I love art shows!
Yes, it is a hassle, involving applications, deadlines, photos, and heavy lifting. But I love talking to people who love art, especially sculpture.
So far this year I have done two: the Open Studios tour in Roanoke, and Sculpture in the South in Summerville SC.
So far this year I have done two: the Open Studios tour in Roanoke, and Sculpture in the South in Summerville SC.
We were at Mary Jane Burtch's new house for Open Studios. My studio is in the County, too far off the beaten track and with no parking. We have been showing at Mary Jane's for many years. She moved away from her old house on Grandin Road last year. We set up at Grandin Gardens then, just down the street, but this year we were in South Roanoke at Mary Jane's new studio.
We saw less traffic, but had good sales. The people who came wanted to see us! They didn't just happen by. Many old friends came, including one young collector who has bought a piece every year since she was eight years old! She's thirteen now.
Sculpture in the South was an awesome experience. Thirty-six sculptors from all over the US were there. Artists from as far away as Oregon, California, Colorado and Texas came to show their work. And it was wonderful! I have been following the careers of several of these people for 20 years, since I first began to carve stone. They are my heroes! It was an honor to show with them.
The show itself was by far the best organized of any that I have seen. They welcomed us with a "good Southern breakfast" on Friday as we set up. They provided tents and cashier services, as well as motorized carts and helpers to carry our work. Friday night there was a black tie gala, where I re-discovered the joys of shrimp and grits, low-country style! Our host was a bed and breakfast in an old Southern mansion. Everywhere you looked there was a piece of sculpture, purchased by the owner, not on loan from the artist.
Saturday and Sunday were warm, busy days. The low-country humidity came in with the heavy rains late Friday, but the rain left as quickly as it came. Attendance at the show was good. There was so much great sculpture to see! And, there were talks on clay sculpture, stone carving, and bronze casting by working sculptors. Saturday night and again on Sunday the artists enjoyed a great feast provided by local art patrons. The artists got a chance to get together and swap tips and stories. There is never enough time for this during the show. (The price of bronze and gasoline were big topics.)
I am looking forward to more shows in the Fall, when the weather is cooler. As I write this it is 95 degrees at 4 PM in these Virginia mountains, too hot to be outside.
Sculpture in the South was an awesome experience. Thirty-six sculptors from all over the US were there. Artists from as far away as Oregon, California, Colorado and Texas came to show their work. And it was wonderful! I have been following the careers of several of these people for 20 years, since I first began to carve stone. They are my heroes! It was an honor to show with them.
The show itself was by far the best organized of any that I have seen. They welcomed us with a "good Southern breakfast" on Friday as we set up. They provided tents and cashier services, as well as motorized carts and helpers to carry our work. Friday night there was a black tie gala, where I re-discovered the joys of shrimp and grits, low-country style! Our host was a bed and breakfast in an old Southern mansion. Everywhere you looked there was a piece of sculpture, purchased by the owner, not on loan from the artist.
Saturday and Sunday were warm, busy days. The low-country humidity came in with the heavy rains late Friday, but the rain left as quickly as it came. Attendance at the show was good. There was so much great sculpture to see! And, there were talks on clay sculpture, stone carving, and bronze casting by working sculptors. Saturday night and again on Sunday the artists enjoyed a great feast provided by local art patrons. The artists got a chance to get together and swap tips and stories. There is never enough time for this during the show. (The price of bronze and gasoline were big topics.)
I am looking forward to more shows in the Fall, when the weather is cooler. As I write this it is 95 degrees at 4 PM in these Virginia mountains, too hot to be outside.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose... sometimes it rains.
(apologies to "Bull Durham")
(apologies to "Bull Durham")
