IndyMojo: My Last First Friday

In October 2009, I debuted for the first time in an art gallery down on Mass Ave at the one and only Art Bank. This was such a HUGE event for me, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was all set up in this little corner, and I really didn't know what to expect. Majority of my family came, but there were some really close friends that came to see me (Erin, Boston, JK, Elise)...that was made me feel pretty damn good.

So my debut came and went, and then from then on it became pretty routine. Make a new piece here and there put it up in my little corner of a wall space. But then in January 2010, I got a bigger wall space, however, I didn't quite have enough art work to fill the wall! So I framed a bunch of work, got the wall all setup, and it was like a debut all over again. I was really excited, but this time, not too many friends showed up. But whatever, it was all good because I still had people there supporting me, and the most important thing was that the artist at the Art Bank were really supportive.

A month or two went by and I started getting the idea of becoming the featured artist. One day I came into the AB, and told the manager I'd like to be the featured artist in June. So i got the spot and then procrastinated to the very end getting my series "Back To Natural" finished. I worked hard on that series, and I promoted my butt off. I was sure with all the other events going on at the AB and all of us promoting it, I'd have tons of support come in. Day of the event, there were tons of people. My family, and friends of the family came out to see my stuff, hell even my personal trainer came out to see me, even a new girl from my work! But...the people that I really wanted to see there were Mofos. I do have to say to Shawn and Jen Smith, thank you for coming out, that was surprise and i didn't know you were coming. But, when I got text after text from people saying they weren't coming, or people just didn't really care at all I got pretty let down.

I didn't let it bother me at the time, but when I got home that night and looked at the empty forums, the empty roll call, the 20+ something people that RSVP on FB, and none of them came, I got pretty angry and upset. For 9 months I was in the AB, and I struggled each month to get people to come out. What's sad is that there are some of you that I think are pretty close friends that never once came to see my stuff or just even came to support me. Well, I'm sorry to say, you won't have that chance now because on June 30th, I'm taking my stuff down from the gallery.

It's not really because of the lack of support, but it's more because I need to spend more time developing my skills and maybe comeback as a stronger artist. However, it did suck the life out of me when I was the featured artist for the First Friday Art Walk a day before my Bday and I didn't sell a thing. 5 artist that day sold stuff, and that hurt more than anything. Not to many of you know what that feels like.

Well, anyway, if any of you are interested in what I'm doing from time to time, check my website: www.crpierce.com for more information and new art when it comes out.

Bye,

Casey "KC" Pierce

ADD A COMMENT

JK tue jun 29 2010 at 4:08 pm ·


	It's going to take some work to build up a strong crowd of Art lovers on IndyMojo.com. Some serious work.

butterfly_89000 fri jul 02 2010 at 1:23 pm ·


	Casey, I'm going to be straight and to the point, here. In this five paragraph blog entry, you used four of them to talk about who came to your events at the Art Bank. You then open your fifth by saying you will no longer have your work on display, but not due to lack of support from your friends. It didn't hurt you like it did because you believe you need to refine your skills; it hurt (understandably) because you had expectations of certain people that were not met. But explaining how you were repeatedly let down, and then claiming that's NOT the reason you're taking a break from art are two very conflicting concepts. Next, to build on JK's comment, interests and hobbies come from within. They can't be forced upon someone. They can be discovered from inside, but not implanted. Perhaps you have not considered that some of the people who, no matter how much they love you as a friend, simply do not enjoy art. You can NOT hold that against some one. And what makes it worse is attempting to guilt them into liking it. There is a difference between strong self promotion and chastising people for not attending your event or enjoying the same hobbies as you. I think we all remember a certain photographer who did exactly that... do you really want to fill that person's shoes? Instead of focusing on the negative, think about all the pairs of eyes who saw your work in those nine months. Maybe they never said anything and maybe you didn't know them... but now they certainly know you.

KC sat jul 03 2010 at 3:26 pm ·


	Well I'm going to be straight and to the point. It's my blog so I can be as conflicting as I want. I am telling my story of let down at the same time giving the actual reason of leaving the AB for a while. I can be as conflicting as I want because A) I wrote it and B) This is about me. This isn't your time to try and tell someone how "conflicting" they are. secondly, JK didn't mention anything about forcing people to do something or making them go to art events. He just said that its going to take work...meaning new recuitment of people, more art events to get more people involved. Am I pissed at your blog comment? You bet, don't go onto someone else's blog and try to prove to them that they are wrong in what the feel and what they want to say. That's not your place.

JK sun jul 04 2010 at 1:53 pm ·


	Easy guys. Let's take a deep breath. I understand both points here. All that needs to be said is that we (IndyMojo) need to do a better job of gaining members who are already involved in the Art scene. Oranje is a great event, but that is really the only Art related event that we expend true Mojo effort on. Let's focus on the task. What other Art events can we be a part of?

KC sun jul 04 2010 at 2:55 pm ·


	First Friday Art walks...it's been talked about a long time ago. You have the opportunity of free space at the art bank to have a little tent outside set up to promote. Also, jump on IDADA.org and check out anything that is going on event wise.

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