open studios!

Last weekend I participated in CWOS(City-Wide-Open Studios) in New Haven, CT., put together by Artspace (see http://www.artspacenh.org/cwos/2007/).

Above are two views of my lovely, light-filled space.

Sadly, I was feeling shirty, with a horrid head cold that felt as if I were swimming, because the event was fabulous. Hundreds (really!) of artists within my studio complex at an old factory building that used to make erector set toys opened their spaces to the public, and hundreds(really!) of people came that Saturday and Sunday to stroll through the labyrinthine halls and to see our work.

At all such democratically put together event, the work on view is a very mixed bag, and differs wildly in terms of ambitions, skill and scope. This is truly part of the charm- there really is something for everyone here, for better or worse. My mom helped out, by baking scrumptious spice cookies for the event, which really was lovely. No manky store-bought goodies HERE!

Artspace (www.artspacenh.org) runs this mammoth event marvelously. It happens over three weekends, in different places, with printed guides readily available, an easy-to-use website, and a main exhibit at their gallery with one work by each artist participating on view! This, they manage to present, without it looking like some sort of art thrift store- no mean feat.

Theirs really should be a template for others doing similar events: I have never particiapted in any sort of art festival this varied and large that was anywhere near this well run.

My two days are over, I am glad to say.

While I do actually enjoy talking to people about my work, and am really pleased to meet people who really like and "get" what I do, it is primarily a private space for contemplation and work.

I am first and foremost a visual thinker- all that talking starts to do my head in.

Cleaning it up and making it public is fun once a year, but I look forward to messing it up again behind closed doors....