Many artists may not know the personal demons that can arise when finally arriving to a high level of visibilty. Old triggers of doubt, insecurity, ridicule, all surface when the pressure is on, the lights are bright, the critics are out, and the proof of what stories have actually been playing in the background of your own mind and insidiously wihtin your own practice (possibly for years) show up.
When exhibiting an artist for the first time in a grand scale or eponymous showing, proper care and communication of expectations,as well as under-committing Any level of presentation, is key. It may also be a wise luxury even to invite a social therapist (or relationship counsellor) in the beginning meetings to establish not only healthy expectations and clear ground rules, but also to identify how to navigate confilct or disappointments (in the calm times) for future reference (in the high-stress times). This may feel pie-in-the-sky, touchy-feely unnecessary, but when the art is coming from a potentially torutured or fragile space, the same care instructions we designate for the handling of fragile artworks should equally extend to fragile human artists (Especially those that seem perenially 'okay' or 'strong').
This is just a PSA for not mishandling artists. Not for liability-evasion. But for genuine care.
And when being the focus of an exhibition, especially your first, artists — please remember that anyone who has volunteered to help you is there because they believe in you, and their presence is a vote of confidence for you.
Do not make the mistake of forgetting this.
For how you treat those working close with you (for free) is an example of what anyone that might apply to work with you (for pay) in the future might have to look forward to. But all in all, service is not servitude, wages are not white-labels for mistreatment, and you do not own anyone (I thought we abolished that concept in 1865).
No one owes you anything.
Everyone has chosen to show up for you. Do the work of making sure your own insecurities do not cause you to create a world of future regrets, burned bridges, and resentful former freinds, all because you had a meltdown/temper tantrum because you realized you couldn't actually handle the spotlight in that momenet. Gather yourself, apoligize more than is necessary, and be a gracious human.
It only takes a moment to destroy trust and belief. And a lifetiime of attempting to win it back. Perhaps remember the world of fashion : none of the greatest designers can do it without the fabricators and sewers. That's why many of our most revered designers and creative directors always spolight their staff, shoutnout the behind-the-scenes supporters in a post or photo capture, or bring them onto the runway.
And being good friends does not make people mind readers; you're going to need to use your words (and pictures, and sketches) to accurately communicate whats in your head.
No one can see it or 'just get it'.
This is just a PSA for not mishandling humans, or their genuine belief in you and the sacrifices they make in silence.
Everything is seen. Quiet can be deafening when caused by negligence.
Take good care of the human heart. Take good care, and continue making incredible art and spaces for us all to find better ways of articulating our own interior worlds.
We all need care insturctuons to train others how to not mis-handle us.
Have you ever considered that you might not even know your own?