I have a story to tell. You see, I recently got my brother and his wife a very neat joint birthday present. I had three of my works (originals…ha!) framed which didn’t cost an awful lot, but I am a student so any money at all is a lot for me.

Here is where my story gets deep… I grew up on a farm. I was born there and we are the 5th generation of our family that lives there. Near this farm, there is a small town, and in this town, there are many small minded people. So I took my three as yet unframed works to the small town where there is a small framing business with a nice lady, who is also small,  which I have used for framing purposes before and worked out a deal with her.

Little did I know what an apparent commotion one of my works would create. I didn’t realise it before, but taken out of context, this (see above) lino cut print is kinda confusing, especially when you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about and commenting on. Some people just have to raise their opinions. And with reference to personal experience, the smaller the town, the smaller the mind and the bigger and louder the opinion. Apparently a few people complained about it when they saw it in the framing shop and the lady had to hide it in the back after a while. Talk about controversial! Damn! She explained that I was doing graphic art (not just quite, but I’ll take it) and that it was for some project. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I didn’t explain the context of the work in question to her when I dropped it off so she couldn’t quite explain it to her complaining public. Some lady apparently told a whole elaborate story about animal abuse in Johannesburg and people going to jail because of it. As if I didn’t know that! That was kinda the point of the art work (see earlier post where I explain the theme and context).

I love the whole situation! I think it increases the value! So there’s a lesson to be learned from all of this: always think in advance when dealing with people from small towns.

P.S. I love my town xx