A Rewarding Experience

I’ve been honored to hang my first-ever solo show this month. The Mill Valley Arts Commission does a fantastic job of encouraging local artists, and I first applied for a possible show before the pandemic. Despite being granted a slot, it wasn’t possible to hold the event until this month.

I didn’t know what to expect, and honestly, I was a bit anxious about the whole thing because I didn’t know if anyone would turn up, see my work, or even care. I got busy printing and framing the work anyway, and honestly, that alone was rewarding and educational. I’d have been glad I did it without a show.

For printing, I went to Dickerman Prints in San Francisco. They helped me proof the images under the right conditions, make the necessary edits, and select a paper. Until then, they were digital files on a computer that I liked but didn’t physically exist. Holding those oversized prints with white gloves was when it felt like I’d created something. Anyone who puts themself into something they make is an artist, but after I signed and numbered the prints and saw them framed with a crisp white mat, I finally allowed myself to feel a little bit like an artist. That felt good.

When I went to hang the prints, the Arts Commission’s curator was there to guide the whole process. She helped choose images for specific locations and made recommendations on every aspect, down to how high they should be from the floor. I left feeling reassured that we’d hung things correctly and were ready for whatever audience might show up.

The opening night was part of Mill Valley’s First Tuesday Art Walk. Exhibitions are open in multiple public spaces, so people can walk between them and see a lot of art in one evening. I was hugely honored that all my friends turned up, along with the local crowd the art walk attracted, so we had a constant flow of people all evening. It was a lot of fun for my wife and I to chat with strangers about my images and see their reactions.

I sold a handful of images that evening, more than I expected. Still, when I look back on the experience, the process of curating a collection, physically producing it, and filling a space with art was more than I had hoped. I felt very grateful, and I’d recommend that experience to anyone considering a first step towards showing their work.