We're getting near the end of May, so here's a reminder that on my Etsy store there's a coupon code for 10% off, and that's MAYDAY. So yeah!
Ya know, I've been wondering if I should take a different direction with this blog. I -really- don't like to spam, and when I'm talking only about what I'm doing... well, just seems self indulgent (and nobody wants to hear someone talk about themselves all the time).
Ok! First off, I've been asked to take part in Go West again in the Franklinton district in Columbus Ohio. This year I'll be doing a full installation, which basically means I'll get a room to do whatever I want, so that'll be interesting. That's on June the 11th (Saturday), and will be free to the public... more on that in the future.
Come July 5th I'll be Starwood bound (actually I'll be at the camp site probably July 1st or 2nd, but that's when the festival starts so whatever). For you folks just tuning in', I'm going to be vending full-out for the first time. This is going to be rather interesting!
I've posted before about going to these weird pagan/hippy camps, I don't know if I've explained them or why I go. So... er... well... Imagine going somewhere where you will be accepted just as you are. You can wear whatever you want, & meet some interesting, amazing and/or weird people, and just have a good time (as long as you're not a judgmental asshole, the golden rule is in full effect!). These are primarily geared towards people who are pagan, but not always, it depends on the event. If you're not, and you want to go you absolutely can, just be ok and accepting to what you will find. Stuff that happens at these events are... well there's lots of hanging out, there are workshops on any number of topics, from spirituality to recycling/conservation, to various crafts, to sex and sexuality, to... well you name it. Oh yeah, these places aren't open orgies, but they are more sex-positive and GLBTQ's are most welcome (there's a sizable rainbow camp at any event I've been to). Most are clothing optional, most people wear clothes, and no it's not as weird as you think (and btw I wear clothes as I don't like bugs and I don't like to get sunburned). For the folks local to me, it's kinda like Comfest, only more relaxed and with less douchebaggery. There's generally lots of music and performances, especially at the larger events like Starwood. Also, there are drum circles, and they go on for hours and hours. I go because I am a gigantic fan of places that accept people as they are, and places were people discover themselves. I've met people and had experiences at these events I would not have anywhere else. The camp-culture is very honest, people are generally in a good mood and very friendly. With regards to Starwood, I've not been to this event before but here's what I've heard. It's one of the longest running events of it's kind (31 years). It's been compared to Burning Man to people who have attended both. There are 'themed areas', art, weirdness, and at the end there's a huge bonfire that goes up several stories (I'm told they're going for three this year). Sounds interesting. Friends that have been say I should go over well there... so we shall see how that goes. If you come, find me and say hi!
Like I've said earlier, I'll be vending at this one. I'm bringing prints, shirts, stickers, buttons, and maybe some other stuff (we shall see!). This is kind of a test-run, I'm very familiar with Wisteria (where it's being held at this year) and many of the people I know down there will be at the festival, so I'll feel pretty comfortable. I want to break even at least, and get a feeling for setting up, layout of my space and all that. I'm going to do a dry run before going down of my booth set up, but at festival I'll have feedback, and I can see how it all works for me. My plan is to go up the weekend before, set up camp, and relax and have a good time. No stress, no pressure. Once this is over with I'll know what else I'll need to do before going on the road with vending (or if I should try something else).
By the way, that photo up above is one i took at a festival last year (Cornstalk at Wisteria). That bonfire was built up about 6 feet, the fire shot up to at least 20 (they added too much torch fuel).
