all photos ~ (embiggenable)
BACK FROM THE ARTIST AS ENTREPRENEUR EVENT. Did not learn very much other than I might get involved with applying for a few artist grants. That written, I did make significant connections with 2 other event participants. One in particular was Lauren Comito who I have “commissioned” to write an introductory essay for my Adirondack Survey book – the insights and comments she expressed upon viewing the book were a rather stunning revelation to me.
Re: the Adirondack Survey, aka: Adirondack Guide body of work. My primary take away benefit from the event was my renewed appreciation for this body of work. The reception it garnered from not only the event participants–the “art” crowd–but also from a few non-art people–the bartender at the hotel bar as an example–was in a word, overwhelming for me inasmuch as the art crowd got the “art” part of it and the average “person on the street” viewer was captivated by how the work so accurately articulated everyday life in the Adirondacks.
That written, I have come to realize / understand that this work is my magnum opus inasmuch as one event participant stated, “This is a really an important body of work.” At the risk of sounding immodest, I agree; the scope–covering a huge geographic area–and size–350+ photographs, 25 years in the making–of this body of work has never before been undertaken. Many have pictured the “grand and glorious” natural landscape of the place but no one, other than me, has attempted to illustrate the unspectacular commonplace of daily life in the Adirondacks.
This renewed recognition of the importance of this work–a direct result of my event participation–has set me on path to not only pursue exhibition opportunities but to also find a place that can house the work for posterity. Consequently, I am embarking upon an aggressive self-promotion campaign; to include a new stand alone website for the work, an email blast to galleries, art venues and institutions, and a direct mail promo zine to the same venues.
Wish me luck.