Not quite forgotten

Some time ago I asked for suggestions of what colours to use on the barnacle/sea things pendants and one suggestion took me a little by surprise. Lynn suggested sand, greens, and salmon colours. I did in fact follow up on that a bit later. I couldn't quite figure out how it might work. And then when I had done a piece, I wasn't quite sure. I had to live with it a little bit. But now I've looked it over again and I love the subtle colours. It reminds me of the colouring of a conch shell. Maybe it is that summer is now here. Maybe it is just memories. Thanks, Lynn, I'm seeing new things here.

And this seemingly unrelated prop is something that the colours Lynn suggested made me remember. This is a piece of drift wood I picked up in Costa Rica so many years ago that we didn't think much about 'pillage' of the natural environment. It's a root of some sort that has grown around all of these now sea tumbled stones. But rest assured this was actually picked up in the aftermath of a major earthquake and a gulf hurricane. We were there before the debris could be cleared. Not an exotic holiday, just research in my former academic life. I have not had the opportunity to visit this beautiful country since. More's the loss. Costa Rica is one of the finest places I've ever had the great fortune to spend time in.

A Bowl of Beads

The first monthly Downtown Art Market last Saturday, opened on a cold windy overcast day. (It was a dark and stormy night…. kind of weather) Not the best looking weather for kicking off the primarily outdoor market. But despite the weather, more than 250 people made their way down to the event. I was happy to be among 19 vendors spread through Tornado gallery, its courtyard, and workshop. I was even happier to be one of the vendors inside the gallery. It helps to have only a 4 foot table and no EZ UP tent. Sorry no pictures, the camera got left at home. I am not in my best state of organization at 7 am.

Lynn has been posting about the meaning of success over on her blog here and here. It’s interesting that one of the organizers of the market and I had a conversation just last week about what would success for the new market mean. Obviously sales and attendance are necessary to keep the market going. But the organizers hope for something more. They would love to see the community embrace the market as a social event, a meeting place, something they look forward to each month. It is also hoped that it will be a learning experience, where people can get to know local artists and learn about the art that is made right here in our own community. This is a vision for the market that I share and am committed to.

At the community level the market was a great success. People seemed to enjoy themselves. They chatted with each other and the vendors. They mingled, they laughed, and best of all they were looking forward to coming back next month. Yippee!

For me the market was more than just a success in sales, which were good (better than expected). Most of my work is sold online and only a wee little bit of it goes out to local venues. And I almost never have face to face interaction with the people who buy my work. Most of my work is designed as components that people use in their own art, buttons for a lacy crocheted jacket, a closure for a felted bag, a pendant or bead in a necklace. I actually think of myself as more of a maker than an artist. And I am always thrilled when I get to see how my little piece is used in someone’s work.

I think of art as narrative. Someone may tell a story in a painting or piece of jewelry, and that story becomes something bigger, something longer when it is shared and others add their own meaning to the piece. At the market I had the wonderful experience of seeing that in process with my own pieces. A little dish I designed thinking that it was perfect for soy sauce went home to hold daily vitamins. A woman with 2 small children in hand carefully selected charms and beads to make earrings as a gift for a friend.

But my favourite was the woman who came back to look through a bowl of colourful beads. She is not a jewelry maker. But she saw something in the bowl of beads. She carefully selected a little row of beads, arranged the colours and shapes in a way that pleased her. Put some back, selected others until she was happy with what she saw. Now we both have different but shared memories of the event and those beads. A new story.

My pieces go out into the world and become something else. I happily let them go with no further thought to how they might be used. The art happens not when I make something but when it becomes a part of someone else’s story. If I had to define success, it would be continuation of the story.

Nostalgia

My Grandma & Grandpa about 1940, looking very American Gothic

Today, Lynn showed us a lovely little red girl piece in in her post, "Red Rover, Let the Joy Come Over." And I've just got to say that I've been just flooded with the best kind of childhood nostagia all day. Red Rover was a game we played as children all the time. And the little girl piece reminded me of my dear gramma (or Oma as we called her). Gramma used to make us yards and yards of paper dolls from newspaper, that we then cut apart and decorated. I spent a lot of time with my gramma. She lived only just a block away from us and was there every morning to help get us ready for school. She'd be there every afternoon when we came home.

After reading Lynn's post I spent a great deal of the afternoon, thinking about my childhood with gramma. A lot of who I am now is connected with who my gramma was. She raised 8 children during the depression and got by all of her life bringing in a little extra money by sewing for other people. I spent countless hours in her sewing room making clothes for my stuffed animals. Gramma was very generous with her time, her scraps, and her buttons. It struck me as quite ironic how much influence she had on me and what I do. You see this afternoon, I made about a million buttons!

Gramma has been gone for a long time now but at least today my childhood memories were fresh. For me, she was one of those people in my life that I've had the good fortune to love. One of those people who showed me how to be kind, generous, and live with a gentler spirit. I think we've all got someone special like that. At least I hope we do.

And Lynn, just many, many thanks for being at the start of my little journey down memory lane. Isn't it just lovely when one little piece of art can take another person so far?