2013 Final Goal Check-In

It’s time for the final check-in with my goals for 2013.

Wendy’s 2013 Goals

Tada! Me with Ebb & Flow at the Art of the State exhibition ©2013

• 4 Craft Shows
• At least 6 Group Exhibitions
• Teach 3 Workshops
• Make a Body of Work for a Solo Exhibition
• Make a Profit for the Year
• Write a Magazine Article

As stated previously I only did 3 craft shows this year. 3 out of 4 isn’t bad, but it means I didn’t attain this goal.

I did have work in 6 group exhibitions, so this goal was attained! WooHoo!

I taught one workshop, so just 1/3 of this goal was attained. I didn’t have any workshops cancelled, though, so this is just indicative of my being able to schedule workshops rather than getting enough students to run them. Happily I already have one workshop for 2014 that is a definite go.

Still working on this piece ©2013 WTEK

As the year closes, I had hoped to have more pieces done for my Body of Work goal. I do really like the pieces I have finished this year, and I think that I have been pushing myself in the right direction, so we’ll call this a wash.

I didn’t get to write a magazine article this year, though I did a lot of the planning for two different technical article ideas. So not attained, but also not a complete loss.

Now the big goal. Did I make a profit in 2013? I did not (unless I make a huge sale today, but it would have to be my best sale ever.) Because of this, I am drastically shaking up my plan for 2014. You’ll get to see that in my “Goals for 2014” post coming up shortly.

Another Group Show!

Pleat ©2011 WTEK copper, nickel, brass

Last year the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen moved to their present location on Queen Street in Lancaster, PA. In this building they’ve been able to expand their reach with separate exhibition space, rooms for workshops and lectures, and an expanded store area.

The first chapter specific exhibition at the Center for American Craft features the Lancaster Designer Craftsmen chapter (to which I belong) and will be up from August 16th through September 22nd. There will be multiple pieces by 11 chapter members. The reception is scheduled to coincide with September’s First Friday on the 6th from 5-9pm.

I will actually be working in the store that night, so you can count on me being there!

2013 Lancaster Community Art Exhibition

Parallel Spheres © Denny Bond watercolor

I finally made it out to this exhibition at the Lancaster Museum of Art on Sunday. I have to say that it wasn’t as good as it sometimes is, though there were a few gems. I was terribly disappointed with how my bowl was displayed, it felt like it was just shoved into an alcove with no thought. Almost every other 3D work had its own pedestal. Oh well.

My favorite piece was a watercolor by Denny Bond – Parallel Spheres. It had great lighting with a deep black on the left hand side. There were also a number of things that had great reflective properties (the spheres, her shirt) and the realism in her face is wonderful. You might remember me mentioning his double self portrait from the PA Watercolor Show last Fall.

Wilderness © Linda Stetina

There were pieces by some Lancaster artist standbys like Ted Rasmussen, Mimi Shapiro, Heather Heilman Loercher, and Roberta Little that were all the cream of the crop this year. There was a sproingy steel sculpture by Nancy Baum that dominated the big room downstairs, and upstairs next to Roberta’s piece was Wilderness – a marker and ink work by Linda Stetina that I liked.

I know I need to keep in mind that it is an open community exhibition, but I did have to pay an entry fee, so I wish a little more thought had been made in placing my bowl. Next year I’ll just have to submit a giant sculpture that won’t fit in some tiny alcove or be dwarfed by the drawing next to it…

Secret Nest of a Dragon Flying © Roberta Little
Winner of best named piece as far as I’m concerned

Another disappointment was reading the awards juror’s statement:

“I mistakenly assumed the land of hex signs and furrowed fields would inspire hard-edged geometric abstraction and minimalism. Not so here, though, making me think that artists who see minimalism in their everyday lives might just as likely aspire to the expressionistic art you see [here]” – Edith Newhall

I’m not sure what the minimalism in the life of the typical Lancaster County person is supposed to be. It’s not the ’30s and we aren’t all farmers who can’t afford frills. People here don’t live minimalistic lives anymore than they do in Philadelphia. It’s just the typical prejudice that simple folk live here in the county.

Treading the Labryinth © Mimi Shapiro

Dwarf Bowl ©2009 WTEK lost next to that drawing. Plus it’s about at knee height. and facing away from the viewer.

Sorry for the mini rant, I promise my next post will be a little less bitter. And, surprise!, it’ll be an in process post!

Added thought – maybe I shouldn’t have named it “Dwarf” bowl… that could’ve been seen as a challenge ;^)