NEWS : In this case, no news is not necessarily good news.....The muse is missing in action.

For about 8 or 9 years I was holding on to the thought that a piece of mine might be included in a massive show at MFAH on war and it's aftermath. I had been told it was being considered. As it turns out, the piece was cut in one of the rounds of consideration. And I must say, I received a lovely email from Anne Tucker in response to my inquiry. All this brought up to me the process of making art and putting it out there. I guess, even though I hoped I might be included in such an auspicious show, realistically it was a long shot, and an honor to have something even considered. Or so I tell myself. This business of artmaking it seems, is fraught with joy, disappointment, discovery, insecurity and in rare moments of grace,a coming together of belief in oneself as an artist, inspiration, time and technical know-how. Art and Fear by Ted Orland and David Bayles has been a bible of sorts for years. I feel the need to read it at least once a year. I try to listen to the difference between "stopping and quitting". I think about their words "...that courting approval, even that of peers, puts a dangerous amount of power in the hands of the audience. Worse yet, the audience is seldom in a position to grant (or withold) approval on the one issue that really counts-namely, whether or not you're making progress in your work. Audience comes later, the only true communication is between you and your work." Still, it does feel nice to be accepted into shows, and to have the work out there. And while the greater need may be to make art, even if alone in one's room, I think I also have a need to have the work seen. I don't know if that is ego or human need or whatever, but it would be a lie to say it didn't matter. At least for me. For awhile I subscribed to the theory (made up by myself), that the higher the pile of rejection, the more successful the process. You know, putting yourself out there and all that. I'm not entirely sure if I still hold that theory as my guideline. I do know that I truly need to make art. That sounds dramatic or perhaps even precious, but it is a visceral and urgently felt urge if you will. Sometimes the urge and whatever it is that brings everything together just seem to be out of sync. And then I suppose, all there is to do is keep looking, seeing and making art.