House Husbandry

House Husbandry

It is official- I am now a stay-at-home-dad. This will allow me more time to do things like promotion on the computer/internet, and non-toxic projects like “Portrait of Noel Heberling” which can be done at home, but will greatly limit the amount of time I will have at the studio for larger projects which require construction and toxic materials. I am still fishing out a way to do both, and my other hobbies, but it will certainly take some time and adjustment to find the right schedule.

So this blog is now about managing a family and an emerging art career rather than how to survive in NYC as an artist and work in your field. As a side note, a few weeks ago I tried to see how many gallery shifts I could pick up in two weeks. It is off-season, and work is supposed to be slim, but I was able to book 15 days in a row. For anyone who reads this blog wanting to work in the galleries to support your food/art/rent habit, this blog’s archives have all the information I learned, and I am always happy to answer emails. I was quite successful as a gallery slave, and I fully recommend it to any post-college young artist, or any emerging artist moving to the city for the first time. It is a great way to see the artwork, to learn installation, to see the role of the gallery from the other side, and to meet contacts from gallery owners to fellow emerging young artists. Not to mention, pay rent. In a way, despite the fact that I will be spending more time at home with my son and with my artwork, I will miss the gallery scene.

As for House Husbandry, I am totally new. Evelyn, my wife, just started work again after maternity leave yesterday. I will be making a schedule soon, but it will be written in pencil, who knows what’s in store. I foresee many challenges, but I consider myself extremely lucky. I have more time to dedicate to my art than almost anyone I know, not to mention I get to spend time with my son and I do not have to deal with the egotistical gallery hierarchy on a daily basis. As with any major adjustment, I predict that things will be in flux for a few weeks, but once my schedule becomes regular, creation of future Crateart will thrive. Any home/family artists out there reading this (and I know a couple that do) give a response on how you’ve dealt with this adjustment, as I have all of one and a half day’s experience.