One of my goals in rebuilding my art studio and practice has been simple: reconnect with people.
Two weeks ago, I had that opportunity during the East Boulder County Artists’ Studio Tour.
After shutting down my studio in 2021, most of my work ended up packed away in our basement—out of sight, and eventually, out of mind. I kept a few newer, smaller pieces around, but the majority of my work wasn’t part of my daily environment.
For the studio tour, I brought a range of pieces back out—older work alongside more recent pieces from the past few years. It was the first time in a long while that I spent time with my work outside of creating it.
And I realized how much I’ve missed living with it.
Having the work on the walls again—seeing it all together—shifted something. It reminded me that the work doesn’t end when a piece is finished. There’s another layer that happens when it’s shared.
That became even more clear through the conversations I had during the tour. I genuinely enjoyed connecting with people, talking through the work, and seeing what resonated.
Alongside the finished pieces, I also invited visitors to participate in a couple of community-driven works.
Those experiences are always unpredictable.
In the past, those pieces have drawn a lot of engagement. This time, the response was quieter. Not absent—just different.
It’s a reminder that participation ebbs and flows. It may simply mean those pieces need to show up in different contexts to find the right moment.
Overall, this felt like a meaningful first step back into showing my work.
More importantly, it feels like momentum.
I’m looking forward to building on this—finding new opportunities to engage, connect, and continue sharing the work as it evolves through the rest of the summer.
