ON LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH EXHIBITING

[WildCherry]

Those of you who have followed my artistic journey here on CCS for a while now will know that I was more than a little concerned about taking part in a two-person show here in the town where I live because my previous (limited) experience of exhibiting my work was invariably followed by a period of creative block of longer (14 years) or shorter (2 months) duration. How was I going to deal with the experience this time in a way that would allow me to grow from the experience rather than send me running for cover? How could I ensure that whatever the outcome of the exhibition experience, I would continue to create? Here I share the answers I found to these questions in the hope that it will help and stimulate all of you who are looking to get the most out of the exhibiting/showing experience.


Preparing to show
I've talked before about creativity guru Eric Maisel's approach for artist's 'showing' their work and how it has affected my thinking and so in retrospect I can see that one of the most important things I did in this case was to control very carefully the showing of my work. I chose a situation that allowed me to say what, when and how I would display my work and I did it in an environment that I hoped would turn out to be the most sympathetic possible - i.e in the town where I live which offers tremendous support for cultural events of all kinds and where the people in general seem to have a very positive and supportive outlook and where, obviously, I know quite a few people.

Beyond this I tried to be as prepared as possible. I completed my last work a week before the exhibition was due to start so I had plenty of time to think about how I was going to hang it and I arrived first thing on the day of hanging (the pictures, not me!) in order to make the most of the time available. I got my own invitations printed up and I went round delivering them to as many people as I could think of as well as sending out a few e-cards to those a bit farther afield.

Then it was time to optimise my morale for the opening night. I had my hair cut and styled the day before the exhibition because that always makes me feel more confident and then I faced the question "What shall I wear?". My bf suggested that I wear whatever made me feel most comfortable and that really was good advice and I'm glad I followed it. I went for my favourite jeans and boots and dressed them up with a black top and earrings. I was so glad I jettisoned the uncomfortable though stylish dress I'd been planning on wearing. I forgot my clothes as soon as I put them on, which is how clothes should be! Lastly, I took the decision not to drink anything alcoholic on the night. I've seen quite a few artists getting more than a little tipsy with pre-exhibition nerves and its not a pretty sight so I was determined to stay resolutely sober despite the free drinks available at the private view.

Finally, the last thing I did, which I have mentioned here on CCS before, was to mentally create two boxes. In one I put the art work I had made and how I feel about it. Then I mentally sealed that box. The second I left empty to be filled by the exhibition experience but I was determined that whatever it came to be filled with, I wouldn't allow its contents to spill over into the other box. "Making the work is making the work," I said to myself, "exhibiting it is something else. I have enjoyed the experience of making the work and I won't let anything or anyone detract from that."

Seven lessons and the beginner's mind
In my previous experiences of exhibiting I have found myself unable to seize the opportunities that presented themselves to talk about and promote my work. I have felt shy about talking about my work - surely it should speak for itself? - and have been totally unprepared for the whole business of self-promotion. If someone says they like my work I have generally mumbled a thank-you rather than engaging with them about which is their favourite piece or why they like it. And as for actually trying to sell the work...well, you can imagine!

Fortunately, this time the experience has been very different and I'm sure that is in no small part due to the process of 'preparing to show' that I talked about before. This enabled me, as far as possible, to feel ready and prepared for what was coming. Apart from that, I feel the major difference came from going into the whole thing with a 'beginner's mind'. I didn't give myself any goals as far as selling was concerned, if I sold anything at all that would be a bonus, but I did have one clear goal: To learn as much as possible by the experience and to experiment with what I learned as I went along. In other words it was as if I had just enrolled in three week course called "How to get the most out of the exhibiting experience." My teachers would be the people who came in through the gallery space door. My classroom would be the exhibition space. By the end I aimed to be much better equipped for next time I exhibited. With that intention I was already programming myself to continue working after the exhibition for another one so I wasn't allowing myself any opportunity for creative block or u-turns!

I was lucky that because there were so many people on the first night, I got to do a lot of listening to what people were saying and that helped me prepare myself for when I had to talk one to one about the work.

The first big lesson I learnt just by listening was realising that my favourite work was not necessarily the most popular. If I had chosen only my favourite pieces out of the two series, not only would the exhibition space have looked very empty but the people who came would very probably have been deprived the chance to see the pieces they most liked! So lesson number one is definitely that WE must not be our own critics. Do the work, hang the work and let it be.

Related to that is the fact that although certain pieces are more popular with more people, there are other people who like the other pieces. As my grandmother used to say, "There is a customer for everything." so let that be Lesson number two.

Lesson number three perhaps should have come first. It happened when I hung the work. Suddenly, I saw the work as a whole and not as a collection of individual struggles, achievements and failures. That bit on the third painting that wasn't quite the right blue? Suddenly it didn't seem so prominent! The way I never quite was happy with the hair on number one? Faded into insignificance in the light of the whole! So lesson number three is that the whole of an exhibition is undoubtedly more than the sum of its parts! If I had left the work in my studio I would never have experienced this feeling. So perhaps Lesson number four must be, "Get your work out there!"

