from my diary entry of 8 jul 04
Hello!
It's so strange to see that my last diary entry was a carefully-phrased summary of Artfest 2004, three months ago. I felt a bit like a fraud writing it. Things weren't great at the event this year, but--when I wrote that entry--I still felt protective of Artfest and its organizers. That was before I discovered that it was a one-way street.
In my previous entry, I didn't explain that this year's event left a bad taste in my mouth, and that I was not alone in my ambivalence. I didn't post my offline journal here; this was the first year that I didn't want to share my Artfest pages with others.
In fact, I haven't done any art journaling since then. (That's going to change, btw.) Artfest 2004 was a traumatizing experience for me, in many ways.
You may have noticed that my name and many others' aren't on the Artfest 2005 list, and that makes me sad and nostalgic. But, I'm enormously relieved not to have to pretend now. The first couple of years that I taught at Artfest, it was a fabulous event... magical and almost overwhelmingly inspiring.
There were a few problems in 2003, but I'd hoped that Artfest would get back on track for 2004. From what I saw behind the scenes, it didn't. That was bitterly disappointing.
It was also frustrating for me as a teacher who loves to share ideas, techniques, and creativity with my students.
When things went awry the first day of this year's classes, I should have cancelled rather than try to teach under those circumstances. I tried to pretend that everything was okay when it wasn't.
When I can't set up the class early and properly, and when the class actually starts late, and for reasons completely outside my control, it's hard for me to get back up to speed. I babble. I try to fake it while struggling back to my usual in-focus, high-energy mode. It rarely works, and it sure didn't at Artfest 2004. Nobody was fooled. I apologize.
And, I want to assure you that those classes did not meet my usual standards at all.
Sure, I can point the finger at how Artfest is run, and how it's deteriorated over the past few years.
But, I'm not someone who sits around and gripes without offering a constructive solution.
I've talked with others about the problems of overpriced, profit-driven arts events, and a few of us--teachers and students alike--are putting together cooperative, affordable arts events under the name Art Manifested. Our goal is to provide uncrowded, fabulous four-day arts events for under $300, including all classes, activities, meals, and lodging.
We're working on a paper arts event in Florida; a small mixed media/journaling event, maybe on Martha's Vineyard (off Cape Cod, Massachusetts); and a fiber/fabric/wearables/dolls event too.
You can read more about our plans at ArtManifested.com.
And, if you were in my Artfest 2004 classes, please watch for announcements of free online workshops about shrines and about drawing & painting, to supplement the half-baked versions that you got at the event. Again, I apologize.
Wishing you rich and creative days filled with dazzling inspiration,
