When I was invited to this show, I really wanted to come to the opening reception but I was scared.
I didn't know anyone, and I was worried that I was going to be all alone and have no one to talk to for three hours. That felt like a nightmare, so my original plan was to come with a date so that I for sure had someone to talk to the whole night.
I tried asking out my crush and that didn't pan out, and then I tried the dating apps to find someone in LA to come with me, but I didn't see anyone I wanted to spend time with out there. I almost backed out of coming to the opening reception not having secured a +1, but I felt that it was really important I come to this event.
I reminded myself that I wasn't the same shy, socially awkward, insecure girl of the past and that I could have fun and make conversation with strangers. So I decided to just be brave and come on my own.
I had such a great time, met a whole lot of new people, and everyone in the Giant Robot fam was just so sweet and wonderful! I have spent the majority of my art career online and that has shaped and influenced a lot of my experience as an artist. And maybe this is some kind of subconscious push back caused by the 2020 pandemic and being isolated for nearly two years, but I've been craving more in-person connections, conversation, and community (which is odd considering I'm quite the hermit).
Sometimes, I feel like conversations in the online art community rehash the same topics over and over and over again. And it felt so inspiring and wonderful to talk about clay, ask other artists how they did X or Y, meet new people, and just hang out in a space where people celebrated and appreciated art that will outlive us all.
I think there's also something special just seeing the art itself in-person—especially 3D work.
Online, the work can seem so small and something is removed when a 3D object is portrayed in a 2D photo. But moving through, and sharing a physical space with these 3D objects you develop a different relationship and impression to what you're seeing.
I also saw a familiar face along with a variety of other great pieces from previous exhibitions!
Eden and I visited the Santa Monica beach the following morning before we headed back home.
You know what's interesting? The night before, I had a dream where I looked out my hotel window and saw that it was raining and debated on whether or not we should still go to the beach.
I woke up feeling relieved that it was all a dream and we were going to have fair weather at the beach.
Well, we walked out the hotel door and what do you know—it was raining!
Luckily, the rain let up a little after we arrived.
I had some feelings looking out at the ocean, and listening to the crashing waves. This is the same body of water I know and appreciate whenever we go to the beaches up in Santa Cruz.
And here we are seeing that same, familiar water but further south in Santa Monica.
Honestly, my 24 hours in the city I can see why people fall in love with Los Angeles. I'm really glad I made the choice to visit and I will definitely be back!
Oddly, I'm also happy that my original plan of coming with a +1 didn't work out.
If I brought a date, I would have felt absolutely terrible because I was so busy chatting with so many other people that there would have been no way I would have been able to give my date the attention they deserved.
I'm really thankful that the night unfolded the way it did.
Sometimes, when things don't work out it's for the best. ✨💖
xoxo
ps all of the pieces featured in the show are available online via Giant Robot Gallery's store!
