mary jane dodd
this is not about kids getting older and leaving home...
this is about you - and the wonderful nest of your work area...
we make incredible connections online with people and groups, don't we? and i am not asking you to leave them behind -
but do you get out to meet people in your area with similar interests?
i have started doing just that - i am a member of the nj metal arts guild and through them i have been afforded all kinds of opportunities... our guild happens to have free workshops - good ones... they hold shows, support each other...
then there are more local groups... for example, we have an arts council in belmar (a nearby beach town)... today was the intake for a show called 'wearable, usable, functional'... so jewelry is in it... and it happens to not be juried...
i strongly encourage you to see what is available in your area... you can take classes or teach classes... put yourself out there... make some friends... i know what a hermit i can be - working at my bench comes second only to being with the kids... but i won't lie and tell you that some days, if they are off at a friend's house, i am not ecstatic...
i started teaching classes at a nice bead shop about 30 min from my home... and have met some really nice people...
here is a list of some guilds... but i encourage you to look and see what else you can come up with...
think of what you have to gain!
8 comments:
I have family in Belmar! Small world! And I must confess, I am SUCH a hermit! I need to get out more, and now that the kids are a little older, I really can.
I've never been able to find any guilds/groups in my area. But it always sounds like so much fun. I'll have to keep looking.
hi kay - as texas is so huge (and i don't know where you are) i found this: http://www.lonestarartguild.org/
but just google 'art guild texas' and lots of links come up...
I'm actually going to take a class on PMC at a local bead shop next week. I've been very curious about PMC, so this is a perfect opportunity. I also accepted an invitation to set up an area at this same beads shop (Beads and Beyond, Cortland, NY) for an open house.... I'm looking forward to it! Tomorrow, however, I am going to be a hermit and stay in my studio creating for the day :o)
MaryAnn
I completely agree that is important to occasionally leave the bench and computer behind and get out there and talk to people. It's a fabulous way to exchange ideas and build new ones.
I very encouraging post. Sometimes people just need a little push and encouragement. I'm sure you have someone thinking about furthering their network.
xx, Carol
Oh my, I know soooo many of us are guilty of this, myself first in line. Although there is not many opportunities in my area, I've also thought about creating my own as well. There's often more people in your area than we realize that are interested!
Oh yes! I'm a member of the Louisville Artisans Guild, currently a member at large on the board. I just put jewelry in the shop at the Southern Indiana Arts Council (which I just found out existed). Last year I took private lessons with a potter. 2 yrs before that I took Metalsmithing at Univ of Louisville. (Steve took them with me. We had SO much fun!!)PMC class years ago at a bead store. .......... and yet, there's still SO much I want to learn!!! If only I had more time to put it all into practice!!!!!
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