Starving Artists

The road to San Antonio is punctuated with mesquite and an abundance of desert primroses due to the break in the recent drought. When you leave the environs of Phar Lepht and the traffic and head out on Interstate 10, you are sure to notice the good verses bad drivers on the highway. Those that know how to behave on long stretches opposed to those that think the highway belongs solely to themselves. I, of course, think I am one of the former and not the latter but only another can tell.

A nine hour drive brings you to the brink of the city and more traffic and a loop that seems to take forever when your arms ache and your eyes are bleary. Fortunately, I didn't have to set up my tent at the crafts show until the next day and could enjoy the company of friends and a good dinner that evening.

Friday, the day we set up was windy and unkind especially when your tent is made of the same material they use for kites and hot air balloons. I held it down while my partner Jan scrambled from leg to leg of the tent to set the 50 lb. weights but even with the weights, the tent slid four or five feet after a big gust. We sat down to watch and consider the options and finally decided to just set up the tables in the corners with heavy tubs on top and continue the set up the next day when the winds were supposed to subside. They did...

Saturday was beautiful and there were beaucoup artists this year but unfortunately a plethora (I use that word where I can) of jewelry artists and nonartists. My real bane is the fact that in these so called juried shows, a few always get in that don't belong there and don't make what they sell and they are always jewelry booths. So you end up competing with cheap ass jewelry that is bought and resold and the people that run the shows never seem to notice even if you tell them year to year.

I barely made expenses even though the weather cooperated and the crowds were plentiful. It was discouraging and frustrating. I have to reconsider doing this show again next year if the situation remains the same and there is no telling until one gets there. A nine hour drive both ways for just a pittance doesn't seem worth it.

To top it off, the ride home after an exhausting weekend was a typical desert wind event. The dust storm and wind blew my little truck all over the road and I had to fight the wheel all the way home. By the time I arrived Monday evening, my arms, wrists and shoulders were aching.

I am glad this one is behind me...my luck is bound to change, at least that is my hope. It seems I am just moving from one trying situation to the next and keeping my chin up is becoming more of an effort.