Ecxhanging Art

I have just taken part in Artella’s Sprites of Spring art exchange, and once again have been thrilled with the experience of exchanging art across the world. My recipient is in the USA, and posting things cross the ocean isn’t as easy or as fun as it used to be, so I have no idea if she received my packages or not, or if they got to her unharmed - but that doesn’t make the experience any less meaningful.
For my own part, I got a delightful sprite in Novia Scotia, who sent me two beautiful handmade books. One is my latest art journal, but the other will probably be a text journal. Just to have connected with someone so creative and open hearted across the globe is a joy.
My first taste of art exchange was through Artella’s Christmas exchange last year. These exchanges are so worthwhile - not only do you connect with other artists through your own art, but it puts beautiful things into your own hands - and the knowledge that art does not have to be created to sell. The joy of just giving away your art is hard to express - after all, we are concerned with making a living and paying the bills, and in this context, time is precious. But it’s just because time is precious, that it is so soul satisfying to give it away.
These art exchanges have a deeper meaning - as I said, it is harder now to send parcels across the globe, and worrying because you don’t know if they will survive going through customs - my daughter bought a rare large size My Little Pony on Ebay and it arrived with one ear broken off from a customs’ search of its interior.
But we must persist - we must continue to show that we are not bowed by world terrorism, and share our creativity.

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