Opening Up

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Like taking a bath, making art can be a lonely business. Perhaps that is part of what draws many of us to the occupation. Unlike other artistic vocations such as dance or music, there is little possibility for ensemble work in visual art. We like working alone. We enjoy the solitude to pursue our own thoughts and ideas free from discussion or compromise. We become quite comfortable with the quiet life. Occasionally, we may emerge at art exhibitions, which many view as necessary interruptions accommodated mostly to keep the lights on. Unless one is an exhibitionist by nature, though, showing and discussing our mostly private thoughts in public can be uncomfortable. It was for us in our first shows, but with practice, it got easier.

Today we are preparing our studios for a rare event—a public open house and sale. It has taken all week to disassemble our normal studio arrangements, move furniture, paint, inventory and price and rehang walls, but we’re getting close. By the big day, Satu…