It’s been a whirlwind since our reception at Hilbert College, McGrath Library. We’ve met lots of new people, coffee has followed, we got a little press, and drank a little more coffee with a few more new people… there are new projects on the horizon and we’re preparing some of the works in the show to head to the new homes they’re found.
During the reception, I was asked to say a few words about the work in the show… and I had prepared! Really! I’d made notes and everything! I was holding them in my hand even! But somehow it felt awkward to reference my notes in my nervousness so I just shot from the hip (or whatever that saying is…) and I think I did okay, but I think I missed a few things too.
But I’ve referenced those notes quite a few times since April 12th in getting to know so many new faces and in explaining how awesome we are… so it does seem pertinent to “Tarantino” things and maybe tell you what I MEANT to say that evening!
We’re really happy to be here because we don’t get asked to do this sort of thing very often. It’s not that we’re not considered “artists” by the rest of our community or “good enough” for gallery shows… it’s more of a practical thing: 99% of the time, we’re too busy building specific commission work to be able to make work just for ourselves.
And if there was any overriding theme to what you see here today, I think that would be it: we made this work for ourselves and our own satisfaction, based on whatever was inspiring us at that moment. The reason there might be a great variety of inspiration within that theme, is that those moments come few and far between!
This isn’t to say that we don’t love what we do and what we make regardless. I will hesitate to say, but I believe it’s true… there are much easier, much more secure jobs out there… if we didn’t love doing this every day, we wouldn’t be here! But finding time to make our own work is so rare, that the work you’re viewing here tonight took YEARS of moments stolen here and there.
So, we just don’t do this sort of thing very often!
It seems particularly fitting to me then, that we just come out on this rare, auspicious occasion, in a library. Just this morning I was trying to work this out verbally for what must be the 48th time recently… I may be too forward here, but I think Andy and Rich will agree with me: Yes, we’re artists, but only because we’re really great craftsmen first. And we’re scientists, researchers, technical experts. We experiment and test and hone our skills and ideas constantly. If we could just hang our samples and call that a show, we could have a new show hung every few months!!
We’ve spent our lifetimes learning every intricacy of our materials and how we can push the boundaries TECHNICALLY so that we can exceed your expectations ARTISTICALLY. And we never stop studying, we never stop learning… (perfect specimens for a library, or a lab, right?) The result of that, is hopefully, we can change your perception of what’s possible. Of what our crafts can be.
What asked this morning, “What do I hope people will take away from seeing my work?” I think that would be my answer: I hope after seeing our work, talking to us, getting to know us, you’ll reconsider what “stained glass” or “ironwork” or “woodwork” means.
I always struggle with that question, because this work that you see here today, these stolen moments between commission work, are gifts to us as craftspeople, or artists, or whatever we are. They’re made for the joy of making, and sometimes they don’t have any meaning beyond that celebration of a craftsman’s knowledge and long practice becoming something beautiful and real. Vision becoming beautiful reality.
Maybe I don’t know whether we qualify as artists or not. What I do know, is that when we come together with the people and communities we serve, wondering whether or not “it’s possible?” … we’re going to create a truly unique experience. And I know that while we’re on this journey together, we, your craftsmen, will never stop reading, studying, experimenting, researching, and defying your expectations.
Welcome to Arts in the Library this evening!
So. It’s hard to believe it’s already been almost a month; it feels like only a few days ago! If you haven’t been down to see yet, you’ve got a little less than a month to get down there and take a look:
Hilbert College, McGrath Library
5200 South Park Ave, Hamburg, NY 14075
Mon.-Thurs. | 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday | 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Sat. & Sunday | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Remember to set aside your expectations before you walk in… we’re going to blow them away anyway!
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