Open Studio Day

 The Open Studio event was scheduled for noon to 5 pm.  I decided to leave around 10:30 am, get there around 11:00 am, or about an hour before.  This would allow me time to move things inside (weather permitting) and get the room straightened out, before the people started arriving.  Weather was cloudy, but no rain, so I moved a few large framed pieces up from the basement and loaded them in my car.  I left as planned, got up to Ocean Grove a little before 11.  So far, so good.

The rain was still holding off, so I moved the framed prints and recently colored saints into the building.  A few other people were around, but I wouldn't say crowded.  It took me three trips to get everything to my space, but no rain fell, so I was happy.  Got the space straightened up, including a quick sweep of my area.  My plan was to walk across the street, leaving around 11:30, and grab a slice of pizza for lunch.  Left a few minutes late, but I figured I was still ok on time.  However, I saw no pizzas at the counters and the place was still locked up.  Not open for lunch at 11:40 am?  Well, no pizza for me.  I walked back to the JSAC.  My room was all set.

I was ready for the noon start.  No one there yet, but I had a block to work on, so I didn't mind.  Eventually I had my first visitors.  Over the course of the five hour event, I had somewhere between 35 and 40 people wander through, a fairly good number.  There were two people who I had invited, and one other person I knew.  Some had some printmaking knowledge and experience, and some knew nothing about it.  Some visitors mentioned having seen the prints upstairs in the show.  A few asked about getting studios of their own, but I have nothing to do with that.  Many admired the large space we have, and it is larger than some people have, but smaller than some have.  A few asked about me teaching classes, and I told them it wasn't up to me.  A few were there specifically to see Molly; they were disappointed.   

As a result of all the visitors and the many questions I got, not much time to work on any new cutting (people did admire the works I had on display- see the photos above- often remarking how much patience I must have to create such large works), but I did complete the most complex area of the block, the chain link fence in the deep background, the clips that join it to the roof, and a little background around the band.  What I did can be seen below:

I didn't get to see any of the show, so I don't know how it went, other than visitors to my Studio mentioning that they had seen it.  Perhaps I'll ask about it next time I am there.  I left the colored saints there (the collectors never showed), loaded everything else in my car, and drove home.