Being the partner of an artist has some benefits and some drawbacks. The benefits are that you always have beautiful artworks around your house and garden and there are always plenty of hand-made cards and presents at Christmas or when you’ve forgotten Auntie Beryl’s birthday (again). These benefits and drawbacks are brought into sharp focus when the dread words “Open Studios” are mentioned.
The flipside of the loveliness that is being an artist’s partner is that you are probably living with someone with crippling self-doubt, who has limited patience with technology and real-world considerations like, say, the laws of physics. This flipside would be fine - if you could just ignore it but, as the supportive partner that you want to be, you get involved.
When asked for your opinion you soon learn that there’s a tightrope to be walked. You see, your opinion is only wanted when it chimes with that of your Beloved Artist Partner (BAP).
Here are a couple of scenarios where your opinion is sought only so it can be scornfully rejected.
Scenario 1.
Beloved Artist Partner: “How much should I charge for this?” (This question fills me with dread).
Me (Wincing visibly): “£50?”
BAP: “What are you thinking? This piece was ripped from my soul! It’s worth at least £55
Scenario 2.
Beloved Artist Partner: “Does this look better here… or… there?” (Here and there look identical to me).
Me (Pausing to give the impression that I have a clue): “erm… there?”
B.A.P: “Of course not! It’s obviously better here.” (Only for it to be moved someone completely different by the B.A.P or by the exhibition creator at a later date)
The other kinds of scenarios are when your opinion is sought over something where you might actually have some relevant knowledge or experience, in my case engineering and technology.
Scenario 3.
Beloved Artist Partner: “My sculpture keeps falling over.” (as it is top-heavy on an undersized base).
Me (Patiently): “The centre of gravity has to be within the base. Make it lighter, move the weight down or increase the size of the base.”
BAP: “But then it would be ugly and spoil my artistic intentions!”
Me: “But at least it won’t fall over and kill someone.”
BAP: “You with your petty concerns tying me down…”
Etc, etc.
But, over the years, you’ve both got used to this to-ing and fro-ing. Then, as I said, the dread words “Open Studios” are mentioned.
Now we partners have a situation on our hands! Everything that we’ve kind of got used to is going to be ramped up out of all proportion.
People are coming to B.A.P’s STUDIO to look at their WORK and they will JUDGE them! You might as well strip them naked and allow people to tar and feather them. You might naively think that artists would like people to come to see their work and perhaps even buy some?
If you think that, then you’ve never met an artist, let alone been their partner.
The Open Studio opens up a whole new can of worms. Everything has to be stage-managed; from the signage to the food to the artists’ notebooks (That’s another blog in itself). Scenarios 1&2 are played out endlessly as works are moved from here to there and back again; pricing is re-evaluated as there are direct-to-customer sales. In short - the B.A.P’s working life is compressed into a couple of weekends. When I say “life” I obviously include all the self-doubt, imposter syndrome and insecurity that are the baggage of the artist.
What’s a partner to do in this scenario?
Over the years, I’ve developed a two-pronged support strategy.
1) Carry heavy stuff.
2) Keep my mouth shut.
This is surprisingly effective. Heavy stuff needs to be carried to here and there and back again endlessly and keeping my mouth shut allows the BAP to be the artist and make her own artistic decisions as I’ve realised over time that I’m not an artist and I’m grateful that she is.
When the Open Studio days finally arrive.
All the angst and preparation will have had an effect. There’ll be nothing to do as it’s already done or it’s too late to fix. Your job as a partner is then to fill in the gaps for your BAP. If they’re introvert, do the extrovert things - meet and greet, softly sell their work. Make sure all the visitors are well looked after and most of all make sure your BAP is looked after with tea and coffee and snacks and given a chance to have a break away from all the hurly-burly.
Open studios should be lovely!
A chance for the artist to show off their wares, to meet their public and for all the nosey-parkers in the neighbourhood to have the snoop around they’ve always wanted to, also a lovely chance to catch up with old friends, drink tea and to enjoy the show.
Then, suddenly it’s all over. Your house is strangely quiet. All the sculptures that were cluttering up your kitchen have been removed and you prepare yourself for… (Dramatic music) the post mortem!