I cannot help but think about this idea that artists have to be "in the mood" to create art. Julia Cameron writes about this in her book "Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance" talking about how not being in the mood is such a waste of time. She explains how normal people do things they don't necessarily "feel like doing" all the time. Why should artists be different? The whole world gets up Monday mornings to go to work, and most of these folk do not feel like doing that, yet they do it. Why are we as artists so special, delicate or fussy or whatever, thinking we have to feel a certain way before we can do our work?
When the brick wall of having to be prepared for an art show in 14 days is standing before you, feelings and moods and other issues of life don't matter any more. We just have to re-arrange life to make it happen.
For example I have to get the last few few sculptures into the kiln this week. Then they must be prepared, painted, dried, vanished and packed for the trip to 318 Ross Ave. where they will be displayed on a plinth(s) strategically
located in the gallery in time for the 7pm hour when the doors will open for curious art lovers to see what we have been up too. No matter one's mood or other matters of life, this has to happen, no if, ands, or buts. Funny how we artists can suddenly do this without waiting for the right mood. Ooops, kind of busted aren't we?
You see, we have this thing in our family. We believe in what has come to be known as "the big plan." If we can make a "big plan" we an do anything is the sentiment! This art show, needs exactly this, the big plan! So our planning experts went to work. Odia and Wilma were nominated and plunged into the task with enthusiasm.
Oh, right, why are they the experts you ask? Well lets look at their qualifications. Odia, is an artist, also curator of the "Altona Gallery in the Park." In addition she's the promotions expert at her day job. As Odia says, "This is not my first rodeo!" Wilma, is a mother who initiated the idea of "the big plan" in our family. She's an artist, writer and experienced project planner of any event life throws at her, and there have been a few, even scary ones. She's famous for her hospitality and events especially in her back-yard garden!
In one afternoon they had put together a "Big Plan," five pages long, no less! Every detail down to the minute. We all got a copy highlighting each of our responsibilities along with would you believe, time lines. No wonder we have this family motto: "With the "big plan" we can do anything."
So THANK YOU ladies, the big plan puts us all at ease, it even puts us in just the right "mood" to accomplish the tasks ahead. Now, we are all confident and assured that on April 12th, 7pm everything will be ready for the art show to begin.
"If we go down into ourselves, we find that we possess exactly what we desire." - Simone Weil