But I Can't. Help. Falling. IN LOVE. with.....

Art Shows.
Often are wonderful dilemma's that fall in to our laps.

How a show unfolds for me is often more magical than the artwork.
Julie Goldstein is an artist from LBI who is a woodcut block printer.
She's amazing and I strive to be half as talented as she is. She once told
me that her art wasn't necessarily about the finished product but about the
process. When she said that to me...I silently wished that I understood what
that felt like. At that point of my career...my own artwork wasn't even really
something I was working towards. I didn't even know what my own work was.

Here I am now...3 to 4 years from that conversation with Julie. (who now lives in California, shows work all over the world and just got a great design position with Roxy!! (She will always be a great inspiration to me!!!)...and I now completely understand and LOVE what I now know as my process.

My friend and fellow artist Ryan Loper sometimes comes over and I'll throw an artwork in front of him and say..."fix it. Help. It's not working for me." He says no a few times and then...kindly...fixes it for me. Makes it better; makes it his own and at my last show we started calling them Talula Loper Bottoms. Pieces we make together. His fiance hates the name but Ryan and I say she (Talula Loper Bottoms) will take over the world! The laughter makes it worth it.

That's why I do art. My process just happens to involve other people. Artists, friends..etc. And...now I've realized that's the true joy that I get out of my work.

SO...how a show unfolds for me.

A trigger. This show the trigger was me seeing Laura Mayer post of 1st Streets facebook page and in my head I said...enough is enough...Laura needs to get in the mix. (Sea of Glass) She's talented, sweet, hard working and I don't know - I just want her to get on the Talula train. So...I go to Who's on First, Jennifer (the amazing Jennifer Bailey who's importance in this formula is undeniable!!) says I can hang a show on Sunday..three days. (THREE DAYS TO DO A SHOW LIKE I DO A SHOW? WHAT?) ok....I message Laura; she's on board and suddenly;

"Wood meets Glass and Falls in Love at Local Coffee Shop" It works out. It SHOCKINGLY works...


and...Crap. Three days.

I do a bunch of really bad art. Or ok art...and then I panic. Everything has to
tell a story. I have to be consistent...the perfect song needs to tie the work and the show together; so many things have to happen for it to work for me.

By some kinda of miracle or energy flow...into my space walks the person
for now we will call her Talula #3. Talula #3 dives in to the mayhem and starts to
(literally) wire everything together..and suddenly during this process the
art becomes FABULOUS. It blows me away every time.

It's my process. It's why Talula Love Bottoms has to exist in my work. So many people
help me make this happen. I can't tell you how important it truly is to me.

Next, the show has to get hung. I am lucky to have great friends who like to be
involved. Jenn Nelson is hands down a saving grace in my life most often. My crazy art personality can be very difficult to deal with...I see things that often aren't easy to understand and I have difficultly communicating it. She has the patience and the Leo hand that keeps me on point!

Then there's the fact that I take terrible photos (and I need to promote the show with these terrible photos most of the time)...I am not afraid to admit that. I need, needed, search for, ask, beg, plead...etc. people to photo my art for me. Kate Facenda showed up, photoed my art. She asks me "do you want standard clip art...or artsy?"

There is nothing standard about Talula Love Bottoms. Kate gets the picture. I think she was humoring me. As seen above. Another great artist comes onto the scene. At this point...Introducing...What? Are there two Talula's at my show? (did you hear that gasp?) I did.

The show takes on a whole other meaning! HELLO! There's a bunch of really fabulous artists in the cafe..having coffee...falling in love.

With art.
Talula love.

I could go on but I'll save it. I'm gonna drop a bunch of initials right now in thanks. You know who you are.

JB - Who's On First Cafe! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
JN
RN
ST
RL
EL
JG
KF
JK
JD
CC
MJ
NT
PL

The song: ELVIS
I Can't Help Falling In Love With You

Wise men say only fools rush in
Oh, but I can´t help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?

Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be

So take my hand, and take my whole life too
'Cause I can't help falling in love with you

Like a river flows so surely to the sea
darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be

So won't you please just take my hand
And take my whole life too
'Cause I can't help falling in love, in love with you
'Cause I can't help falling in love, falling in love,
I keep falling in love
With you