Being Seen

“There’s nothing more daring than showing up, putting ourselves out there and letting ourselves be seen.” ~ Brene Brown

It’s truly a gift to be seen, heard, and understood, and it may be at the core of our heart’s desire as human beings. Artists work in solitary studios, and it isn’t until their work comes out into the public that they discover whether it connects with others. It’s a vulnerable place, sharing and opening yourself up to be known. But you can’t commune with anyone from inside the safety of your studio walls. You can’t hide and be seen at the same time. 

Still, it’s tricky. We long for this connection, but we also create distance, consciously or not. Being truly seen feels risky, so we clean up our social media profiles, and edit our words, and stifle our deepest feelings. Artists exhibiting authentic work don’t have the luxury of hiding anywhere, as it feels like it’s a part of you. 

But, some will connect with it, and some won’t. Over the years, knowing this has made me more resilient. My work isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. For that matter, abstract art isn’t everybody’s cup of tea! At the opening reception for my show, “Abstract Thinking,” there were a handful of folks who did get me, and it’s more meaningful than you can imagine. 

John Chambless, the arts writer from a local newspaper, spent a little time with the work, which is often required of abstraction. He wrote a wonderful article, and you can read his thoughtful review here. 

It’s a fine balance we keep between being seen for who we truly are, and giving in to the preferences of others. It helps to remember this…

“People will love you. People will hate you. And none of it will have anything to do with you.”

~ Abraham Hicks