New show, old friends

New Show, Old Friends.  I am always looking for new venues, that is the nature of sales.  A store that doesn't thrive in a location, tends to close.  No point in putting a Wilson's House of Leather in a vegetarian community.  Artists are always looking for a new place to sell until they find their market.  Thus, I find myself in Omak WA trying a new place.  It isn't very big but the art is incredible! And why not?  Each of these artists have been doing this for a very long time.  Many of them are my mother's peers but, they are looking at me as an equal.  I have been working very hard over the years to get better and better and many are really impressed.  I'm not the daughter of another artist, I am one of them.  Hugs and praise, very heady stuff.

They are all asking about my mother; How is she?, what is she doing now?;  Excited about her carousel project.  It is wonderful to be back among friends again.  It is a traditional Western Art Show in so much that there is an auction and most of them have western themed art.  Mountain landscapes, cowboys, indians and wildlife but the other ways; the town puts up the artists if they can.  I am staying with a lovely couple with a heady art collection.  They love the show so they open their home to artists just to make sure that the best can afford to come to this small town.  The show is held the same weekend as The Omak Stampede so accommodations might be a little difficult to find anyway.  That is what makes their generosity so amazing.  They aren't the only household that opens their homes, to artists; that is.

As an artist, I like to open my home to other traveling artists because I know how expensive it can be.  Food, lodging, gas; all of it adds up and if the show fees are high as well, you could very well be spending 2k on a weekend and you might not be traveling that far.  I have a month coming up where I have invited 2 artists to stay with me.  They are doing a show at the same time and I like to pay such generouse acts forward.  Do you have a show that you would like to see get better talent in, do you have a spare room?  Consider adopting an artist for a weekend.  Let the promoter/organizer know that you can invite someone in that is trust-worthy.  This show is small so each of us know each other.  If an artist steps out of line, they will hear of it.  If it is a bigger show and you like a specific artist and want them to come, tell them you will put them up.  They might apply just because they don't have to pay for hotels then.  In the meantime, I am going to go enjoy dinner with the lovely people who opened their home to me.  I brought wine and they approved of my choice.  I hope we will become friends, I made friends with their dog, do you think he will give me a reference?