Monday, June 30, 2008

Volatile

I've been privy to a conversation between two parties concerning my work. And by conversation I mean two short emails. Nothing special. Just two parties saying what's expected of each under the circumstance. I know that. Still, I can't believe how vulnerable I feel about each and every word I read, and think I see between the lines, between the words, even between the letters.

I don't think I've ever felt so vulnerable about my work before, and if I have, I don't remember it. I was thinking I've grown a bit callous about what I do, almost worried about a kind of a throw-away attitude I've donned.

I don't want to appear rude, over confident, or ignorant, and when in doubt, I ask questions, but I also don't want them to think I'm an amateur, unprofessional, or greedy. Even though I am a newbie at this game.

Like I say, weaving is the easiest part of being a weaver sometimes.

7 comments:

  1. "Weaving is the easiest part of being a weaver sometimes": I couldn't agree more! I'm told that I am more-than-usually thin-skinned about my work - all kinds not just weaving work - and would quite like to callous up a little. But then I wonder whether the thinness of the boundary between me and the world is part of what makes me creative (in so far as I am creative, that is...)

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  2. was someone mean to you Meg? I will get them!

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  3. Oh, Cally, it's terrible. I've become pretty ok with exhibitions, though I still don't like to go to openings, but I do out of a sense of obligation to the curators and the gallery. But when it comes to selling, I feel horrible all the time, and recently I haven't felt the same joy I used to with commission work, either. I hope it's a phase; I've even talked people out of commission...

    Taueret, No, not mean, but thanks. Oh, boy, do I feel love from across the ditch! If they were mean, I have reasons to feel intimidated. It's being thin-skinned and not wanting to be caught out being as being incompetent or a total newbie.

    I'm becoming silly, though. This morning the Stat Counter is not working properly and as of 8AM it showed that nobody had visited Unravelling (and a few of our other blogs). I immediately thought, "Oh, No, I said something wrong and offended a whole bunch of people!!!" I've always been like this, nothing to do with art; having lived in different places, I think it's beset to say what I think straight out, but then I worry I said it wrong or have offended someone.

    Luckily, I have Tue/Wed/Th to weave, Friday to fringe/wash/press, Saturday to label, tag, catalog and deliver, so hopefully I'll be too busy weaving to worry. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed!!!

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  4. it amazes me that you could feel that way about your work. kind of intimidates me :-), actually. chin up.

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  5. cally... "(in so far as I am creative, that is...)" what makes us say things like that!!? grr! You is PLENTY creative lady.

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  6. Taueret, thanks. I think of myself as a relatively harmless weaver; I do. Can't be responsible for Cally, though.

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  7. My education labelled me very early on as "academic" and not "artistic", which were officially two separate things. But I won't clutter up Meg's blog with my own angst!!!

    I hope the weaving part is going well (it's Wednesday here so I'm assuming it can't be later than Thursday down under)

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