Post-Artfest....finally!

Finally, the photos have been dowloaded, I've nearly unpacked and I'm ready to share about Artfest. Re-entry to my real life after Artfest is always difficult and strange. This is my fourth year and it's always the same, I feel out of synch with my surroundings and the goings on of my day to day existence. As though this were not my real life but a shadow existence and what happens at Artfest is the life of my heart. Actually, it isn't my life, it's my work that is the challenge to come back to. I love my life and am fortunate to mostly enjoy my day job but the job crowds my mind and my days. Alright, enough of that. On with it.

This year and last I stayed in an Officers house with friends, old and new. We did an exchange based on the theme of house or home. This was my contribution. I made one for each of my housemates.

Here they are all lined up.

The found poem says
he propped his bare feet on the railing that surrounded the porch
he could see a scrap of the sea;
he could smell it too,
fresh and salty
remember this moment

The words are from "Our Arcadia" and brought to mind the view from our house at Artfest.

It's made with all my favorite sorts of things, driftwood twigs, glass and stones smoothed satiny and round from being tumbled in the waves, bits of silk ribbon and fabric rumpled and torn, black beads, copper wire and mica.

Tomorrow I'll post what I received from each of them. They are wonderful!

For my general trade, I made a zine. It's my first ever and it was okay. I interviewed Michael Jon Peterson, (a new instructor at Artfest and a new friend) and mistakenly named him Michael Jon Smith in the title of the article. No idea what I was thinking but it's now his alter ego. He was so very kind about the blunder!

I've a few more left so if you'd like one just leave me a comment and I'll email you for your address.

Finally, I did a painting for the gallery and as luck would have it, it sold. My first official sale! I was a bit confused when I went to pick it up and it wasn't there. I'd never entered anything in the gallery before so I didn't expect it to go.

Here's the first night trading frenzy at dinner.

Teesha and Tracy and the opening event in the hangar

And here's a few gallery pieces. Sadly I didn't note the names of the artists.

This next piece was done by my friend Jonna Barnett.

With that I bid you goodnight. More tomorrow!

Comments

[Joan of Art]

Hi, Tina!
Just discovered your blog
thanks to your post to the
Art Fest list. I wanted to thank you for your ArtFest Photos and your fabulous
blog. I'd love to trade you
for your Keyhole Zine...
And meet you at the next
ArtFest! Thanks Again!

[Laurie Blau-Marshall]

Hi Tina -

I couldn't make it to Art Fest and I so enjoy reading about your experience. Thanks so much for sharing.

Your housemate trades are gorgeous!

from a fellow toast lover,
(I've got a good toast story, too)
Laurie

(If you have any 'zines left after you've sent them to fellow attendees, I would love to trade you something for one of them.)

[bridgette]

congrats on your first offical art sale! That's awesome!

[bridgette]

congrats on your first offical art sale! That's awesome!

[Deborah]

Delightful to read through your accounts of ArtFest! Don't think I had the chance to trade with you, so I'd love to be a recipient of one of your "Through the Keyhole" zines if you still have an extra! Very much enjoyed the works by Peterman that I had the chance to see at vendor's night, so it'd be a treat to get a glimpse into his creative process.... Many thanks! ~Deborah