i went to the show this morning to meet a couple of people who couldn’t make it to the opening on wednesday when i was there, so i’ve been thinking a bit about how to process this whole thing.

my friend jenn, on the way over this morning, had told her little girls that i had been working on this for over a year and one of them said “she must be really proud.”

and i’ve been asked a bunch if i’m happy with it. really, what i’m happy with is far larger than the show. i’m happy that i chose to knit instead of paint or write poetry. people have seen me working on these projects… i have taught for free within my community during this process, and the projects are nearly as much a part of the community as i am. with both painting and poetry i’ve always been unmotivated because i feel like an artist in a box. lock myself up in my house (or wherever) do my work, present my work. i don’t really buy into the art world or the gallery scene anyhow, so i’m not sure how that would have went had i gone in that direction. with knitting the process is much more organic and fits so much more into my life. it seems that i have been matched to an occupation.

the other thing that makes me overly jubilant about this show is the fact that i am actually making a difference in people’s lives. i’m not saying that paintings and poetry don’t, but i especially feel it here. i’ve been thanked by so many people for thinking and writing about knitting and theology. it seems to me that it was a worthy thing to think about… worth it for me and worth it for those around me.  i’m touched that i can be a voice within the community of knitters, but i’m especially touched and honored by being allowed to be the voice of women older than me and women throughout time who have found knitting particularily incarnational.  shannon (whose blog i love) has some lovely thoughts on the knitting history over here – and i agree with her whole-heartedly.

one of my friends said to me that my exhibit is so me, and i said, “yeah, but remember when i came here? this wasn’t me then.” and she replied something like, “but it was” to both of us nodding.

so here i am, me. trying to meet a book deadline by next wednesday with a disaster for a house and less stress in my shoulders, moving on.

welcome to my thesis show! these are pre-show pics, as you can tell by my shoes here and my coat and bags here.  there are about 8 pictures over on flickr if you’d like to peruse. the whole thesis set is here.

sorry about the quality – it was bright and sunny and hot when i showed up to finish setting up.

as predicted, with three of us showing it was packed for nearly the whole time. usually it peters out by 7, but we got kicked out of the building because they needed to lock up at 7:45. i had alissa take some pictures during the opening and so i’ll put those up soon. i hope people come back when there’s less of a crowd! the built up stress slowly left throughout the evening. i was very squinty and tired when it was over. yay! it’s over!

on the other hand, i could talk about wool and knitting for hours.  i gave lots of brief spinning demos and chatted with everyone.  one of my friends said “your first gallery show!” and i couldn’t help but laugh.  what knitters who knit practical items have gallery shows?  perhaps my only gallery show, and i’m okay with that.

plans for today? there’s yarn everywhere, so maybe some cleaning. haven’t seen the whole of my kitchen table for weeks. i have a book deadline early next week and i need to work on the projects. but that will all be relaxing with this over. maybe a bath…