08/28/2026
Last night I was featured alongside 7 other artists at a gallery reception at The Bridgwater Lofts in downtown Minneapolis. This wasn't just your average group. I was showcased with DEEPLY distinguished artist, in a crowd of very wealthy and cultured people. Normally I would be fine with merely coasting under the radar, but of course, they pulled out the microphone and asked each artist to speak. When I say I was showing with prestigious artists, I'm talking people who are, (or have been), professors at the top universities in the area, and/or have their work in museums and private collections ALL OVER THE WORLD. Needless to say, they're all skillful and eloquent speakers. And then there was me, the absolute B**B of the group! And, of course, I had to speak last because if the cursed last name, Van Sickle. The good news is that I'm pretty seasoned at being the uncomfortable do**us in the room. I stood in front of over 100 people and admitted that my words could never compare with these pros. I still sounded like a b**b, but at least I got a few laughs. There really should be a rule that visual artists shouldn't have to speak in public. We want you to look at our work, not us! Thankfully, the other artists and audience were kind. Tim Harding, one of my all-time favorite artists, even sat next to me and said I did just fine. Not a stress-free night, but a positive experience, nonetheless. Here is the beautiful reception room where the reception was held.
