Feeling the Weight Lifting & Flying Away

So we had the talk about the art fair and gallery, an honest but friendly exchange of ideas and feelings. Steve was more than happy to shut down the gallery, less so about the art fair, much as I predicted. But we kept talking and rolling around some ideas, and in fairly short order we had it all sorted out: we will keep the online shop, have the one final scheduled gallery opening reception at the end of October, and announce that we are taking a year off from doing the art fair. We both need to cut back on the range of our activities, and it is clear that we must concentrate on the efforts that will help us most financially. If someone comes along and wants to take up the art fair from us, that is just fine with us. We will offer only our own art online plus just that of a few others, basically acting as dealers rather than gallery owners, which is fine, as that part keeps us networking but doesn't require quite the same time & space commitments.

Just as we came to this conclusion our friend Jack stopped by and was the first recipient of the news. He wasn't the least bit surprised, and had been wondering when we would finally burn out!

So now I am almost delirious with the freedom, knowing that I no longer have to worry about getting enough people to participate in and come to the art fair, nor do I have to worry about lining up shows for the gallery or all the expenses. I can paint! Just paint! And I am free to take on a writing assignment here and there. It's going to be easier than ever to live thoroughly in the moment.

Steve, too, feels relief that after the next show he doesn't have to disrupt his working space or schedule anymore. He can now spread out as much as he wants and needs, and is already contemplating another workstation. And he also likes the idea that we can now have more room in our lives for things that aren't art- or work-related. Jack was talking about a group of us forming a monthly Game Night and we are actually looking forward to this, where we would otherwise have been thinking it's Something Else we need to make time & energy for.