Artists Without Egos

Here’s a little flashback into one art exhibition I had in 1995 or thereabouts. This series of exhibitions which took place at Sea Cliff Beach in Sea Cliff, NY on Sundays with a different artist each week, was appropriately named. The artist goes there for one day, hangs their art, sits there for about 6 or 7 hours, and then takes everything down and goes home. If an artist has high expectations, this was not the show for them, hence the name “Artists Without Egos”. I was grateful for the show, though. Always am grateful, as you never know who will see it.

Years ago (years before this photo was taken), I was honored to meet the artist Mort Kunstler who I was introduced to by a family member. Mr. Kunstler invited me to go talk with him about art, about being an artist, and he had suggestions for me. He shared his story with me of his humble beginnings and said to show my art wherever and whenever I could, as often as possible, as you never know who’s going to see it. This is exactly what I have done ever since and he was right. There were times when I might have thought that a small non-gallery exhibition would be a waste of time, but I went for it anyway and something really good happened. Sometimes it was a sale, or the sale of five paintings at once - when I least expected it. That was great advice that Mr. Kunstler gave me and I am still grateful for the time he spent talking with me that day.

It was nice sitting at the beach the day this photo was taken and having a few friends stop by to see my art. There were no sales that day but it was okay. It was part of being an artist - getting my art out there however I could. Getting it out into the fresh air, out of the stacks in my studio space, to be seen by anyone who would care to look. No-one can see it at all if it isn’t out there, so there it is.

Art Comes Home

Rarely, if ever, have I had two solo exhibitions at the same time. This year, both “Delphic Spheres” at The Gallery @ and “Mystic Visions” at the Huntington Library on Main overlapped and it was such an interesting feeling to know that so much of my art was out in the world for everyone to see.

This week both shows come down and the art comes home. It is bittersweet and I remember having a sort of post-partum exhibition blues afterward, which I’m not expecting but am aware might happen. It’s not too heavy, just a knowing that it’s a much better feeling to have my art out in the world being seen than on my own walls in my home or in stacks if I run out of wall space.

The photo above was taken at the Closing Reception on March 19th when my dear friend and drummer Steve and I collaborated for an improvisational rhythm and light experience. I played my wooden flute, aside from my small hang drum and also sang. The best part for me was when we invited everyone to join in and Steve placed different percussion instruments out for everyone to play. I love when people get together and make something fun and beautiful and magical happen. For me, people make all the difference in the world. I do need a lot of time alone, especially these days, but isolation is no good and my truly happiest times are when I’m spending time with friends, or simply - others - whether we’ve just met or not, like when I used to busk up in town over ten years ago and people would respond in the most wonderful ways. We were a surprise to each other, a happy surprise.

My sincerest thanks go out to each and every person who touches my life in a positive way and reminds me of who I am, of what is important to me. My life has held so many struggles but people and my relationships with others have always been the treasure. Some best left buried, LOL…. but the ones who stick around and show you love… those are the keepers!