“I didn’t know that artists talked to people”

“I didn’t know that artists talked to people”

This visitor to the exhibition was a clandestine street artist. He wanted to remain incognito. Photo by Melanie Alexander.

Now that my art exhibition “Life is Beautiful” is over, I am (naturally) reflecting on it. I had mentioned to the director of the gallery that I would like to spend time on site during my show.  She thought it was an odd request.  Why would an artist actually be IN the gallery during an exhibition (apart from at the opening)?  People might somehow be ‘put off’.  I didn’t pursue the subject.  Happily, before the exhibition began she went overseas – and – while the cat is away, the mice will play!

With Sandra; new collector and new friend! Photograph by Melanie Alexander

And so…I ended up spending nearly three weeks at the gallery (along with Exhibition Manager, Melanie).   Melanie attended to gallery business while I just talked to people.  And guess what?  They liked me being there.  One delightful lady, who I very much enjoyed meeting, said with wonder, “I didn’t know that artists talked to people”.

Lorna, who got in early, and bought one of the most popular pieces in the exhibition – The Welcoming Cat.  Photo by Melanie Alexander

Perhaps artists don’t talk to people but they SHOULD.  Artists depend on galleries to represent them but (has anybody else noticed?) …galleries are closing down.  Are they shutting up shop everywhere or just in Perth where I live?   This is a trend which started after the global financial crisis and is ever-increasing in this city.  Galleries are disappearing and artists are left high and dry.  Artists need to step in to represent themselves – and actually meet and talk to people.

A way to connect to one’s audience is to write a small description under each work – to share some insight into what the idea was behind the work.

It was exhausting for me to talk every day and yet there was nothing I would rather have been doing.  I am used to solitude – just sitting and drawing.  What a change to have to drive “to work” in the mornings and not get home again until evening.

Tina collects her framed limited edition print. Here we are, discussing her chosen frame. Photo by Melanie Alexander.

I developed a way to introduce myself: I would offer each visitor a chocolate when he or she entered the gallery.  “Welcome to the gallery. Would you like a chocolate?  I’m Julie and I’m the artist.  If you have any questions while you are looking at the work please ask.” Invariably, most people DID ask (and some enjoyed the chocolates, too.)  People wanted to know about techniques, the art materials themselves – and a lot of people wanted to know about maiko and geiko in Kyoto.

Vanette and Trevor are the owners of Rue de l’Echaudé. Photo by Melanie Alexander

One of the most poignant interactions for me was when a lady brought in her aged aunt who has dementia.  She gently led her aunt around the whole exhibition, explaining all the way.  She said to me that though her aunt would not remember the experience, she would know that she had had a good day.

Because it was such a fulfilling experience for me to meet, greet, listen and discuss, there was no sense of ‘let down’ after the exhibition closed.  Always in the past there has been a build up of momentum and expectation before a solo exhibition and then, equally, a sense of grief after it closed…a real period of blues.  This time I feel a sense of completeness rather than the hollow feeling I used to have post-exhibition.

Visitors to the gallery discussing the work. Photo by Melanie Alexander.

Perhaps galleries have felt it in their interest to keep artists and public separated.  But this method is not serving anybody well.  Artists must take the reins, rather than being mere ‘horses’ in gallery ‘stables’.

Some of the works hanging in the exhibition.

As for me, I am now without representation by a commercial gallery.  What will I do next time I am ready to hold a solo exhibition?  In two years from now I will have a substantial new body of work. Whatever and wherever it is, I will be at the controls.

Julie, June and Tina.  Photo by Melanie Alexander

New readers to my blog, WELCOME!

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The Artist is Present

The Artist is Present

Last Thursday, 4th September, my solo exhibition “Life is Beautiful” opened at Elements Art Gallery in Perth, Western Australia.  The four photos above were taken by my youngest daughter, Lucy, on her phone.  Emma Mahanay Bitmead (who is in the photo with me) opened my exhibition with a wonderful speech. Then I gave a small talk explaining how the exhibition got its name and I gave some insights into the drawings themselves.  The gallery was full of people.  I made them laugh.  It was quite a night!

Since then I have been going into the gallery each day so that I can talk to people who come in and answer their questions.  I very much enjoy talking to people who visit the exhibition.  I just wish that more people would come in.  Weekends are good but weekdays are so quiet.

While the exhibition is on I am completely unable to think about drawing anything new.  All my mental energy is taken up with verbal communication in the gallery.

One lady today told me that she didn’t know why but looking at my drawings made her feel like crying (in a good way).  Many people have had strong emotional reactions towards the art.  This is something worth waiting for.  I may have long periods of empty gallery time but when people come in and are visibly moved, the hours in the doldrums are suddenly worth it.

The artist is present.  Please come in.  Wednesday – Friday 11 am – 5.30 pm; Saturday – Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm.  131A Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith WA 6009.  Until 21st September. Phone: 0407 441 272.

ps: apologies to Marina Abramovic for using the title of her famous exhibition for my blog post title.

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The Art of Elegance

The Art of Elegance

The Art of Elegance
My drawing of Katsutomo with lanterns.

For the past several weeks while I have been stressing about my upcoming exhibition, I have also been working on this drawing which I finally finished yesterday.  I took the photo for this drawing in Kyoto about two months ago.  The source photo was a candid shot of Katsutomo taken ‘on the run’ so to speak -point and shoot – no time to do more than that. As luck would have it, I caught exactly what I wanted.  I have written several times in the past how I enjoy playing the game of chance.  I like to photograph in the street as I never know what to expect and what riches I might find.

Katsutomo was returning from a dance performance (called Gokagai) hence the white gloves. With these gloves, Katsutomo’s outfit reminds me of gorgeous 1950s fashions and I particularly think of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

Maiko and geiko are a favourite subject of mine, as are lanterns.  How pleased I was to have both Katsutomo and lanterns together in one frame!

The source photo

Maybe you would like to see the original photo so that you can compare with the drawing.   I do not try to ‘copy’ a photo but to make something completely new and better.  The photo is simply the (very important) starting point.

It occurs to me that as maiko and geiko personify art – (they BECOME art when they dress as they do and perform the traditional Japanese arts) – the drawing could just as easily have been called “The Elegance of Art” as “The Art of Elegance”.    Here is a drawing with an interchangeable title!

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