And Then the Rain Came

It’s that time of the year, the rains have come and the skies are gray, maybe you should just shut off the alarm and go back to bed.

Maybe you shouldn’t.

It’s a week before Christmas and there are things to be done, stockings to be stuffed and people to see, all those cards to address and don’t even say the word shipping. The lines at FedEx, UPS and the post office would make Ghandi head back to bed.

And with all of that doing things tend to get lost in the shuffle. Things like just who you should be thinking about and who needs to be remembered in all of this frenzied gift giving.

Who keeps you supplied with materials, frames, mats, clay, paper, all of the dawdle you need to make your art look good so that it will sell, sell, sell and help you make the light bill?

Who organizes the shows so that you can enter and win ribbons and awards and let’s not for get those wonderful cash prizes and of course the lasting benefit of a line on your resume?

Who arranged classes, displays your art and tries valiantly to sell that art and drag the shoppers laden down with all of their packages off the streets and into a gallery, so that they might consider art as a Christmas present?

Who works day and night writing grants and twisting arms at endless Board meetings and fighting with The City just to keep the doors open? Being the only Fine Art Museum on the South Coast is not an easy job. Did you ever think about that?

What about the Marquee artists who live in our area and painstakingly crafting their art and bringing national attention to all of the artists working on the South Coast. Sure, they make thousands of dollars by selling their art and sure they get magazine articles and television pieces and probably they do it for their own best interests, but it still makes headlines for our area and all of the artists benefit.

So while you are out, buying that pink support garment for Aunt Meg, or a Playboy subscription for the kid in that college which is costing you your comfortable retirement, take a moment, slow down and give a quick thought to all of the people who make art on the South Coast possible.

And maybe you should bring them a cuppa or one of those fruit cakes no one wants but every one gets or how ‘bout a nice card with some of your own art? (No it is not cheating to be nice and self-promoting at the same time.)

Its Christmas guys, get in the spirit…