Art Prize is not over yet. On Friday night, the winners will be annouced. There is a lot of money - $125,000 to the grand prize winner. The other winners win a good chunk of change too. Its a competition, and that element twists things. It makes it fun, and it also … raises the question why I make art.

Viewers can vote for one artist per day. It is super fun to see people hold their phones up to the QR code near my piece and vote. Its great that I connect with people not for money, but to engage them with the work and my ideas.

I want to win. I like competition. It helps me get out of my comfort zone. And the money would validate the time and effort I put into making art. Gosh, I’d be a WINNER!

Really, I have already won. My goal for the show was to connect. On Saturday, I spoke with viewers for 5 hours without a break, and I thought maybe an hour had passed. Not bad for a first timer, huh? Its validating to have people look at my work, and talk about it and hear people’s thoughts. I have spent the last few years focusing on valueing what I make, raising the bar on the work I do. The engagement I got this weekend confirmed that what I do matters. What I make is good.

There is this voice in my head, “If I really valued what I make, i need to engage in getting money for what I do”. How the heck do I put a value on any of this?

Winning the prize would change that conversation. I can change that conversation too. Maybe its time.