Getting Ready for the Opening Night

How do artists prepare for the opening night?

The opening night of your show is always a magical time. It is the moment you’ve been waiting for all along, and it triggers various reactions and feelings–from happiness to anxiety and everything in between. A million questions and self-doubts run through your mind: from “What should I wear” to “What if nobody shows up” and so on.

And the best thing for you to do is to breathe. Exhale. It’s OK. Remind yourself that this is, after all, a dream come true. You wanted this to happen, to show and share your work with the world…so count your blessings.

And then start preparing for the opening night of your show. Think of how you want to present yourself, to show yourself to your audience. Do you like to introduce yourself solely as the artist, allowing no glimpse into you or the person behind the artwork? How much or how little do you want to talk about your work? How do you relate to the job? Do you look, speak, dress, and walk like that particular artwork’s artist and creator, or how would people imagine that artist to look? Do you want to use clothing and makeup to enhance that artist/artwork link, connection…or not?

Generally, as photographers and visual artists, we wear black when we work (at least as photographers so that our clothes do not reflect the light) and show off our work. Because black absorbs all light colors, it does not attract attention, so it does not distract from the artwork.

And still, what to wear, as an artist, at your own opening show?

Let me start with a side note here: if clothing is your art, then you might as well wear your art if it helps the show. Why not?

As a photographer or visual artist, consider wearing black, but make sure that whatever you decide to wear helps define you–not only as an artist but also as the creator of the artwork presented at the show.

Also, bring business cards and a pen, and make a few notes or mental notes about your work. Be aware that you might be asked questions about your work–what it represents, where you photographed it, what inspires you or your work in general, even more questions about how you created that artwork, etc.

And also, bring a camera and your smartphone for pictures, group selfies, and the like.

If you want to check out such an experience (without the butterflies in your stomach), stop by the grand opening of La Vie Galerie, on Friday, October 5, in Livingston, New Jersey. Check out some of the artwork, including a few of my black-and-white images. Most importantly, meet the exhibiting artists, particularly Vladimir Rios, who made it all possible. And check out my interview with Rios, published in Out IN Jersey Magazine.

Stop by and say “Hi” if you’re in the area. Hope to see you there!

Until then, and as always, thanks for visiting me here online!

Alina Oswald

PS: here are a few images from La Vie Galerie’s opening night: