THE ART OF SHARING A year or two ago, a red headed friend once told me that fruit is much sweeter when shared. We ate a cantaloupe in the summer sun as I let that thought sink in. To let a piece of fruit sit on the kitchen counter until it is forgotten is a shame, that's why we offer it to our friends and guests when they come to share smiles and stories. The same is true for the fruits of our labor: as thinkers, doers and artists, it is imperative that we share our works with our friends and loved ones. The humble light of an acquaintance's smile is far more pleasing than the silent strokes of eyes that never see a painting, sculpture, photograph, collage, song or indescribable moment. In giving back to our friends, we give back to our sources of inspiration. The root of any work is hard to find, but it often comes from somewhere we trust and respect: a humble anecdote, a joke generations old, a few seconds of intoxicated merriment. Each finger, hand, and brush is given strength by the support of a community of optimistic comments and discerning eyes. With each fruit plucked and each canvas easily finished, the artist's heart grows more courageous and fanciful in its designs. Art is to be shared, not always because we want it to be, but because art must be shared to become ripe and digested. So we come together this weekend to let our art flourish in front of new and old eyes. The show itself is an experiment in simple cooperation, and its success depends solely on what is given and taken away in this moment in time. We hope you enjoyed being a part of our experiment in the visual arts as much as we enjoyed working with so many friendly, talented and attractive artists! Cheers, Talib Abdullahi · Jono Foley · Tamir Kalifa · Bobby Longoria The Skank Family Artist Collective Eastside · Austin · Texas · United States February 2011
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