Jaci Dawn

It’s getting real here. In less than three weeks, I have my first solo art show since the late 1970’s. (I know, I started that sentence with a prepositional phrase!)

I’m checking things off of my “to do” list left and right. My mentor will not be able to be at this art show, so I am truly flying “solo” (but I wish her all the good vibes in the world and prayers as she and her husband really need them).

I do feel more prepared than I was in 1978 when I did my one and only art show in the city park in Baker City (I got one sale and a good commission out of that). I have a better display system, a decent 10×10′ canopy with sides, and the support of my husband (I was single in 1978). I know where I am going and have a better idea of how to market my art and myself. I have a wider support system. And I have a lot more artwork to display and a better idea of pricing.

Today, I bought a collapsible wagon to haul things back and forth from my site: all art and monies will be taken from the site at closing on Saturday and returned before opening on Sunday. It may be unrealistic to think I can drive in to the site to take down on Sunday, so the wagon can help there, too.

My pop-up canopy is cheap and will last only a couple of seasons, but by then I should have made enough money to replace it. I have two repairs to do to it already – and it is brand new. Easy-peasy stuff, hand-sewing stuff. I practiced putting it up with the help of my husband on Saturday past. We made note of our mistakes as we went. I took it all down by myself on Sunday, except for pushing in the little release buttons on the legs – I’ll pack a flat head screwdriver to help me with that if I happen to have to take down by myself on Sunday. It all fits in my car with ease.

I’ve done this for – what? three? four? – years with my mentor and my set-up is much simpler than hers (my media is also very different from hers). That makes my tear-down half the issue it is with her, and I am confident I can do it by myself.

Still, I am nervous. I had to pass a jury of my peers to get into this art show, unlike the 1970’s. i was accepted and that thrills my little heart. I need to have my website updated by the show (AUGH! Another expense!), My brain is on over-drive and not concentrating on my day job or the upcoming grandkid’s birthdays, both a “no-no”. (I mean, can you believe one grand kid turns 8 on August 9th? A great-niece turns 8 on August 6th? Another grandson turns 7 on the 12th? And #10 turns one on the 24th?) Really? I have to think of THREE gifts? I figured Dinotopia would work for the boys, but now I have to add a 1-yo to the mix?

Deep breaths. I spoke to the credit union today about getting the Visa/MC App added to my phone. I have a credit block on my name and had to answer difficult questions (where did I live before here? uh – that was 15 years ago and there’s still a dispute on the actual street numbers…) (Who holds your mortgage? Uh – it changes nearly every year as things get sold out… Let me think…) I answered correctly on all of them, but dang – I was not expecting that!!