Organizing a First Friday Art Market event (for the first time) from an artist’s POV
So this is a year full of firsts for me. The Cliff Notes journey of how I got to this point began in February of 2023. I was physically fed up with how I looked and felt. I was heading towards 53, overweight and out of shape. I’m not your stereotypical artist, when I’m down I can’t create, and that adds to the gloominess even more. As a newly saved Christian I knew this isn’t how I’m supposed to live the life I’ve been given and it was time for a change. Nutrition was first on my list. As a former smoker and drinker I knew my body had lots of healing to do. I had heard of the carnivore lifestyle and researched it for months (that story is for a different blog) so I decided to dive right in. Within a week I noticed significant change, within 3 months I was down 2 dress sizes, and by 6 months I was down 4 dress sizes! Now it was time to get in shape.
At the time, we were a one income household so finding extra money for a gym in this economy was going to be a challenge. I live in a 4 season climate and we were smack dab in the middle of winter. I would walk or jog every now and then, when it was nice outside, but rarely consistently. I need accountability and companionship when it comes to exercise. I joke that the Lord got tired of me complaining about it so He led me to The Phoenix. Low and behold on Facebook a non-profit gym pops up on my feed. It’s nearby and the membership is free with 48 hours of sobriety, and I had been sober for over 2 years! So I downloaded the app and found my location and began to research what this place was all about.
Two months go by and I still don’t have the guts to show up at that gym. I had attended an online event but still wasn’t sure how to get past my trepidation of being completely out of shape and walking into a room full of strangers. So I kept putting it off. Finally I decided to send an email to the volunteer holding one of the “Open Gym” sessions- she didn’t replied by the time I wanted to go in but I decided to swing by anyway. When I got there she was super nice and showed me around. It’s a free-weight gym which was really intimidating to me as well. Where would I even begin?
Later that evening I was scrolling through Facebook and a church friend, who’s also a sheriff, had posted his workout routine, where he had worked out at and it said The Phoenix! I immediately sent him a pm and told him my struggle…he said he would meet me at 6am on Friday for CrossFit class (I didn’t think CrossFit could possibly be as intimidating as an open gym lol). I agreed. I walk in on Friday and the coach for CrossFit was from my church as well! To this day my sheriff friend hasn’t shown up to class…every time I see him i give him a hard time about it. He teaches Jiu Jitsu among other things so I understand, he’s truly a busy man.
That was 5 months ago and I can’t begin explain how much my life has changed. I’m not only a member I’m also a volunteer-I hold my own “open gym” sessions now. I attend CrossFit classes Monday-Friday and have met some of the best people this town has to offer. This is one of the most encouraging and uplifting communities I’ve ever been a part of. I have physical and mental strength like never before.
So that brings us to this First Friday Art Market. The Phoenix does open mic nights, has live music events, even creativity workshops. As volunteers we’re encouraged to create events for the gym. We’re right in the middle of downtown and surrounded by art venues that participate in the monthly First Friday Art crawls. Knowing we have several artistic members, I believed this would be a great opportunity for them to participate in First Friday, free of charge, AND give the gym more exposure in our local community. Everyone is welcome to become a member, not just those of us in recovery, and I’m excited to see how much more we’re going to grow after we launch this new event!
Am I nervous? Of course. The first week I put out the “Calling All Artists” I only had three signed up and one of those was me. BUT, as of now, we have 13, which I’m very happy about. My emails to the artists had been landing in their spam folders, which was a little nerve racking. However, it seems like those issues have resolved. Corporate has been great help designing the flyers and approving our requests, our staff have been integral on the business side of this process and in supporting me, encouraging me, and finding ways to make my vision happen. Other members have also jumped in and offered to help in any way they can…and I’m going to need plenty of help because I will have a booth of my own.
Now the trick is going to be figuring out how to let the staff and other volunteers steer the ship of my vision while I share my joy of art with whomever will listen.
