I have just finished installing a solo show of two dozen pieces entitled COLOR|stories. It will run from March 1st – 29th. The venue is a lovely, spare, New England church; beautiful in its simplicity. It boasts colorful stained glass without iconography, that glows in the sunlight. The sanctuary is bright, large, and open, with light-colored woodwork and walls. It is a peaceful and contemplative space and I am pleased that my work will hang where people can sit with it and hopefully grow comfortable in its presence.
Book Form ©Elizabeth Fram photo credit: paulrogersphotography.net
This exhibition is part of the new Meetinghouse Arts project, spearheaded by painter Torrey Carroll Smith, with the goal of providing opportunities for local residents to see more art and for local artists to share their work. As with the River of Light Lantern Parade that I described in a previous post, it’s another instance of community action at its best.
Since I was first approached, the past 15 weeks or so have been carefully mapped-out in order to be sure that I thoughtfully and thoroughly covered all bases, in addition to completing other work that was already in progress and promised for an earlier date.
Passages, One ©Elizabeth Fram
In that light, I guess it would be expected that I elaborate about the work exhibited, its making, or even the theme surrounding the pieces included — a few of which I am highlighting here. But instead, I would like to give a nod to the nuts and bolts of the business side of things, the behind-the-scenes process that makes a public presentation of one’s work possible, bolstered by resources that help teach how to pull it off.
When I was in college, I don’t remember any discussion at all about the business of being an artist. Absolutely zero. In my naiveté, I don’t know what I expected — I’m not sure I even thought much about it. In hindsight, I was lucky that I could find jobs that were at least creatively-oriented and which taught me a lot that still has relevance today.
Milk and Honey ©Elizabeth Fram
Since then it’s taken a lot of hard work, countless hours of reading and research, and the assistance of many invaluable resources, including fellow-artists who have generously shared their knowledge, to get to a place where I feel as though I have at least a modest handle on how to proceed in promoting my work. I strongly feel that it’s imperative to be able to reliably meet the requirements of those who are organizing any show. Not only does this make their end of things as easy as possible, but it also ultimately enhances the chance that my work will be presented in the best possible light.
To that end, I’d like to share a few of my favorite, go-to resources in the hope that one or more of them might smooth the way to your next show or, at the very least, provide you with another set of references to balance those you already have.
1. Alyson Stanfield — An unsurpassed reference for any artist looking to learn more and improve business practices. The scope of what she covers through her website, blog, e-classes, workshops and lectures is vast. Her book I’d Rather Be in the Studio is a must-read.
2. Several books that I return to regularly for advice on all sorts of business questions: The Artists’ Survival Manual by Toby Judith Klayman with Cobbett Steinberg, How to Survive & Prosper as an Artist by Caroll Michels, Taking the Leap by Cay Lang, and A Life in the Arts by Eric Maisel, Ph.D.
3. Hire a professional photographer or get to know your camera really well. Read its manual, practice a lot, and read as much as you can about photographing art so that you get it right. This article helped has me tremendously.
4. Gloria Hansen’s Digital Essentials. Well written and easy to read, I refer to this book time and again for photo editing information and advice. (It’s not just for quilt makers.)
5. If you belong to an organization such as SAQA or Surface Design Association, make use of their resources! They provide all sorts of professional support, easily accessible through their websites and/or area reps.
Finally, if you are near Waterbury, VT in March, please stop in to see COLOR|stories. Even better, sit down with your thoughts and relax into your surroundings. I’d love to hear what you think.
Waterbury Congregational Church ・8 North Main St. ・Waterbury, VT 05676 Open to the public Tuesdays thru Fridays, 8:30am to 4:30pm