At first I thought it was a scam. You've been invited to participate in an art fair in Brussels. Sure I have. And there is a Nigerian prince who needs my help too.
The email was from Bruxuells Art Vue, a foundation that published some of my pieces in a couple of their books in 2021. That checks out, I actually know them. I forgot I had submitted to their call for portraiture, and now they were letting me know that they had accepted my pieces.
In my, throw-everything-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks strategy, my record keeping suffered. At the time, I didn't think through how I was going to get these pieces to Belgium, it was just another opportunity to show my art.
Once I realized that it was legit, and that I had a chance to show some of my not so portrait portraits in Belgium, I was thrilled. I looked up how many points I had on my credit card, and flights and hotels to Brussels. Was it financially responsible to consider going to this fair in Brussels. No, of course it wasn't. But am I glad I did it? Hell yes.
It became my first trip after the love of my life broke my heart. He was my traveling adventure companion, and it was what we did best together. Now I am home, having successfully completed this first solo voyage. A place I no longer share with him, but a space that is my own. I am adjusting my dreams to my single life. Dreams I had shared with him about the future are gone, and in its place is what I want for just me. There were moments on my trip when I felt lonely and isolated. Moments when I wished I had someone to share in the adventure, stress and fun. Moments when I cried to myself and thought that I might live the rest of my life alone. I might. And that scares me, but it doesn't mean my life won't be filled with connection, adventure and joy. I have to keep being me. So I continued to be financially irresponsible and accepted an invitation to show three more of my pieces in Venice Italy the week after the Art3F fair in Brussels. Post on that to come shortly.
I made a fun reel mostly of my prepping for the opening for the Art3F fair. My bestie Foina was managing the wordrobe via video messages. I still have yet to manage the marketing skills of my actual art.
Then I took a group picture with the other artist that were in the group with me.
And no where in all of this did I have any good pictures of my actual art that was there. Here are my three not so portraiture protraits that I dragged all the way to Brussels.
Looking Out From the Darkness.
Standing Under the Danger of the Crone
Bracing Themselves Against the Inevitable.
