All In A Day's Work

Everything in life takes longer than anticipated. At least, that is my experience. I've been back in Houston two days and I'd say I've accomplished many tasks for this exhibition of mine. Yet in the grand scheme of things, there is so, so much more to be done. Guess it might help if I made a 'done' list and then simply go to bed.
Here goes:
1. Got a request for a 100 word bio, a 100 word project summary and three images for The Idea Fund website. You'd think that would be an easy one, but I messed with that bio and summary for far longer than I'll admit. Couldn't get them down to 100 words. Slept on it and early this morning, made the revisions in minutes. Always helps to sleep on things.
2. Always worries me to send images when things aren't really 'done', but I photographed the filigreed Clorox bottles, a section of the patched together velvets and brocades salvaged from Hurricane Ike flood waters and pulled up a photo of the compressed bales of soda cans at Spectrum Metals. One of those bales will become a table base for Second Seating. Had to call Laurie P. over to get the images at 300 dpi and put them in an email ready to send.
3. Drafted a follow-up letter to a probable donor who expressed interest in February and told me to write/call him again in April. I still must drop the envelope in the mail box, but he'll have it on Monday and it'll still be April.
4. Called for an appointment with another possible donor and it's set for next Monday afternoon.
5. Called a good friend who is chairperson of a potential donor organization and found out how to get their attention. Resulted in having to fill in another application - why do these things take me so long, even when I've written the words before?

So you think that Second Seating is all about fundraising? Well, it does take up much of my days, but in between those letters and calls, I did the following in the service of making the art for this installation:

1. Gathered all the filigreed Clorox bottles affixed to rolled tablecloths and began to hang them from the structure that allows the garage/studio door to go up and down. Need to string the most recent bottles on to more rolled tablecloths and attach a few wooden clothes pins here and there.
2. Called the man who made the structure for the Clorox bottle chandelier. Must call again tomorrow when he available in order to make an appointment to assemble the chandelier and try out the lights and the mirrored ball AND have Laurie P. photograph it for press prints in the media packets.
3. Ducked in for 15 minutes at The Guild Shop on my way to an eye doctor's appointment. Yes, the right eye is still crying. Make that tearing because the tear drain is covered again with scar tissue. How many months can this go on? In a week, I have an appointment with a specialist who'll put in a 'something' to hold the tear drain open. For the rest of my life. Back to The Guild Shop. Found a few more dishes on which I can put photo images. I am imagining a wall of plates with very strange images - mostly of food.
4. Called Jesse who came over to pick up a couple more dozen coffee mugs for the mosaic on the sides of the coffee table/buffet. We will meet again tomorrow to examine the table and give ourselves a schedule for completing it.
5. Mailed Jose Solis a copy of the architect's floor plans for the space so he can estimate the size of the coffee can chandelier he's constructing. It needs to be really big.
6. Picked up the fishing net that Trudy found for me in Rockport for the Bayou, Bay + table.
7. Got a call from the graphic person who created a logo for Second Seating. My stationery and labels and cards have arrived and I can pick them up tomorrow. I have had so much help from friends for this exhibition. I am amazed.

Well, now that I review the list above, I see that what I initially considered working on 'art' is all about administrative details. Every bit of it, which leads me again to what a joy it would be to have a personal assistant, an intern, staff, help. Tomorrow, I add to those admin tasks as I need to think about drafting revisions for Second Seating calendar listings, thread rolled table cloths through Clorox bottles and pick up a CD which holds a really good database. Where's the art in those tasks? Ouch.

There were also hours today that were filled with friends and a few household tasks. Paid all my bills early this morning and mailed them off, went to the bank, called my sister to see if she'd heard anything from Mom and Dad (not much which means they are probably doing well at their new care facility), made two calls on behalf of an organization for which I am a board member. One of the two calls was successful, or will be with some follow-up. Ate Vietnamese noodles for lunch at Les Girval's, met Moises for a Thai supper and loaned him a book by Joseph Campbell and another by Carl Jung after he said he's beginning to feel like a Buddhist. Good for him.

My house is totally upside down again which means that every surface is covered with papers and 'stuff.' Tomorrow I need to check in with Irma and her architect, fill in yet another application for funds, catch up with the chandelier man, meet with Jesse, straighten the diningroom table that I use for a desk, and wouldn't it be nice to go to a Pilates session at 9:00 a.m.?

So, is this how art gets made? Perhaps. I could go on. Instead I am going to bed with Netflix, know that I - one person - really have accomplished a few things today on behalf of Second Seating, even if art didn't enter into it.