Fishbowls

Living in Wells is like living in an aquarium. Other gallery owners watch me come and go. They always mention when I open late or decide to close for a day for a workshop or something. I have had to close the Good Eats a few times because of construction or the overwhelming noise from musicians practise.

I am the only gallery owner in my end of town that has not operated within my own home and with a partner. I don't have a car. I walk through the middle of town to my gallery and am usually greated with comments about how late I am because I open at 10 o'clock when they open at 9:00 or so.

I have one other gallery owner who constantly phones me and leaves me a message to tell me what time it is and wonders why I am not there. Sometimes I am in the back or at the general store where my only access to the computer is. I have to run back and forth to do things like eat or go to the bathroom.

I have fantasies that other gallery owners open in their pajamas or eat toast at the desk. They have washing machines, cars and computers in their buildings.
I don't. I know other gallery owners have naps and go for showers later or walks around town when their partners help. I don't.

I had an offer of help when I came in exchange for studio space from one artist. She had offered a couple mornings a week for the right to work in the St. George's. Her stuff is there and I don't know if she works in there. I know that she has worked in the gallery once since I arrived. I also know now based on feedback from others and from direct comments and contact that she is one of my biggest critics.

I really have tried hard but have learned that I would rather do anything but keep a shop. I just want to go back home now. I like to swim in a much bigger pond than this.

Neglectful

I have been so completely neglectful with my little blog because of business.

The Arts Wells Festival was amazing. So was Artwalk and the Auction for Island Mountain Arts.
I donated some work and the work was bid on and won by an assistant deputy in the Ministry of Culture and something or other. John Hall also called for the work after it had already sold.
I had such positive response to the work and really feel motivated to do better work in future.

Finding time to work however is really difficult. I now have at least four commisions to make and deliver. Two shows are being worked at for fall and Valentines Day.I have been able to do a workshop or two and have another one planned for this week with a woman who won me for a day at a local fundraiser.

Hilary Young 's show is now installed at the Good Eat's Gallery in Wells and it is stupendous. It is called Burnt Offerings and is a moody and poignant display of what extreme textiles look like when very finely worked. People drop when they witness them. Rather like looking through a keyhole into a very private and feminine boudoir.

The Good Eats Gallery is my favourite place to be. Having the luxury of an installation space with work from people I admire gives me reason to keep doing this. I get to live in the same space as this gorgeous work.

I have to remind myself of greater purpose when I end up feeling like a shop keeper. I am here to show artists that I love and to try to work and see how people respond to what I offer.