I’m standing in a bookshop. BOOK FACE at Erina Fair to be exact. I love bookshops, always have. There are very few shops that I prefer to visit than bookshops. I have always been an avid reader, preferring to receive books as gifts, and preferring to give them as gifts. So, I am happy here. In fact, I am especially happy to be in this bookshop. Because here, I am taking the next big step on my journey to feeling comfortable with putting my work and myself out there.
A couple of months ago a friend alerted me to a call out from BOOK FACE for artists interested in a two-month residency exhibiting their work in store. It's a great initiative that supports local artists. If you have followed previous blogs of mine, you will know that my first thought was “My work is not of that standard.” One or two day art shows are one thing, but exhibiting for a couple of months? That’s a whole new level of putting myself out there.
This is the sign that the battle of the two brains has begun once again. In this instance, Confident Brain won, and I submitted an expression of interest.
A fair few weeks of silence passed, which I took as a sign of being unsuccessful and the whole affair gradually slipped from my mind. Then earlier this month, now totally unexpected, I received an email advising that I was successful, if I was still interested. Confident Brain reached straight for the phone and called them to accept. Cautious Brain didn’t stand a chance, it was still reading the email, thinking of lame reasons to say no.
I had two weeks in which to bring it all together. Did I have enough printed work to fill the 20 linear metres of hanging space available? Were they large enough to be clearly visible to customers? My paper prints were all mounted on matboard, but unframed (to keep prices down for potential customers). But they couldn’t be hung like that, particularly for a couple of months. My canvas prints were good to go, but having sold a few lately, I needed to re-stock.
I raced down to Deluxe Art in Erina, who had done such a great job originally printing my paper prints and had them measure and quote framing for them. I then dived into my files and chose four more images to have printed on canvas by Canvas Factory and hurriedly submitted them online.
So, I had 18 works available…but how to best display them? Which were complimentary and compatible in shape, size, colour? Were there themes that could be grouped? My wife (quality control!) and I agonised over a hanging map for the three walls, (it was like organising a wedding reception seating plan) and once satisfied, were ready to go. I simply needed the prints, all of which were scheduled for delivery the day prior to the installation. Easy.
No. In my rush, I had uploaded an image that lacked the resolution to enlarge to the size canvas required. Thankfully, they brought it to my attention. They also queried the one print I ordered unframed, and I confirmed that I wanted it unframed. But this delay now meant that I would not receive canvas prints in time, so I forked out for express shipping.
Over at Deluxe Art, they were their usual efficient selves, and had noticed scratches on two of my paper prints, a legacy of being exhibited out of their protective cellophane wrapping at the last couple of art shows. So, I ordered reprints for the framing, which they immediately commenced. Cautious Brain finally caught up, admonishing me “I told you so, too complex, now too costly”. Confident Brain, grinning, said “Too late to turn back now.”
Framed prints were dutifully ready with four days to spare. Canvas prints were only just going into production.
Installation day rolled around, and we lugged the 15 available prints to BOOK FACE to begin the arduous process of hanging them. One look at the space, and at each other, and we knew that our hanging map was redundant. The couple of hours we had available disappeared quickly as I climbed the ladder with heavy, fragile prints, adjusting the hanger length and, struggling one handed to attach it to the frame string…one by one, over and over. Then rearranging the order as required, as directed. Again, and again. Then meticulously adjusting height and levels. We ran out of time, and had to return the next morning, this time with my son as the “eyes”, and finished off the arranging, levelling, and price labelling.
Still three prints yet to arrive, but it was pretty much complete.
Two of those canvas prints arrived the day after, mounted in floating frames, as requested. The third also arrived, separately…not stretched on a frame but simply rolled up in a tube! In the rush of ordering and corrections, there had been a miscommunication, and my unframed became an unstretched! Certainly not in a mind to go through another lengthy delay sending it back and forth, I raced it down to Deluxe Art where they graciously offered to stretch it, pick up in a couple of days. Another cost. I tried to block out Cautious Brain.
Back to BOOK FACE, where I set about hanging the two latest prints. Up on the ladder, levelling the last one, and a group of young teens wander into the store after school and begin loudly discussing the cost of the Manga on the shelves below. One looks up at one of my prints and says, “They want $700 for this.” Not once. Not twice. But over and over, trying to be heard over his noisy friends.
Cautious Brain: “Oh no, my work is unworthy and overpriced”
Confident Brain: “Enough kid, it’s printed on museum grade paper, it’s framed, behind glass, and hey, It was me, not you, who spent hours waiting for that very photo!”
They left, I climbed down, packed away the ladder and stood back to admire the finished display, albeit the one largest print yet to come. The wonderful BOOK FACE staff have all been very complimentary, which is helpful. The store, already attractive, seems enhanced by the added art. My art. And I have to say, although it’s somehow scary to be so exposed, it’s also a buzz to see my creative expression up there in such a large display, and for so long. Exhibiting it in this way, sharing it with the world, seemed to add purpose to my art.
“Good job, and good luck!” says the voice in my head. I’m becoming fonder of Confident Brain.
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