the artists heading up the place asked me if I wanted to teach. I was stunned, and wasn’t sure I could do it. Alla Jablokow said to me, “Just teach what you know.” I started teaching, and also learning to frame. Before I knew it I was juggling the roles as an exhibit artist, instructor and framer. This lasted for about 10 years, and I expanded to teaching workshops in other locations. This year I will be presenting a workshop in Tucson, Arizona, for the Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona. I’ve also led workshops at Dillman’s in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, for the past five years. I belong to a women’s artist group called The Art Tribe where we meet each month to share, mentor, and network.
What drives me is the passion to self-express. I often question if I should take on a nine-to-five job, but then I receive an email or phone call asking me to do a demo or set up a class and workshop, or a piece of art sells. As long as that keeps happening, I keep going. I’ve done collage and assemblage work for about 19 years. I told myself when I started off I was going to be the best collage artist I could be…so I’m still working at that.
I think staying open for opportunities is the key. Some opportunities can be scary, but in order to grow and expand you have to take risks and get out of your comfort zone. This job is not easy. It’s hard work with unsure comebacks, lots of waiting and hoping going on. Being an entrepreneur means you are always working: writing up lesson plans, submitting proposals, preparing for an exhibit that you hope will be a success, and possibly a selling piece of work.