for the love of LOLA
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| photo credit: Catherine Cuddy |
It's been a week since LOLA and I am still finding it difficult to summarize.
And, it's time to reflect. If I don't, now, it will run away from me in the midst of my next thing.
LOLA is an extremely unique experience to have as an artist. It's difficult to pinpoint the recipe: artist + volunteer driven, community organized, community supported, open homes, neighborhood appeal?
Every year, LOLA is astonishing to me.
and it renders the same:
People map out a route to walk on foot or on their bikes. On the Saturday of LOLA this year, I would estimate 90% of people walked into my house with bike helmets. Some drive from distant destinations to participate. Some choose to bring those who are visiting from out of state and spend an entire day touring. It's like the parade of homes (but not). It's a parade through Longfellow, for sure. And every participant (whether artist or visitor) is part of it. Some people sit and stay for awhile. Others quietly meander on through. I have a friend who makes an effort to come and sit for a few hours, too, just because they don't want to miss the parade either.
NOT just about art
If I could only recount all the conversations! Topics included Sylvia Plath, ice cream, dogs, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, ultimate frisbee, kitchens, plants, picture molding, windows, music, Farm Aid, fox families, wallpaper, family lineage, recent travels to Africa, the beaver population (just to name a few). Honestly, it bothers me how many topics I am forgetting to mention here.
Many visitors from the neighborhood remark on how inspiring it is to learn how many of their neighbors are creatives. Some who attend never miss a year, others are attending for the first time. Many comment on how well the event is organized. Others want you to reference your location on their LOLA map. By the way, when's the last time you saw someone using a paper map as a form of navigation? It happens all weekend during LOLA.
ABOUT the art
Because my studio is in my home, those who visit are able to experience 20 years of paint on the floors and walls. They are able to thumb through sketchbooks and all the creations I've made that are a required, behind-the-scenes, part of creating the work that actually sees the light of day. This year, I also had a projector, projecting video from my primary source of inspiration these past few years.
This year, LOLA was an opportunity to reconnect with other artists who I've known and worked with over the past 20 years. It was inspiring to reunite and experience each other like no time had passed.
Mostly, though, LOLA is a time to broaden my relationships to people in the neighborhood - SO MANY people LOVE living here! to spend time with people I ADORE - people who prompt belly laughs - my absolute favorite thing. Or people who use the word, GLORIOUS in such a way that I associate their nearly entire existence with the word. This person took the (above) photo in my studio, by the way.
Also, if you couldn't make it this year, don't worry! LOLA is a sure thing. EVERY year - always the third weekend of September.
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sidenote: This note to self in my studio was a tool I learned + adopted from Bernadine Evaristo while reading her book, Manifesto on Never Giving Up
sidenote too (and two): LOLA is usually my only SALE of the year and I have a tendency to offer it for a week following as well. If you have some larger wall space that would appreciate original art and subjects such as horses, cows, buffalo, fox, rabbits, sheep +/or birds appeal to you, view this slideshow for details. These selected, original paintings are 50% off or more through this Friday, September 26:
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