Image ‘Be Fucking Kind’ hanging on my wall, Acrylic on Canvas. SOLD
Last year, I had an idea and pulled together an exhibition at a recently acquired community farm. I included as many members of the small rural area that I could find. I went knocking on doors and approached people. I asked and asked, ‘Is there anyone else who makes things in the area?’
The standard of the exhibition was high. Children, pensioners, beginner and experienced artists and crafters exhibited as one. A local lady made delicious food and the whole thing was deemed a huge success. The county radio station said it was the most exciting, high standard and community inclusive event in the whole festival. He was, in his words ‘Wowed’.
It was a start. A rising tide for a small rural community.
When it came to this year I discovered I was no longer wanted. Decisions were made behind my back. I was pushed out. The event I created hijacked. ‘We wanted to do it differently this year.’ This was the reason I was eventually given.
I guess, if it had been a failure it would have been my failure alone, but it was a success and suddenly I wasn’t needed! I was shocked, hurt, flabbergasted. WT actual F! I tried to find out what was going on and was stonewalled, so in the end, feeling disillusioned I decided to let it go!
So much for community, but it’s up to them I suppose. Good luck to them. It’s a lot of work and I have plenty of other things to get on with.
Yesterday, I learned that this years exhibition has been cancelled! A fabulous opportunity wasted!
Still, I am stonewalled. No-one asked me to pull it together at the last minute, which btw I could have done. Instead it is simply cancelled. Instead of a rising tide taking everyone up, it has been spectacularly sabotaged. The plug pulled completely. The artists, crafters and children let down.
This was an opportunity that benefited many and could have done so again and been even better. It’s frankly embarrassing for the people who took part last year and made it a success. Advertising for this year is out there. People will show up and there will be nothing but a wasted journey!
I learned over the weekend that I was ‘demonised’ as a way of justifying taking over the event. Untruths spread. That hurts! I tried hard to do someting good. It was good. I put my heart and soul into doing the best job I could. No-one likes to be spoken badly about. It is unkind and unnecessary!
And so, I write this blog not to blame folk for poor or unkind decsion making, but to help me let go for a second time, after a cortisol filled weekend with my heart feeling as though its breaking.
I write to move forward again. I write to stand up for artists and makers in the art community because I believe in the power and importance of creativity and the arts which are more under threat than ever. We musn’t be marginalised!
I write because writing is a way that helps me recalibrate my inner peace. By writing I no longer have to carry it about in my being. I can be free.
Most importantly, I write to ask these questions…
When are we ever going to learn to be kind to each other? To work together? To realise that we are one?
When are people going to stop hurting others and tearing each other apart?
When are we going to love each other rather than point fingers and blame and shame?
None of us is perfect! Not you, not me!
We need loving kindness, gratitude and understanding to be the basis of our interactions. We need to thank people for jobs well done and forgive each other for percieved faults. We need to be open and honest. We need to learn to communicate well rather than being defensive. We need to listen to others and see the bigger picure. We need to be able to hold many points of view before getting attached to one. We need to celebrate each others different strengths and learn how to move forwards and up….
Simply put, we humans need to change and change fast. We need to learn to work together! We need to understand what communities really are.
Is it possible?
I believe it is possible!
I have to believe it is possible!
Today, I am grateful for art and artists. We are the visionaries and the oddballs. We have a lot to offer the world. Today, I send love to everyone who has the courage to create something. Stay strong my friends!
‘Truth is beauty and beauty is truth, that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know” John Keats
With much love
Kirsten x
PS – The above painting ‘Be Fucking Kind’ now hangs in a former manse (vicarage), a fact that fills me with utter delight!