Anyway... I've been busy, which of course means I had to get a sinus infection on top of that, very annoying. In pushing the vending bit, I've been compiling a list of what I may need. Here it is... subject to editing of course, and btw I modified this from a list I found online:
Product/Packing • Envelope with: • Business card • Return custom coupon code for Etsy shop • Thank you note • Bags (sm, med, large) for sold items
Literature/Paper Products • Business card book • Business cards • Brochures/post cards • Vendor coupons • “Good luck at the craft show today! Take 15% off any product at my booth to celebrate all of your hard work!” • Include booth number • Extra price tags • Extra price stickers • Sales binder (track which items sold and for what price – make chart) • Custom order forms • General price list signage • Photo album • Cheque ID verification chart (name, phone number, amount) • Craft show information sheets • Receipt book • Email sign up sheet
Office Supplies • Calculator • Pens (lots) • Sales notebook • Sharpie • Clip board for custom orders • Extra loosleaf on clipboard • Stapler • Extra staples • (painted?) covered bulletin board • Thumb tacks/pushpins • Five drawer rolling shelf to contain items
Display Related • Camera • stool/chair/s • Table cloths • Small mirror • Booth set up (stand, ???) • Vista print banner • Bakers twine • Business card holder • Decorations for table • Dolly for transporting items • Corner shelf for display
Cleaning Supplies • Mini trash-can • Trash bags • Hand sanitizer • Tide to go • Paper towel • Lint roller/brush
I think about what the purpose is of why I make art occasionally. These things are necessary, as the whys and wherefores directly affect all future decisions as to what and where I go next in my life as a whole. As I've stated earlier, I'm making inroads into vending. The reason why is not entirely so much because I have a strong need for capitalistic gain from my work, but more so that I am trying to achieve a certain lifestyle. I want to make art, travel around and meet interesting people, take part in events and performances, and otherwise live a quiet life surrounded by wonder. Today I've been chewing on how great it would be to buy some wooded land in the country, build and rent out a cabin or two for folks who want to go all Walden. In order to do these things I need to get closer to working full time as an artist, which will also involve other things I'm sure, such as teaching, or lecturing, or something related (doing one thing all the time is boring anyway).
But that's not the purpose to making art. Everyone has a mythology, a story about themselves that makes up who they are. The things they surround themselves with reinforce the story, and advance it (because the story of our life doesn't end till we are dead... and sometimes later than that). Clothing, furniture, tv shows, things we like, even the people we hang out with help validate who we are and can push us forward towards self discovery as we continue the path of the story of our lives. I call it a myth because what we believe about ourselves isn't always the reality, like say how a boy may have grown up in an abusive household and now believes he is worthless. That's not true, but he's decided as of this point that this is what he is, and whether he continues to believe that or whether he chooses to change the story about himself is entirely up to him.
This is why stories and images resonate with us. Sometimes we come across a song or poem or see something that reflects where we are and adds a bit of truth which helps us move past or move forward. Sometimes that bit of art or music of performance exposes us to something entirely new, and in this we grow in new and unexpected ways. This is how we feed our souls. Often folks may not even know they're doing it, like when a teenager hangs a poster of some formulaic pop icon on their wall. As much as that pop icon is about selling product, that message speaks somehow to the young person. They want to be with or be like their idol, even though they are unknowingly falling in lock step with a machine created to make a lot of money using vapid messages that have no real substance. We are what we consume, if we only absorb material that is fed to us on a mass market, or believe what we hear on radio and tv without questioning, then our stories become vapid and carbon-brittle.
So what I've been doing and will probably continue to do is try to present images that are unexpected. I make images don't see, that I think should exist... such as the women I paint, they have been described as strong and in some cases erotic. I often choose to create images of women that are average to extremely thick because that's what the reality is, and yet that's not the kind of images I see. The symbols, the alchemy, or any other hidden meaning that I work in doesn't need to be fully understood by the viewer (although it can be more fun if the viewer gets it), what I want to let people know is that there's more to our lives than what we currently know. The world has layers of existing, layers of culture, layers of thinking. We live side by side with people who may have a completely different understanding, like your neighbor may be obsessed with Trans Mississippi Wooden Submarines from the civil war, and recreating them may be apart of what he does. My point is there are things that go on in this world that aren't easily accessible, and takes some digging to discover. I don't necessarily want to show you what they are, but I want you to know that what you know can be completely different to what may be possible.
So back to the myth thing. My work is partly about those mysteries, and what I think is great is to create these little mysteries that people can take with them. Existing with original art affects a person, the image they see every day becomes a part of them, and how they react to that image (even if on a subconscious level) becomes a part of their mythology.
I guess I will see how the vending thing goes. I'm looking into creating more practical and portable items, and if/when that happens I'll let you know of course.
instead of music, I'm posting a video from the Starwood Festival. I'm going to be vending there this year, more on that later.
I think about what the purpose is of why I make art occasionally. These things are necessary, as the whys and wherefores directly affect all future decisions as to what and where I go next in my life as a whole. As I've stated earlier, I'm making inroads into vending. The reason why is not entirely so much because I have a strong need for capitalistic gain from my work, but more so that I am trying to achieve a certain lifestyle. I want to make art, travel around and meet interesting people, take part in events and performances, and otherwise live a quiet life surrounded by wonder. Today I've been chewing on how great it would be to buy some wooded land in the country, build and rent out a cabin or two for folks who want to go all Walden. In order to do these things I need to get closer to working full time as an artist, which will also involve other things I'm sure, such as teaching, or lecturing, or something related (doing one thing all the time is boring anyway).
