This is my first blog post here. Many of you have heard of the storm that hit the Columbus Arts Festival. This was my first time in the show, and the first show I've done alone since my last spine surgery 5 months ago. I really wasn't supposed to be lifting more than 20 pounds yet, but we artists must do what we do to make a living. Am I right? So off I went to Columbus with the hopes of sunshine and solid sales. Here's my report:
Fifteen minutes before the storm hit, a show person rode up in a golf cart and said "we had the possibility of some rain soon." Full disclosure here: I got a text message at the very same time from home telling me some heavy winds were going to hit and I'd better find some rope and something to tie down to. I immediately told my neighbors and started pulling everything inside the booth. Then I began the task of attaching my flimsy side walls of my EZ-UP tent knowing that the rain would KILL my pastels hanging on the outside wall of my booth. Yes, I'm not using my Craft Hut anymore. Three back surgeries will do that to an artist. (Ever notice how many of us are using pop-up tents these days?)
Just when I had one side wall on, all hell broke loose. I struggled to get the other two sides on while the rain blasted down at a 45 degree angle. I'd get one side wall on and another would "rip" off in the wind. The booth was starting to move, swaying and listing forward, Pro Panels were popping away from their moorings, paintings were falling and glass was breaking all over the ground. The rain was so fierce that within minutes my booth was filled with over a foot's depth of water. I ran to the front corner of my booth and pushed against the force of the wind. I knew I didn't stand a chance and was yelling at the top of my lungs, "help me, please, somebody help me!!!" I was terrified. A small break in the wind came and I lunged for the small original pastel paintings soaking in the water on the floor. My credit card machine was floating. All my LIVE electrical wires and breaker bar were floating! The wind kicked up again and more paintings came crashing down around me. I just kept yelling "no! no! no!" The booth gave one last kick in the wind and the upper bars smacked me in the head, snapping my neck to the side. This is where I had my surgery and the bone is not yet fused. It was a bump on the head that took me over the edge. I started crying....
I'll save the rest of the details. They involve many hours trying to pack up all my damaged artwork and equipment into my van. No one saw I needed help.....until......around 9pm Mikel Robinson's (2D mixed media photography) beautiful wife ran over to lend a hand to a fellow artist who just couldn't lift another thing. She whipped a couple of show people off their golf carts to help. Mikel came and helped, leaving their own mess of a booth and darling 2-year-old safely in their dry vehicle with the babysitter. They were so kind and compassionate. As for my neck, well...my fingers are numb again and I will need to go back in for another procedure.
So here I am today, a business destroyed and no money to pay the bills and no artwork to sell. It's a tough, tough place and I have no idea yet when or if I'll recover. But I'm not taking it lying down. I'm fighting. I've created a site where fans, friends and family can pre-order a calendar (first time I've ever done one), original artwork at discounted prices or simply offer a donation to my "PAY IT FORWARD" Save An Artist Relief Fund. I've reached out on my Facebook personal page and Fan Page, and had many good responses. I plan on reaching out to my customer base through an email newsletter blast. And I'm asking folks that if they believe in me, my work, and the arts, to please pass along this story to their friends and families. As one artist said to me, "Reach out to your fellow artists. They are the best people in the world."
On Friday I leave for my annual mission trip to Peru where I take art supplies and teach the extremely impoverished children how to experience freedom and empowerment through the creation of art. When you have a great pain in your life, you need a greater purpose. This is mine, and even though it makes me very uncomfortable leaving in the midst of chaos, I know it's God's perfect timing. As it is written, "Give and it shall be given unto you."
For other artists who have lost their livelihood in the storm, hopefully my ideas will help you rebuild your businesses too.
To see my sales and "Save An Artist" donation page, visit: shopartworkbymeredith.bigcartel.com
To read more about my art mission trips to Peru, visit my website.
Comments
Meredith, I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I understand your problem because I have done permanent damage to nerve C-7 due to a hypermobile spine that was not diagnosed early, so I have numbness on the outside of my left hand that cannot be repaired. It is an annoyance that I have finally learned to live with, but it has been difficult. People who've never experienced constant numbness cannot imagine that this is a "real" problem. You and I know better. My prayers and best wishes go with you for a full recovery.
I am not in a position to help right now, as I have had to cancel all shows since April; but I will be showing in September, and will order from Pay it Forward when sales come. I will also post your story and site info everywhere I can in the hope that it will produce positive results for you NOW.
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