And the Tiny Bubbles Burst

The Housewife Queen

Maybe they didn't break, they just kept ascending into the heavens where they turned into puffy clouds too small to hide the sun. I'm in the aftermath of the Jell-O Art Show, so ephemeral and so special, so gratifying and humbling and as I said yesterday, a brief respite from care.

My creative process always includes a rejection period and that's today, but it is mild since I know about it and can successfully refocus myself when I start to get crabby and want to rewrite the glittery past. Part of being a creative person seems to be a certain level of dissatisfaction, that there is never enough, that just a little more effort would have made things even more perfect. A fool's pursuit, but a natural type of self-improvement and the continuing challenge for higher goals, part of the driving force of art and life.

The Jell-O Studio Set

Serious Art Crowd

The Show went well. There was quite a bit of fun Jell-O and many new artists who were drawn in by the fabulous publicity we got this year. I made a point of trying to greet everyone as they entered and regally welcome them into the fold, asking them about their art, photographing them with it and making sure they felt seen and appreciated. I managed to not brag about my own accomplishments and my masterpiece was by the door looking quite unpretentious in a quietly spectacular way. I had my usual table of shirts which sold pretty well, and my display of fascinators next to it. Most people did not believe they were Jell-O so that was lots of fun. A few people tried them on, as I directed them to, to get that magical transformation that happens when you feel the most gorgeous you will probably ever feel, with a big exotic flower on your head in a public place. I'm still in awe that a little bit of gelatin can have that power. Several people ponied up the $25 I was charging to take some home, and all were thrilled with their purchases. I might just have that future retail career that seems so elusive and impossible and crazy to imagine. Wonders do not cease.

The crowds who gather at the beginning of the show are the people who come to see the Jell-O Art. We actually get a second crowd at the end who come to see the tomfoolery but people in the photo are a very special group. I hope you see yourself in the photo. You all get in line and look carefully and searchingly at each and every Jell-O Art piece and ask real art questions expecting real art answers. You probably have no idea how thrilling this is for the artists who took the brave step of bringing in their creations. Many were young people or families who did the projects together, and I will feature some in the Gelatinaceae blog very soon. I am so very grateful to the artists and the art appreciators who come to the gallery, some every year, and really get the inspiration and power of the show. I can not stop grinning when I see what happens right at 5:00 on the dot, as they pour in. It's amazing. It's just an ordinary art opening in a regular art gallery, but it still astonishes me every single time.

I did mangle the poor Slug Queen's name, but he was forgiving and gave a terrific benediction, one of the best ever and a big thanks to him. The crowd was happy to do their part and we got a few photos taken with our mutual fans. I was able to manage a quick off-the-cuff speech at the beginning, focusing on the art, and at the end made a fairly gracious thank-you speech. I did unfortunately call the MKAC staff "workers" but I don't think they cared too much. They know who is in charge around there (and it is definitely not me.)


I'm feeling pretty guilty about not making my usual five plates of Jell-O candies or whatever silly idea I get for the Tacky Food. The table was a bit sparse, and many little kids did not get to have their usual sugar fits but a good number of adults tried Holly's Candied Chicken Gizzards (they were tasty) and David's Jell-O Krispies. Sorry, David, I could not manage to try one, plus I thought I had better let the big crowds have their chance. I would have eaten one if there had been any leftovers but by the end there was nary a crumb of anything. I promise next year to re-prioritize Tacky Food because it alone can be worth the price of admission to some people, and the four boxes of orange Jell-O I bought will still be good a year from now. I was thinking to try Orange Espresso Cubes and hope I remember to do that. A lot of people would have eaten them and although we didn't really need anymore frenetics, some of us did need to be able to stay awake on stage. Just kidding, that was part of the script to fall asleep and we didn't rehearse that part, but the snoring and actions were pretty hilarious improv.

We have a dvd this year! We got to watch it last night at a little gathering to decompress and it was fun to get that audience view. I won't go into all of my self-crit but I will say that there was a lot of glamour on that stage and it wasn't from the Queen. I will have to speak to my old-lady self and see if she can manage to at least wear some Jell-O on her head next year. Truly I was too ambitious with my costume changes and barely kept up so I will have to learn to dial that back and simplify. Every year is a new year and we actually made a little plan last night for a possible scenario that I am really looking forward to. It might not be glamorous! It might be really fun to try to make some of those Angels dress down. Of course there are a lot of brainstorms between now and then but I'm enjoying my deviant plans. Looking forward to something has always been my best remedy for the blues, and there's nothing better than a long-term plan that actually requires no actions whatsoever. Because I am tired, and my foot hurts, and I really need a day when I don't do much.

Something I did not expect to see!

So I'll just make a little path from my armchair to the TV and put a lawn chair on the deck and try to read at least the front page of the paper before I drift off to sleep. No Tacky Food does translate to no dishes, so there's that. I uploaded the photos and I can put off the real Jell-O blog until tomorrow. Have to enjoy this sunny day while it lasts. You never know when the rains will come again. Let's just hope they don't come next Saturday, because it's Opening Day of the Saturday Market season, and that is another ephemeral thing that needs all of us to participate, with more joy, more laughter. See you there!