Many outdoor art show applications in Toronto are all around this time of year. It is a bit unusual from my perspective because they are at varied times in the year anyways – why would they be all at March? And why all at the first or second week of March?

I received a few follow ups on my incomplete applications and urging me to apply. It makes me wonder whether the real business of these shows is to get artists to apply and pay the application fees and later the fees “for the square on the grass”. Well, as long as there is actually a fair chance to get in, I would think that’s ok.

Realizing I have too much going on right now, I felt a bit stuck on whether or not to apply. The better decision though is to not apply, focus on making more of my actual original paintings (which is why I’m doing this anyways).

I could re-do the Queen West Art Crawl, but I think it would be more rewarding to see what multiple shows are like before setting in on just doing the same show over and over again.

My thought right now is to do the Oakville Art show, which is a one day show and therefore a bit less intense. It also only allows for originals, so that would work in terms of my general trajectory which is to focus on original art, rather than reproductions. That said, the reproductions really helped in terms of covering costs last year.

There is all the inventory I have still from the previous show, which I feel like it’s just taking up space. I suppose it’s good that I have so many already cut mats, but it definitely feels like a waste. Thankfully, art doesn’t expire and it can sit there.