nursefusion

I have been cutting up many of my less successful drawings, of which there are thousands. I have a template which enables me to rapidly crop out 2 or 6 or whatever interesting parts of any one drawing. So in May I had 200 plus 'drawings' which I gave away with much fanfare - "each bit of art caressed by the hand of the master" and some other palaver emulating WCFields. And it was fun, and oddly, some people, many, seemed touched by the gift. Sincere thank you and careful handling of what for the most part are just scribbles in my view. Here and there a face or major part of a face.

So this July show I do much the same thing again, and hand out another 200+. "Don't want to leave a widow with a warehouse", "got to move the merchandise" etc etc. Amazingly several patrons are looking for my free art, and they have to tell me what they did with the last piece and how much they enjoy it etc. Put it up in the cubicle, have it in the office, in the bedroom, on the refrigerator, found an old frame and its on the wall in the living room, etc etc.

At first it is amusing and a bit flattering, but as it goes on it becomes a bit poignant, sad in a way. Here are all these people on an Artwalk, and my constant chanting of "Its an Artwalk, don't leave without some Art!" and their gracious humble acceptance of free art, and then to find that they are treasuring these trinkets. The brighter colored drawings are the most popular. And it seems these are simple savages. The "Tall Boats" are in Tacoma and I get to thinking about when the tall boats came into contact with the natives that were amazed at glass beads,woven blankets, iron pans etc.

And why are these people on an Artwalk? They never buy anything, they have money for drinks, but no money for art. Most of the artists rarely sell anything. Aside from entertainment, of which I am the major provider, why is this silent herd of humanoids wasting the evening?

In olden times, I used to attend readings - poetry readings etc were a small scale cool scene, and I would try to scrounge up the $3 or whatever to buy the booklet etc, that was sort of my obligation. Back when attending bands, I would buy the record or tape or more recently cd, but recently noticed that the bands no longer hawk their cd, they mention it, but you have to go buttonhole someone in the band to get one and they don't have change etc etc. Not long ago there would be a card table and a hot chick to peddle the merchandise.

What has happened here, is it all supposed to be free? Just lay it out there and stand by as they assess the entertainment potential? Amused or not amused, we still aren't going to spend any money? We still have no opinion or comment, no matter how amusing or provocative?

I will be giving another 200+ away next month and then move on to who knows what other caper. But I am bemused. Maybe I should raffle something off?

Dr. JohnnyWow!