Stillwater Artists' Coalition
In the spring, some friends and friends of friends tossed around the idea of having an artists’ group in Stillwater. I caught wind of it and was all aboard. I mean, I have been living in this town for 8 years now, and was so focused on my own “career path” or “personal success” that I never thought of doing something community oriented, at least not starting a group. I’ve done volunteering that benefits the community with pre-existing groups, but that stuff is easy; all you have to do is show up and work.
At first, there were quite a few people who expressed interest in the Coalition, but in the end, it turned out that 3 of us really made the commitment and started holding events. We met at Aspen for a few hours for creative writing and drawing, met on campus for a doodling/sketching workshop, had my old painting teacher and mentor, Dean Bloodgood, bring a miter saw and hold a canvas-making demonstration, then I had a collage/mixed media workshop. All that was sort of in preparation for the big art event we planned to have the first weekend that school was back in. Which we did!
The “seven” show at Vault Video was really great. Of course, a bunch of artists trying to plan and coordinate an event caused some confusion, but I am really pleased with the event in general. I just found out today that one of the artists who exhibited work in our show is a new faculty member in the art department at OSU! People loved the collaborative painting idea, and I definitely learned to bring more tarp next time and to make announcements. The D.J. spun groovy tunes and Language of Light entranced us with their beautiful sounds. Thank you to everyone who pitched it to help do stuff at the last second, and to those who provided me with wine!
It was kind of overwhelming to process how I felt about it all too soon after the event, but I feel refreshed and ready to go, and able to write.
The collaborative painting is actually really beautiful and is sitting in my shed right now. We three brainstormed about where we could display it so all community members could see, even tossed the idea to friends. One day at work this week, I received a lightning bolt type revelation; what about the library? I asked the director, and she said “bring it in.” Woo hoo! How exciting. Rolf helped me devise a method by which we can hang it, so maybe this weekend it will come to be.
Anybody who makes art, enjoys art, or wants to be around artists is welcome to attend any event we offer. I hope that the coursework of my last semester will allow me some time to continue with my own art, as well as remain active with the Coalition. I know we all have busy, crazy, hectic lives, but damn, aren’t they fulfilling as well. I know I wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t pushing myself, at least some of the time.
At first, there were quite a few people who expressed interest in the Coalition, but in the end, it turned out that 3 of us really made the commitment and started holding events. We met at Aspen for a few hours for creative writing and drawing, met on campus for a doodling/sketching workshop, had my old painting teacher and mentor, Dean Bloodgood, bring a miter saw and hold a canvas-making demonstration, then I had a collage/mixed media workshop. All that was sort of in preparation for the big art event we planned to have the first weekend that school was back in. Which we did!
The “seven” show at Vault Video was really great. Of course, a bunch of artists trying to plan and coordinate an event caused some confusion, but I am really pleased with the event in general. I just found out today that one of the artists who exhibited work in our show is a new faculty member in the art department at OSU! People loved the collaborative painting idea, and I definitely learned to bring more tarp next time and to make announcements. The D.J. spun groovy tunes and Language of Light entranced us with their beautiful sounds. Thank you to everyone who pitched it to help do stuff at the last second, and to those who provided me with wine!
It was kind of overwhelming to process how I felt about it all too soon after the event, but I feel refreshed and ready to go, and able to write.
The collaborative painting is actually really beautiful and is sitting in my shed right now. We three brainstormed about where we could display it so all community members could see, even tossed the idea to friends. One day at work this week, I received a lightning bolt type revelation; what about the library? I asked the director, and she said “bring it in.” Woo hoo! How exciting. Rolf helped me devise a method by which we can hang it, so maybe this weekend it will come to be.
Anybody who makes art, enjoys art, or wants to be around artists is welcome to attend any event we offer. I hope that the coursework of my last semester will allow me some time to continue with my own art, as well as remain active with the Coalition. I know we all have busy, crazy, hectic lives, but damn, aren’t they fulfilling as well. I know I wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t pushing myself, at least some of the time.