Just got home after the Ann Arbor Art Festival, 3 shows in 4 weeks, three different time zones. It has been a tough year for me and I want to thank everyone for supporting me, financially and emotionally. Thank you for your kindness and understanding and friendship. My cup runneth over, and I am fried.
Brookside in KC, was okay, we went to war and gas prices spiked, people were unsure and not themselves. Old Town in Chicago is the best damn show in the country, I love you. Des Moines might be the best run show in the country and certainly a citywide celebration that I am honored to participate in. I felt so good and more myself after that show. Cherry Creek, has some real problems because it is located in an ultra rich fashionable neighborhood in Denver. I had some amazing moments and truly heartfelt connections at the show, but I felt gross and I won't be back. As another artist said,"this show has bad vibes". Art and art shows are about people, good shows in good communities attract good people. I felt Cherry Creek exposed a lot of is wrong about our country currently and most of the artists didn't like it.
Then Ann Arbor. Set up in 110 degree heat index on newly laid asphalt, unhealthy smokey air from the Canadian wildfires for two horrible days and heat all during the show. There was no way I thought I would have a good show. Instead I almost sold out. Not everyone had a killer show, but even in that shit weather(the worst of my career), people supported it way more than the previous show in Cherry Creek. I was really blown away by the people that came masked up and cared. I wouldn't have come out to see me in that!
So here I sit having a few weeks to decide whether or not to buy my childhood home to save it from the flippers, its confusing and overwhelming. It is hard to tell people I am not coming back next year, but I need time off. This spring I was diagnosed as clinically depressed and I am seeing more clearly that because I have been so busy I just am worn to the nub, especially emotionally, and therefore just becoming more sad and not myself. I have had one day off since at least January 12th, and that was because therapy kicked my ass too much to work.
That said, I am painting as good as I can for this body of work and am proud of myself for painting from my heart. I stand out because of it. I am happy to tell people I am just trying to paint something beautiful for my Mom and Grandparents, it ain't no act. The rest of the year shouldn't be as overwhelming, but we'll see thanks to Ann Arbor. It's like, aren't you all sick of me yet? I guess not.
Remaining show schedule:
August 8th, Charleviox Waterfront Art Festival, Charleviox Michigan
September 4-7th, Open house show at our farm
September 25-27th, Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City Missouri
October 3-5th, St James Court, Louisville Kentucky
