Reflecting on my time as Artist-in-Residence

This Summer has been a pretty big deal for me because I’ve never exhibited photos in a public, physical space for an extended period.  The whole endeavor has been well outside my comfort zone, but a great learning experience overall. Relentless heat and humidity tend to put a damper on my creative drive, so it’s been a great opportunity to work in the realm of photography without feeling pressured to constantly churn out new work.

I’m beyond thankful for the Woodshop’s generosity in letting me and amazing local artist Virgil Fox “live” in their awesome space this summer.  And I literally could not have framed all of these prints without my wife Hannah’s patience, help and advice spanning several days (years, really).  None of this, from my first creative ideas to getting photos framed for my exhibition, would have been possible without Hannah’s love and encouragement. Check out her portfolio and ask her to design something awesome for you: https://thehcreative.com/

Being a resident artist has been special for many reasons. Like most makers and artists, I’ve never felt right about marketing myself. So, the fact that I’ve managed to actually sell quite a few pieces has been both unexpected and gratifying. I’m thrilled to know my photography will be enjoyed on many people’s walls rather than die digitally after being viewed on tiny screens for fractions of a second.

Additionally, while it’s been work maintaining my three “mini gallery” walls, it’s also been a load of fun. Keeping the walls updated with fresh prints, even brand new images I’ve taken during the residency, has been a nice challenge. It’s been a good excuse to get out of the house, or woods, and visit my favorite neighborhood hangout and actually do some (gasp!) socializing. One evening after hiking with my camera I popped in, had a couple beers and talked with the staff and patrons while adjusting and replacing my frames. “This is what it’s all about!” I thought. This aspect of the exhibition has felt healthy and real.

All that said I haven’t truly been all that focused on the sales part of this, though of course I’ve been extremely grateful for the support.  With SCOTUS striking down Roe v. Wade, increased gun violence paired with more lax firearms regulation, shitty legislation against the houseless, and Putin’s war on Ukraine, it’s never felt like a worse time to self-promote.

Instead of thinking of it like a marketer, though, I’ve tried to view the residency as a celebration of the physical print aspect of photography, photography as art, and the enriching qualities it can bring to a space.  It’s accessible for anyone to get into and not a lofty practice exclusive to only the privileged. More personally, it’s a tradition I’m grateful to be able to participate in on my own terms during this Instagram age of digital fast food and reckless consumerism.

Art, and society by extension, must move forward and I think gallery / installation work is vital for that to happen.  It’s been said that art is what makes life tolerable, and I believe our collective mental health needs to experience the opposite of excess and industry. I think of my photography as “the opposite of a hustle” partly because of this.

I’ve learned at the age of 40, as a recovering corporate drone, that creativity shouldn’t be an afterthought or a distraction. It should be an absolute, crucial focus for a person to sustain mental health. It needs to be guarded preciously from a world literally designed to distract by corporations and marketers.

Perhaps that’s reason enough to gently nudge folks to see my work on the walls of this cozy venue, and I should put my self-doubt and anxieties aside. It doesn’t have to be viewed as inherently greedy or selfish. Maybe it can inspire folks to do something profoundly healthy and psychologically beneficial in the creative realm - even curate their own deeply personal gallery for public appreciation. “If that guy can do it, why shouldn’t I?”

In fact, all the print sales in the world could never compare to finding out my exhibition inspired someone else to become vulnerable and show their work for the first time. David duChemin offers loads of wisdom on the topic of rising above creative fear, and here is one of his best quotes": “The real failure is to rob this world of the contribution only you can make, and to fail to make work that truly gives you that ‘this is what I was created to do’ feeling that has no equal.”

At the end of the year I will be taking my remaining pictures down to make way for the next artist, whose work I will be excited to see. I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity and encourage anyone who might be the fence about displaying their work to try hard to shed the imposter syndrome, the laziness, the anxiety. Of course, these feelings are valid and hard to overcome, but a little work and social discomfort can do wonders for an artists confidence.

By the way, the venue doesn’t have to be fancy or intimidating! Start small and find a coffee shop or cafe, or a bar or brewery that you frequent. Chat with the owners and you might find they will be surprisingly open to displaying your work. Do what I did and ask another creative to be your “partner in crime” so you can offer each other feedback, help each other physically install pieces, and brainstorm.

The more art you make, the better you can feel and the better the world can become. The world needs to see your work.