Giving an Artist Talk
Markings #16 ©2007 45"x 68"
Courage
I decided I wanted to give an artist talk during my show because I think there is huge value in talking about ones work out loud. I do a lot talking about my work in my head and I do a lot of writing about it, which are both super valuable. I’m looking to add more speaking about my work to my life.
It was also about courage. Doing something that seems scary is the only way to feel courageous.
For me getting up in front of a group of people and talking isn’t super scary because I love teaching. It is a little scary, I can’t deny that, but standing in front of group of people and rambling on is something I love doing and it’s why I love teaching.
My biggest fear was not standing up and talking but that I wouldn’t shut up and people would wander away bored.
Preparation
I spent quite a bit of time thinking about what I wanted to say about my artwork and wrote up an outline for the talk. I didn’t really practice it much other than to run through the outline in my head and get down the order of things I wanted to say and try to remember the main points I wanted to highlight. I think I do a better job speaking when I just ramble about a topic rather than repeat a rehearsed speech.
One thing I knew is I had never gone to an artist talk, or at least not one I had remembered so I was a little nervous I didn’t really know what one was. When asked by friends at work what an artist talk was I said I wasn’t sure as I had never seen one and probably should.
So the universe stepped in and a week before my talk a friend invited me to go see an artist talk at a gallery here in Denver. I didn’t find the talk very good but it was a great experience because while sitting there I finalized the outline for my talk by thinking about the things I wanted to hear as an audience member.
Intending an Audience
In early January I set an intent that there would be 30 or more people at my opening. This gallery has no mailing list of it’s own as their goal is to decorate the walls of the lobby of the theater. Although the gallery has amazing traffic going through during performances, which is why I love showing there. So those 30 people were most likely to find out about the show as a result of my publicity efforts (blogging, postcards, trying to get the press to pay attention).
I journaled about my intent for 30 people, told a few people about it and asked them to send me good thoughts along those lines.
The week before the opening many of my friends told me they weren’t going to make it to the opening. I tried not to panic and think: Where were those 30 people going to come from when the people I thought might be there weren’t going to be there?
Instead I told myself that this meant I would get a chance to meet new people. I took a deep breath and continued to believe that 30+ people would attend.
The Talk
Although I didn’t count, the number of people in attendance through the opening was near 30 with over 20 in attendance at my talk. Woohoo. I was thrilled.
To top it off an amazing artist I’ve had the pleasure of working next to in a workshop for 2 weeks came to my opening. From Chicago! She flew out to Denver just to see my show. I’m still smiling. What an honor and wonderful surprise.
I feel my talk went well. I said what I wanted to say and I loved every minute of it. People asked really great questions and I met some new people after the talk and enjoyed getting to talk with them.
And no one wandered off bored because I wouldn’t shut up. (at least that I noticed)
Markings #16
Another piece in my show, Markings: Repetition and Pattern. My thought in this piece was to include a wide open area in the composition. I had to rework the design a few times but I’m quite pleased with the final results. I’m definitely going to explore this idea in future work
In addition I managed to put a bit of white in this piece. One of my goals in 2007 was to put some white in my work. I didn’t get much in there but this is a start.
Posted by Lisa in: Being an Artist
Tagged: Artist Talk, courage, Markings Series, Markings: Repetition and Pattern
Stacey Peterson said,
February 25, 2008 @ 9:06 pm
I’m glad to hear the show opening went well Lisa! I really wanted to make it to hear you speak about your work, but we had a birthday party to go to. I’m hoping I can make it up there some Wed while it’s still hanging.
Seth said,
February 25, 2008 @ 10:59 pm
Congrats on summoning the courage and having a successful artist talk. Love the vibrancy of the red in this piece.
Tina Mammoser said,
February 26, 2008 @ 1:51 am
Congrats on the talk! And thanks for sharing your process here. Giving a talk is something I want to do this year but I don’t think it’s a topic I’ve seen anyone blog about. So this was really useful! And has motivated me to go see an artist’s talk this week - there’s an artist from the same co-op doing one this Thursday so I should see what he does.
Mary said,
February 26, 2008 @ 7:28 am
This is a great story–and very inspiring, both from the courage stand point and the power of intent stand point. It’s always good to stretch ourselves a bit and to keep moving forward, something you seem to be very good at. Bravo!
Deborah Fair said,
February 26, 2008 @ 11:27 am
Happy to hear your artist’s talk went well. I’ve never been to one, but I think it would be great if more artists gave them. Good for you for choosing to give one.
I am loving seeing your pieces here on your blog since I don’t imagine I’ll be able to get up to Boulder to see them. How long is the show?
Lisa Call said,
February 26, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
Thanks Stacey. I think this was a busy saturday - lots of people I know had other plans. I’m going to be up at the gallery tomorrow for about 20 minutes with some friends from work - we’re taking a long lunch.
Seth - courage - it rocks!
Tina - good for you for taking the steps (like listening to a talk) towards giving a talk yourself.
Thank you Mary - I’m really working on keeping my momentum going. It’s a great feeling.
Deborah the show is open to the public on wednesday 9-4 until March 19th.
Marina Kamenskaya said,
March 1, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
> What an honor and wonderful surprise.
Hey, Lisa, it was an honor and wonderful time for me!
I loved seeing so many of your pieces in one room, to notice where you are moving with your work.
The talk was good: to the point, and giving some food for thought too.