Here is how the story goes…

Millicent: a visual artist who wants to exhibit and be curated all over the world

Dilemma one: How to meet the great curators and patrons who can get your work into those shows?

Dilemma two: How to write to the curator afterwards and get them to visit your studio?

Dilemma three: How to propose an exhibit?

Guess what it is today?

Today is show-off day, but I am not showing ME off. 

I am showing HER off.

Meet Millicent Young:

An artist…

A sensitive soul who makes work about vulnerability, brutality, fragility, resilience…

Who was stuck in email limbo (no response to emails)... disheartened by rejections and professional jealousies… 

Who dreamt of exhibiting in Europe…

But dreaded the endless process of reaching out to galleries. 

Then she found Praxis Roundtables

And doorways opened.

Here are just a few of the results she got:

She met Michaela Silpochora, a curator in Prague, at one of our weekly Praxis Roundtables 

She followed the instructions I gave her to write to the curator

And after an exchange of letters and a studio visit, she is now in a show in Prague!

Now Millicent’s life looks something like this:

She’s pulled back from engaging on social media - that’s what goes when other things get fuller. Like her day job, the garden, studio work and preparing for exhibitions. 

Sent out a newsletter - “I am delighted to be exhibiting internationally again with three works going to DOX Center for Contemporary Art in Prague for an exhibition opening in the fall.”

Flying to Europe for an upcoming exhibition in Prague with Michaela Silpochova

This is the power of meeting the curators and collectors at Praxis Roundtables and the power of personal initiative. No solution, method or magic pill would have helped Millicent if she hasn’t made a conscious decision to tackle the art world head on. In her own words:

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Dear Brainard,

I just want to express my gratitude to you and Praxis. I feel I joined at just the right time for where I am on my path - it's beautiful how things open as they do, when they do. From the courses, the round tables and listening to you come the tips, affirmations, and sense of community. Doorways appear. And the sense of repair to my interior net, the net that gets torn through rejections and professional jealousies - the tears that are harder to heal than the ones from the rough edges and strong muscles of the creative process itself. I really appreciate your kindness which is such a meaningful part of the support and advocacy you and Praxis do.

I wrote to Michaela right after the last round table and already she has spent much time with my work via my website, has proposed a possible visit during her upcoming trip to New York, and has asked in the meantime for more images and information. Today I am mailing her a book I made.

Since I joined I've reached out to 5 curators (2 upstate and 3 in NYC) and have 3 in person studio visits lined up. And a sweet flow of applications and submission for projects and grants too. I feel my confidence has shed its shell and I feel Praxis has been present in that. I feel energy flowing in new ways, equally in my inward and outward practices of being an artist.

I won't be able to attend today's round table. So cheers and thank you,

Millicent

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Who wants to be curated internationally? Is that you? The one who is sitting there reading this email, nodding her head silently as you realize you are living the “before”

Where would your art career be if I were to take you by the hand and personally introduce you to a collector, curator and dealer of this caliber over Zoom… every week… so that they can buy, and curate, and champion your work? 

Do you think you’ll get more shows? 

More sales? 

More sponsors? 

It’s very possible.

Try Praxis membership on me for 30 days.

You have to love it - or I insist you get a refund. You can also cancel at anytime.

-Brainard