Dodging Darts
Seems like every time I do a festival, a lot is working against me. Magic City Art Connection this year was no exception. Sure, I didn’t have the flu like last year. Sure, my kids were healthy at home. I didn’t leave my husband to care for three kids, alone, while throwing up, this time. It was an all new set of fiery darts this year.
Walking out the door on Wednesday night, with my very last bag, for my ~3-hour drive to Birmingham, I fell down the stairs. Starting my weekend with a freshly sprained ankle wasn’t on the festival checklist. Thankfully, after being in PT for the last year for a previous injury, I had everything I needed: an orthotic brace, ankle-specific ice sleeve, and anti-inflammatory meds. I slid the ice sleeve onto my ankle, took some mers, hit the road, and I made it to Birmingham just before midnight.
The forecast for the weekend showed thunderstorms every day— never what any artist wants to see. I came prepared: my weatherproof tent, rain boots, rain coat, protective bags for my artwork, tarps, panchos, the whole shebang. NOT ONE DROP OF RAIN during festival set up, show times, or tear down. So grateful. Blessing from the One who controls the weather.
The crowd all weekend was amazing. I had the best conversations. Incredible sales. SO much fun with two of my very best artist friends. We had good food, evenings in a hot tub, and great sleep. I also made a lot of new friends and got to know others better.
Sundays are always a really long day at the end of each festival. When the show ends, it's teardown time. Packing artwork, taking down the tent, loading the car, and for this show- driving ~3 hours home. I got it done, went to dinner, then started my trek home at 9 pm, excited to see my husband and sleep in my own bed. TWENTY minutes into the drive, my van’s battery light came on. The dashboard lights began flickering, and “CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM” was flashing. I looked up, and I was RIGHT at an exit. Not just any exit, I was at Buccee’s. So, while my car, packed with upwards of $30k artowork, was breaking down, while I was alone, at night, on the interstate, in “best case scenario”-fashion, I rolled into the best-lit, most-packed parking lot I can think of. Waiting 4 hours for a tow wasn’t prime, but my sweet friend Becky, who was staying one more night in Birmingham before her own drive home to Florida, came and sat with me.
The next morning was an absolute rollercoaster, complete with my car full of artwork going “missing” due to being towed to the wrong place, the choosing of the wrong mechanic before finding the right one, and the best customer service of my life. Once I finally ended up in the right place, at Rob’e Mans (if you’re in Birmingham, THIS is the mechanic to see) they diagnosed and fixed my car, $1700 later, in less than TWO HOURS.
THEN. Goodness, THEN, I got to have the sweetest, richest conversation and lunch with another artist. Sarah— thank you for taking the time to chat with me, share your heart, and grow together. This is a time I would have greatly missed had my car not broken down. And per Sarah’s recommendation, I’ve started a book (Art and Faith: A Theology of Making) that has been slowly, beautifully transforming me.
I close this post, blown away. As I reflect and look back, it’s grace upon grace that meets me at art festivals. There are always a lot of obstacles, but each and every festival I have done has been worth it. Sickness, injury, and car trouble wont stop me from doing what I’m called to do.
