People Actually Took Time to STOP and SEE

This many people standing still in front of my paintings to really look at them was not an unusual site.

“Bygone,” small latex on left "Bygone" on left by me, Lynda Wallis. “Untitled” mixed media on canvas by Ralph Cermak

Art in the Barn
Barrington, IL
50th Anniversary show.
AITB was different from any other show I’ve participated in. The audience was engaged and took time to seriously s l o w d o w n and see.
It was the 50th Anniversary of Art in the Barn. The show’s beloved, sharp, and capable director, Val Pientka is stepping down this year. Val has shown how to run a big art show with grace and smarts. It was my first year, I juried in with my large latex on canvas paintings.
Somehow a space in the highly coveted upper barn was available this year. Unaware that when artists secure a space in the upper barn, they stay for decades in the same place, INSIDE a beautiful, lofty barn.

The incredibly beautiful location I was given to show my work at Art in the Barn, Barrington, IL. At least four of the 2-D artists and one jeweler in the upper barn had record shows. They all assured me that to do well at this particular show, one needs to be seen again and again while folks become familiar with your (my) work.

I was flanked by two painters with many years of followers and collectors (!) Many of the visitors commented how they enjoyed being able to view three different painters together. We each paint differently, our work complimented each other.

It was a new experience for me, to watch visitors come into our barn, walk up to my work, stop, and turn to position themselves to take the time to get a good look at my work. People stood in front of my work for a long time. I’ve never seen that before.
My paintings hung directly on the west wall of the 150+ year old barn. The barn and my paintings looked spectacular together on the beautiful barn wall.

Many Gifts
What a gift I was given, that beautiful west barn wall. Both my painting neighbors, plus the small community of artists who have been together in the upper barn for decades were gifts as well.
The two painters I was flanked by had been there 12 years and 20 years. Their time, wisdom, and the expertise they shared with me was also a huge gift.
The way I set up my display created a foot traffic path that had been absent in previous years. Both of my painter neighbors were thrilled about the new traffic flow.
I sold two medium sized originals and many prints. I came home with money. The interest so many people showed in my paintings was incredibly rewarding. I received lots of very thoughtful and meaningful feedback. Folks were comfortable about sharing how my paintings made them feel. They enjoyed the origin stories of my paintings as well.
“Your paintings look like places I remember, but they’re not.”
“Your perspective is so unusual.”
“You love color, don’t you?”
“They’re painted with house paint?”
“You’ve painted my memories.”
"Yes, the larger paintings cost $2500."
“I would never sell that painting.”
“The sky behind those top clouds could have been darker.”
“Your price point is too high,” said to me as the 2-D felt artist was wrapping up a 4’ x 4’ super colorful felted image that had just been purchased for about $2800 and another neighbor sold a painting for $1800.
“They need to see your paintings a few times before they’ll commit.”

I’ll be back.
I’m committed.

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