Friday, June 22, 2012

Studio Visitors


Studio Visitors


One of my secret pastimes - asides from people watching with my daughter in parks, malls or on tropical beaches- is gallery hopping. Not because I like to interact with the gallery owners, or curators , or assistants working there, no-no-no,  but because I am always trying to find that " je ne sais quoi " , that ineffable that will bring me to create new and exciting paintings.

It does not matter if the shows are of ceramics, textile art,  photography, or sculpture , I know that all of it will translate in my personal arsenal , my own interpretation of what I felt looking at things.All that  was decanted from it - no matter the city, country or continent -is  actually searching for Myself.

So goes, that every time a visitor enters My gallery/ studio, I know he/ she is not here interested in my work, but finding themselves.

                                          "Nebulae" by Bianka Guna Acrylic on Canvas 12"x12"
When  people  are entering my studio, my first question after giving them a minute or two to look around is : ARE YOU ARTISTS ? Sometimes it's obvious they are : observing brush work they have the nose into the painting, some are obviously observing compositions from far away, others are interested in the details of the "show", literature , catalogues, maps and cards that lay on small tables. Some are in a hurry, some take their time to observe even the other people around, the human interaction.

Sharing a building with other visual artists is  a matter a choice for passers- by, and a lot more convenient than we admit .The visitors divide themselves into representational, hyper realism admirers and non-objective art lovers very fast, and I know from the start that the ones entering my place are into really wanting to see my work and discuss it .

It is not a visit for the sake of entering, once they are "in " ,I know there is a reason they are touring the place. They are taking in all they want or need, and I am not there to take away the magic of the moment. It is so simple to ruin the atmosphere  , especially for sensitive souls like artists , I am not going to do it, I know better than that!