BY LYNNETTE HORN, Southern Missouri Arts Connection
Here we are again, starting the dog days of summer. If you are anything like this old dog, you don't feel like doing anything but laying around in air conditioning. SMAC is feeling it, too. All of our instructors are taking a break for August. They, along with the SMAC board of directors, are gearing up for fall classes and festival season here in the Ozarks. There are three I have on my radar: SOTOfest, Grape and Fall Festival, and Art of the Ozarks. I'm sure there are many more. So, check out local communities to see if they have festivals or art shows this fall. If you want to have a booth in any of them, now is the time to check them out and submit applications. And, check out our website for information and tickets for more upcoming events: https://www.smac-art.org/
No matter how hot or cold it is, we always have a new exhibit this month. Our artist-in-residence Valerie Clark is winding up her year with a show "Searching for Conviviality" through August 31. I'm going to miss her bright, cheery face at the center. But she's not leaving the area, so we may still catch her flitting around the Ozarks art scene.
A new artist-in-residence will start his or her year in September for our Artist-in-Residence 24/15 Program year. This is such a rewarding program that is made possible a yearly grant from Springfield Regional Arts Council (SRAC), The Community Foundations of the Ozarks and the Musgrave Foundation. The deadline for submission was July 15. Our panel of judges have been going over the submissions since then. We should learn who the artist is fairly soon.
In the newsletters for the last two months, I've been addressing the business side of art. But this month, I'd like to depart from my plan a bit to discuss the joy of creating in general. Most artists create for the fun of it with never an intention to sell. Whether they are crafters, artisans or artists, the process of creating is rewarding in itself without needing to sell their work. Creating sets off endorphins, heals the broken spirit, and relieves stress. Your art might be for your personal enjoyment. This year I started art journaling. This is strictly for me and personally brings me so much satisfaction. So, I don't always think about selling everything I do. In fact, creating art for sales can be a trap that turns into drudgery. An artist who gets caught up in that ends up creating to a market, instead of creating from within.
I encourage you to make art that speaks to you whether it is saleable or not. You may want to gift it to a friend or family member or display in your home. There is nothing wrong with that. It makes you no less an artist than the artist friend who makes her art a business. There are some who need sales as validation that they are an artist. But validation can come in many ways—from the satisfaction of doing, through your own eyes noting your progress. Internal validation is much better than relying on other's comments, Facebook likes or sales numbers. So don't think you have to have an art business if you create. Just get out there and play. You'll be so glad you did.
Let us know if you would like to get involved at SMAC by filling out the form for volunteers on our website: www.smac-art.org. Thank you all for being a part of SMAC. We can't do this without you.
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