The Art Club

It's good to have a place to gather with other artists where one can share one's works and have them appreciated.

Last Thursday, my husband Bo and I and all of the kids were welcomed into the home of a pair of local artists who were hosting the Bohemian Art Club. Apparently this club kind of travels around from home to home and the nature of it changes from meeting to meeting. Some meetings host guest artists who sing or share their talents with the group. This meeting was a kind of "show and tell" of art. All art is welcomed, including pieces submitted by children of any age and art in any classification.

At the beginning of the meeting, the host collects all visual art and then, after a social time of soup, snacks and wine, he introduces each artist and their artwork, passing around each piece for the group to consider and appreciate. He stops occasionally to allow those with written words or performing arts to present their works as well. Monet and Sweetheart both shared their sketchbooks, Sweetheart shared a painting, Bo shared his version of Rusty Old American Dream by David Wilcox on his acoustic guitar, Houdin wowed 'em with a few magic tricks, Bard read several pieces of poetry, and I performed two of my essays, The Salon and Sliding.

I may just be vain and shallow, or I may just enjoy human feedback, but I really enjoyed the reaction I received to my pieces. I love to make people laugh. I love to see their eyes light up with recognition and agreement. When I read The Salon, the women in the room were laughing. Hysterically! Since I'm really not experienced in the art of stand-up comedy, I didn't know how to pause, when to continue, how to fill the awkward empty space. But I didn't care! With that kind of reaction, I could have stood there reading all night. But I didn't. I pulled myself to earth and ended after the second piece. I'm not sure I could have handled any more of the adrenaline, anyway.

There were many talented artists there--writers, painters, portrait artists, potters, musicians--and I just felt so at home. It was a very good feeling. A warm feeling. An appreciated feeling. A kindred feeling. That's probably a banal way to describe it, but it's accurate. I felt a kinship to some of those folks.

I'm looking forward to more meetings and visiting different homes, getting to know other artists and musicians. When we came to this community, I was worried that the artistic needs we have as a family would not be met. With jam sessions, writing groups, art classes, piano lessons and other gatherings, I'm finding that we almost have more outlets than we can handle.

Wow. That's a nice problem to have.