[Jewelry making - Article 00288] - Re: [Orchid] First Art show experience

[Noel Yovovich]

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>     I find it amazing that at even the best juried shows people will
>     still ask me if I make it myself. 

    I have a slightly more benign interpretation of this phenomenon.
    Most of the time, I don't think people doubt that the work is hand
    made by the artist-- they are still not accustomed to finding
    themselves face to face with the person who actually created
    something. They ask "Did you really make all these things yourself?"
    and I smile and say, "With my very own ten little fingers!" and
    waggle those exact fingers in the air. It is an expression of awe,
    not doubt. 

    A related reaction that I have observed all my life is astonishment
    that I *just* made something. The idea that the
    object/drawing,/ring/whatever was finished just last night or an
    hour ago seems to especially baffle people. This one I can't
    explain. At a benefit, once, I sat and made simple rings for people
    all evening, while they stood there. You'd have thought I was making
    them fur coats, they were so pleased. And they fit! 

    Few people, these days, have much contact with the creative process,
    or own anything that was custom-made for them. They have
    complicated-- and conflicted-- feelings about people who do creative
    work, and about the work itself. 

    I'm sure many of you have encoutered people who wanted to be friends
    with you, not because they were drawn to you for your qualities as a
    human being, but because of their fascination with talent. I think
    of this as "moth to the flame syndrome". It makes me very
    uncomfortable, and I avoid such people as much as possible. 

    Anyway, try not to hold people's unconsidered reactions against
    them-- we all do it, in one context or another. 

Noel
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