Everything I thought I knew about how my career as an artist and where it is going pretty much changes monthly.
I feel many potters are singing the same tune these past few months as our loadshedding problem worsens weekly.
The tiny hope that I had held onto that my work would not be affected has unfortunately been discarded and replaced by constant anxiety.
With frequent power outages the kilns are unable to get up to heat, and under-firing of works is a constant reality.
Trying to look into the future where power cuts will become an everyday occurrence rather than every so often has really had me take a pause… literally.
I have had images in my mind of how I would build a fire pit in the back garden with sticks and stones.
Then my mind wonders – I watch the pottery works in a blaze of fire whilst roasting marshmallows underneath a starry night (because this way of firing will literally take days…so I may as well set up camp).
And then my mind wanders back to reality trying to figure out what the hell I am going to do if I accidently set the neighbour’s tree on fire, or if the flames burn down the telephone lines (which has happened due to another incident which will not be mentioned here today).
This has really left me feeling mentally exhausted and I am usually that person who’s cup is half full… but this time it is out of my hands and there ain’t no darn thang I can do about it!
And now I am moaning, but I feel like it is needed, and it is okay.
Through everything, I have managed to get some work fired, including some mini vases that have just been put in my new catalogue.
They look amazing and I am so proud of my first collection – I would have liked to have more to show, but it will do for now.
I have also been accepted for the – IN Motion: Art of the Space Age exhibition at the Rupert Museum in Graaf Reinet.
It will run from November to next year May 2023, and I am very honoured to have been selected as one of the artists.
So, through all the unknowns there are some exciting things happening (I can feel my glass filling up as I am writing) and I am looking forward to creating some new designs.
I also feel an action plan is needed so that I don’t mentally implode…so I am currently working on that and trying to look ahead to next year.
Strategizing my next move as an artist whilst trying to make it in this art world is like juggling water – you have no idea how wet you will get but wet you will be.
My skin also seems to be getting thicker… I have had people tell me point blank that my work or “thing” as they called it is ugly.
To that I say – each to their own.
You may not like my work, but it is a conversation starter… and out of all the work you saw that day, mine was so ugly that you had to tell me.
Honestly, it didn’t even hurt, and I instantly recognised that I loved my work and I was confident in that.
Inwardly I felt like the weirdo potter who’s work just won the fugly prize, which I was totally okay with.
Art is subjective and I am trying to push the limits of the clay as a material, my work is not functional by any means and if you want a pretty pot, I am not the artist for you.
In a sense I have accomplished what I wanted this year by getting into galleries, entering competitions, and learning more about the art world.
In doing so I realised that being everyone’s cup of tea is just boring, so I may as well follow my own path (be it in the dark) and see where it leads.
However, I must stop writing now since loadshedding is happening in five minutes and my computer won’t stay on… so I better go.
Till next time dear friends!