A friend wrote me this morning asking what happened at the Boston Gift Show. I realized I’d gotten so caught up in the confusing things that happened, I’d left out some of the ASTOUNDING things that happened.
I ran into two people who were instrumental in my career early on--one who introduced me to the publishers of Ornament magazine, another who wrote the first article about me for the Boston Globe. It was delightful to see them again. One wants to write a book and I offered to support her any way I can, including suggestions for press releases and such. It was great to be able to "give back" to this generous writer. The other offered me words of encouragement and access to her stash of beads from when she was a jewelry designer 20 years ago. Which is perfect, because what I hate most when I'm broke is not being able to buy beads. (Silly but true.) Being offered a roomful of vintage and antique beads--well, it takes my breath away!
I met another League of NH Craftsmen member, a successful jeweler with two galleries in two great coast cities, Portsmouth NH and Portland ME, both cities I've wanted to target. He wants to carry my work! He also said he has an iron-clad rule never to carry anyone else's jewelry in his stores, but he would like to carry MINE. He said the most incredible things about my work—he gave me goose pimples!--and it was good to hear that right now! When I stupidly told him that he may want to try only small amounts of my work because I've been told it saturates the market quickly (I can't believe I even said that) he stared at me and said, "WHO TOLD YOU THAT??!" When I told him, he said, "Then they don't know how to close a sale. That's ridiculous!" He said he'd been following my work ever since I joined the League 8 years ago, and he said, "Your work is magnificent and you're going to be big." Oooh boy, I had to go home and lie down in a dark room for awhile. (Actually, I was sick for a week, but it had the same calming effect....)
A buyer for prestigious Boston museum with a national mail order catalog loved my work and took my catalog. Although catalog companies can be difficult for a one-person studio to deal with, the prestige alone would be monumental right now.
And I had a talk with a wild and crazy designer/artist. Something cool she said was, a mentor told her years ago you need to be very clear on what you are pursuing with your art--money, prestige or fame. All are worthy of pursuit, as long as you are clear about which it is you want, and why. And that prestige can lead to fame or money, and money can lead to fame (and vice versa), but money alone will not lead to prestige. (There are exceptions, of course, but they are rare.)
I've been thinking about that a lot. Originally, I thought money would be my concrete marker of success. But actually, what I really want is prestige. Knowing that, I now realize that's why success—my definition of success--will take TIME. You don't "generate" prestige, you build it and you earn it. And you go for it, and achieve it, by being true to who you ARE, and creating the work that reflects that.
Oh, and I also actually wrote a good order at the show. And generated dozens of strong leads to pursue.
As far as all those suggestions I received on what to do next, I came home from the show to find my husband had found a cool book at our local library called PREHISTORIC ART: THE SYMBOLIC JOURNEY OF HUMANKIND by Randall White. You can see the book here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0810942623/qid=1114097529/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-3730858-2193601
Among the countless images of beautiful artifacts (many of which I’ve never seen before), Jon was captivated by the number of ancient beads carved from bone—in the shape of shells! He was intrigued that these ancient artists were so taken by the IDEA of a shell, they would actually carve their own out of mammoth ivory, “just like you!” he exclaimed. I note that they are carved with tiny dots, just like mine, too. I was amazed Jon was thinking so hard about what I would love about the book, and wanted to share it with me.
In the book, I also found a beautiful set of beads made from fox teeth that have inspired a whole new series of artifacts for my newest work. All natural developments that have happened in their own good time, and in keeping with my original story elements. I’m ecstatic.
What does all this mean? It means there are many measures of success from a show than just money—though those who measure their success ONLY in money will argue differently, of course. And by these measures, the Boston Gift Show was a success.
