Talking Salmagundi Club Blues

With Club members, ready to hang at the gallery. Photo by Anthony Almeida

For most of my life, I’ve had an aversion to public speaking. My first public performance, at the age of six, was singing ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah’ in a sailor cap and with a red carnation in my lapel. That was my kindrgarten graduation presentation

Developing into an artist of the introverted, secretive, bushel covered type, and feeling like an imposter the whole time, I held the hopeless hope that my work would somehow speak for itself. But as we all learn sooner or later, you have to get back out in front of the people.

The way I got through this was that I realized at a point that I could converse with one or two people for hours about art. I could explain the concepts and emotions I wanted to convey, about architectural or historical details related to my subjects, and frankly explain my process, which, as I have no formal academic or atelier education, is rather simple and intuitive. I found that I was comfortable with my methods, and not feeling the imposter at all. I never pretended I knew secrets of the ‘masters.’ I think it was my strong feelings about going my own way that emboldened me.

I have been a member of the salmagundi Club in New York since 2022. I joined the art committee and later served as President, Working with the other committee members jurying art, hanging exhibits, and discussing direction of future exhibitions helped give me a sense of belonging that boosted my confidence.

I was offered the opportunity to present and discuss my methods to a group of around 50 attendees at Salmagundi. It was a way to convey that a different way of seeing and creating was okay. I was not following the script of another, nor dictating someone else’s rules.

Or singing someone else’s lyrics. I’ll meet Mr. Bluebird in my own way.