Second Life

This weekend, I sold my art festival tent.

My tent was the first investment I made when I launched Unplain Jane Studio nearly nine years ago. This was no pop-up tent; it was a 10'x10' storefront made of extra-thick vinyl and galvanized steel. When its frame was held down by weights and its walls were zipped up tight, my tent could withstand sideways rain. Once in Houston, while other artists' tents crumpled like tumbleweeds, my tent survived F1 tornadic winds.

Throughout those early years, my tent and I traveled in my temperamental van to art festivals across Texas and to Chicago, St. Louis, and numerous Florida destinations. Once we became proficient, it took Brian and me 3.5 hours to set up my tent and everything that went underneath it. The most memorable set-up took place in Tracey F.'s yard, where she generously hosted my business launch party. It was only the second time we'd attempted it, and that set-up took about 5 hours from start to finish.

Under my tent I learned what it meant to be a working artist. To watch people walk by without a glance, and to hear personal stories from people who were moved to tears by my work. To struggle with spending more time selling than creating. To share connections with other artists. To recognize that slow days are not a reflection of the art; they merely occupy space between good days.

After Covid, I considered whether my tent and I might once again hit the road. But I had changed, which made me a little sad until I realized that my muses had changed, too.

So this weekend, my art festival tent began its second life with Amanda K. Snyder @amandaksnyderart. I hope you check out her work. Earlier this year, I sold the panel walls to another artist who my Arlington friends might know: LaShaunn Bold. I love that LaShaunn, Amanda, and I are all in the same river, navigating the currents of being artists just a little up- and downstream from one other.

But I still have a pop-up tent. Just in case.