Getting ready for my (unexpected) role as opener of a local art exhibition, I now think that I have a feeling for how my remarks should go. Yes: I will try to keep it humorous. I thought I would try a comparison of what makes a good marriage partner and the way painters relate to the activity of painting. The point, of course, is that in each case there can be a variety of possibly successful relationships. Three basic rules are important, however, whichever type of relationship you choose. It has to be right for you. You have to be prepared to work at developing it. Finally (and this is the fun bit!) you have to be prepared to experiment! I don’t mean that I endorse sleeping around in marriage (especially since the event in question will be taking place in a church!) Even within a stable married relationship things can go stale if you don’t make a point of keeping things fresh. The point of this, of course, is that I have the impression that a very large proportion of the entrants to this particular event will have selected a medium, a style and a typical subject-matter, and will be content to go on working their formula in an unadventurous way. I want to encourage them to take risks, and try something new every now and then. It could be, in art as in marriage, that this is the salvation of it, and it will certainly be more fun.
The risk for me, however, is that I know two people who will be exhibiting who really need to take that advice. I hope they don’t feel this it’s a personal campaign directed at them.
By the way: I was disappointed that my appeal for art jokes yesterday didn’t produce a more lively response. Surely there are art jokes. Coming to think of it, I am hard-pressed to remember any, so I’ve had to make up my own. If you do think of any, even so, I would love to hear them.