecture me about how my position in the organization was priority and that I needed to choose. Choose between being an artist and arts administrator. I couldn’t do both. I realize now, that he was projecting all over me about his personal choices in life. However, as annoying as his words were, there was something there worth thinking about. Can’t you do both successfully? Will the next artistic road for me to travel on require my own art making to take a back seat?