Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association Art in the Park 1975, me in the crowd with acrylic drip paintings and a watercolor collage of a Golden Eagle


On submitting ones self to the public, via the art in the park phenom, I have avoided this route since I tried it once in 1975 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Sponsored by the Fort Dodge Fine Art Association, and coordinated by the art museum where I worked, (Blanden Memorial Art Museum) this event was in its fledgling stages, held at Oleson Park with a large expanse of green, and a nice  band shell which provided a venue for performances of all kinds. Local bands, barbershop quartets and a womens chorus called Sweet Adelines would all take their turn providing free entertainment for the public. There was snow fence strung around the park, and the artists set up their  sales area in ten foot sections.   There were food tents and tables of church ladies bake sales, and activities for kids, in general a huge  festival of local talent. There was fairly good attendance that day but I didn't see many walking around with recently purchased art work. I had my paintings up and ready for sales, but got only odd looks and comments, while the guy next to me selling animals made out of clorox bottles was nearly sold out of his goods,  and after an hour or two, I realized that the community I lived in was not ready for art in the park, nor was I. I didn't sell a thing, and got more than a fair share of rude comment and arm chair art critic  behavior from a surprising number of people posing as SMART. I was dejected  rejected and angry by the end of a very exhausting day.  In the following years, nearly 15 actually, I ended up chairing that art in the park event, and it grew in quality and size over the years, then I left town for graduate school and I don't know what happened to this beast  but it was all in all a good experience.  I still don't like to make a public display of my self and am uncomfortable about my work being included in shows in the area, and when I am working plein air and someone comes into the work area to look closer or take my picture  I get sweaty and my heart races. I don't stick around long at opening receptions, just so I don't have to over hear comments about my work. You'd think I would be over myself at this age, after all these years, but some anxieties never go away entirely... still friends say I should go paint at the dockside quick paint in July, during the plein air festival, I plead a case of bad knees and arthritis which is partially true, but in a way I am relieved, still there is temptation in facing our fears and one day I might re visit this one.