This week wrapped up my teaching year with my last mixed media class on Tuesday. It was surprisingly emotional as we all acknowledged our sessions together as part of what has kept each of us going and trying to remain sane in the insane year we’ve had. In a year with minimal in person social interaction, these classes and the people populating them have been so precious to me. Students, OPAL friends and fellow instructors are always a significant presence in my life, but like so many other things in 2020, the good stuff has been significantly heightened.
As of now, classes are set to resume the second week in January, and of course will be subject to the status of restrictions due to covid. Class size is limited to six students, and the Winter 1 Session will begin Tuesday, January 12. Register here, and check the website for any updates if restrictions in Illinois shift between now and then. Of course, once you register OPAL will communicate changes if they occur, too. Also, as classes are small and less frequent for the foreseeable future, I am combining Beginning and Advanced Mixed Media again – with six or fewer people I can work individually pretty easily and projects will be geared toward any level of experience.
I am also taking down my PopUp exhibit this afternoon. Despite the inability to have a proper opening, I’ve gotten a lot of nice feedback from people who stopped by or just happened to see it from outside. I’m just truly glad it gave me a reason to finish and frame a series of paintings I had been working on for quite a while, and big thanks to those who purchased paintings, too! One of the great rewards of creating original artwork is finding that it moves anyone enough to want to have it in your home as part of your life. I am so lucky and thrilled to have that be a major way I communicate. As much as I love words, communicating something visually is next-level exciting.
My work is still hanging at CrossFunction in Oak Park, and in March I will be installing artwork at Kettlestrings, also in Oak Park. That work will be up until the end of May.
As for other exhibition opportunities and class offerings in 2021, I have been learning how to present online classes for the past couple of months, and how to sell work more easily through my website, and I’ve seen some intriguing calls for artists in Chicago and elsewhere. We’ll see where all of that leads in coming months… Meanwhile I am putting together fresh OPAL workshops for next year. Stay tuned for details!
Meanwhile, Happy Holidays to you, and I hope you get to celebrate this season in good health and good spirits. XO – Jackie
