Stand By Your Man …
Back about 1989 I got my first Washington Arts commission, an elementary school in Wenatchee, a really small budget, about $6000, but believe me, I could see a bigger door opening up with the potential for an escape from the residential glass commissions for sidelights and bathroom window privacy. I met with the school committee along with Richard, my arts liaison, to discuss potential sites for my artwork. Just inside the front door was a curved bank of windows 7 feet high and 15 feet wide for the library. I immediately said let’s do those.
My arts guy Richard hauled me aside and said, “I know this is your first project with us, but understand, you won’t get any more money, it’s a fixed budget.” I said I understood that but hellfire, I’m just excited to do something bigger than what I’ve been doing up til now. He shook his head sadly, said as long as we’re clear, no more money.
We went back to the committee and talked about designs and such, me mostly cracking wise, horsing around, the usual stuff I do. No talk of artistic philosophy, inspiring influences, none of that egotistical song and dance, even though Richard kept trying to steer there, I guess figuring that was part of the drill, impressing the unwashed masses. Who wasn’t impressed was Richard, probably used to dealing with real artists with real portfolios and real egos. Me, probably a hopeless case, some flash-in-the-pan soon to be forgotten.
The final design was delivered to him by Karen, my wife, down in Seattle where she worked at the time running a department in the Univ. of Washington library. Richard was going to be in town that day so it saved me a trip down. At the handoff he told her, for what reason I can hardly imagine, that I should take myself more seriously. Karen is a quiet, reticent woman, anything but confrontational … but she said to my handler, “Maybe you should take him more seriously.”
To this day I smile when I think back on this conversation. I cannot thank her enough for standing by her little man. Since that first commission with the State, I’ve had 10 or so more, most much larger than that library window in Wenatchee, one 70 feet long and 20 feet high. All told I’ve put glass in 50 or more buildings from Florida to Alaska. Personally, I still don’t take myself too seriously as an artist but damn, I love that she does. And believe me, I love her for it. And Richard? Well, my guess is he still thinks of me the way I do myself, mostly a chucklehead.
Tags: Early Art Career, How To Become an Artist Without Becoming a Jerk, Stand By Your Man …