Here's what went off today to Sock HQ
This is probably pairs 17 and 18, but who's counting.
About the corporate exhibit Mary wanted to know more about, it predates today's digital pix, also was not up for pictures at all, proprietary information and concern about industrial espionage, very exciting. So you'll have to take my word for it.
Anyway I was invited to solo in rather a large corporate gallery, my choice of subject, medium, all that.
So I put on a display of fifty, yes, really, prints, half state of the art at the time, computer assisted, half the other end of the spectrum, hand pulled and inked monotypes. The idea being Prints, Ancient and Modern.
Since they couldn't permit the general public into their facility, which was their ghq also their research facility, they arranged for my opening to take place when the max employees could be there. And did an eblast to make it happen.
The place was mobbed, many questions, loads of interest. This was the only group, many techies, I didn't have to explain the computer work to!
This was before using the computer in any art environment was ever heard of. Full credit to the art faculty, Rivera and colleagues, of Mercer County College in the 80s for setting up the lab and coursework so artists could increase their repertoire of art making tools. It changed my life at that time.
Back to the people at the opening: they got exactly how challenging this was, and how getting the work from the disk into a tangible form for framing was quite a trip. You really needed a nimble mind to navigate all these new ideas and options at once, while creating art.
But they were totally excited about the monotypes, art made so simply by hand with ink, a glass plate, a baren (rubbing block), hands, and burnishers.
I remember people making rapid notes as I explained reductive and additive methods, high risk art when the ink would only be workable for a couple of minutes. Definitely my cup of tea, just total focus, go for it. Many times.
At the end of the exhibit, the usual month long, management picked four pieces to buy for their corporate collection. Great caper!
So that was an interesting side effect of the petcare biz. Clients took an interest and were supportive.
It did take high energy to run a busy business and all that takes, and a busy art life, and pay proper attention to both, so I'm glad I did it when I could.
The thing is that art can't happen in a vacuum. A busy life outside the studio feeds what you make when you're working. So when you need to provide yourself with a living, it isn't such a bad deal. It's a full life
Speaking of which, here's my local school district getting parents up to date.
I thought the Bible was fixed, but evidently you can add in amendments and updates. Who knew?
And Ukrainian Independence is on the 24th, so here's the great mouser cat who lives at 10 Downing Street posing with the display.
Photo credits Justin Ng
Happy day everyone! Cleaners here today so I'm out doing errands and staying out of the way. Home soon to a clean house, joy.
Enjoy your day.
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