Lesson number five was that by listening you can learn everything you need to know about what it is you need to say about your work. What were people confused about? What did they ask each other in whispered tones? Was it about the technique or the price or the subject matter? Once you've heard different people ask the same question several times you know that these are good subjects to address when you get the chance to talk to people. Say, "Let me explain a little bit about the technique I used on this series." and see the look of relief on the listener's face and you know you are on the right track. So lesson number five is definitely listen, listen, listen!

Lesson number six is that showing up is crucial. It was extremely tempting to just show up for the first night view and then again on the last day to take the work home. Instead, I have been down to spend between one and two hours at the gallery two to three times a week. Sometimes I've arranged to meet people there, sometimes I've just gone down on spec and if its really quiet I've done some sketching in my mini-sketchbook. In this time I have had the chance to speak to all sorts of people and I have been amazed by seeing how many and what a variety of people have visited the exhibition. I have had lots more opportunities of listening and informing and many more people can now put a face to the name and the work. Its been a fantastic public relations exercise.

Lesson number seven - my favourite number as you know! - is really just that everything gets better with practice. I listened to a really good podcast by Eric Maisel yesterday which expressed the same sentiment. In the podcast Maisel looks back to his first ever book promotion experience and compares it to what it is like now for him when he has to speak in public to promote his work. The gist of the message is that we don't have to get it right the first time - the important thing is to keep trying and learning. By the end of this three week exhibition I can think of lots of things I will do better in the next one. But most important of all, I'm determined that there WILL BE a next one :-)

[DJ]

Cherry,
I'm so proud of you for your insights and level-headed approach to exhibiting!
And, thank you for sharing them. Please consider writing a book for future artists and other creatives. This is needed by so many!
Love & Laughter,
DJ

[WildCherry]

Thanks for the compliment, I'd love to write a book but its a big project DJ! Also I'm never that sure I've got anything to say that hasn't been said before...I will be starting a new art blog soon and am thinking to include more of this sort of stuff on there...I'll have to see what sort of response that brings and go on from there...

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Ah ... this is really helpful, Wild Cherry and I hope everyone at CCS will read it regardless of whether they plan to show their work or not. The part about putting the creating experience and the exhibiting experience into "separate boxes" is something I wouldn't have thought about. And preparing in advance, mentally, emotionally and physically was so helpful in changing your focus while you were there. You felt comfortable and alert to what was going on in the moment instead of worrying about things that were not right because you ran out of time, chose the wrong clothes, or whatever.

The thing that struck me as most important overall is your willingness and ability to be open and listen to the viewers' comments objectively, and from that input, being able to formulate what to say when you speak to them!

Thanks so much for this great advice and big congrats on the creative growth!

[DJ]

I agree wholeheartedly, Barb!
She was so smart to prepare herself for the exhibit in several ways, and put herself in a position to learn and grow.
This wisdom is valuable and should be shared. :-)

[WildCherry]

Not smart, just tried to learn from the mistakes I made before DJ!

[RobynG]

Cherry, you've made so many good points in this post. Talking to people is really important and I realized after my exhibition that I should have chatted more to everyone there. I know that I missed many opportunities because of my shyness. I have a major blushing problem so would rather step back. The feedback you got from people must have been invaluable.

Lesson no. 1 is so interesting. I have hated pieces and wanted to throw them out but my hubby always says "Just wait and see" and the amazing thing is they are usually the first to sell.

To "learn as much as possible from the experience" is certainly the way to go. Cherry I really admire your level- headed approach. You've given me plenty of food for thought.

[WildCherry]

I can understand your shyness totally Robyn! Altho' I'm not really a shy person I've always been so insecure about my art-work that I've turned into a wallflower every time I've had to present it to the public...I think I was really lucky because there were so many people at the first night that I really did have a chance to step back and listen to the comments between people and that prepared me really well for the times when I had to speak to one or two people by themselves.

Its definitely true that we are not the correct people to judge our work because there is so much emotional stuff bound up in how we feel about a piece so I think we all have to learn to judge less and show more!

It definitely works to chat to people and you can always fall back on the idea that inside most art viewers there is a would-be artist and get them doing the talking instead! People love you if you let them talk about themselves ;-)

[WildCherry]

Hey Barb, it was only afterwards that I realised I'd done all of these different things that had made the experience so different for me than before...at the time I was just feeling my way...trying to analyse what had gone wrong before and mitigate it a bit...

[Lin Neiswender]

Very insightful Cherry. I am so happy the whole experience turned out to be a positive one for you. Rest and recharge awhile, then on to a whole new series! Any idea what that will be yet?

[WildCherry]

I've just started a piece for the annual art-on-paper competition as there are only a few weeks left before the deadline. My theme is arches and I'm experimenting with a few new techniques such as gel-medium transfer from ink-jet prints and also applying effects to some of the collage elements before I print them rather as I've done with the photos in the light project. Its taken me a long time to get to feeling like work again but now I've begun, I'm happy!

[Lin Neiswender]

Sounds like you're exploring as well as creating, a great combination! Have fun!

[WildCherry]

Yep, definitely feel like I need to move on a bit in terms of technique and approach after the HM...and don't want to lock myself into anything too definite at the moment...