A severe storm alert has been announced by the Des Moines Police. Headed our way, in 30 minutes, is a 70 miles/hr hail storm. A large mass of scary looking black clouds are in the horizon, slowly marching toward us.  All the artists have closed down, and tied down as much as possible. I too have done what I can, but I’m nervous. Mother Nature can be a real bitch…. if it’s bad enough, I could lose most of my art work.

I was in one other severe storm maybe six years ago in Michigan. It was one of my first shows, and I didn’t know what I was doing back then. I struggled just to break even in those days. But a woman had come to see my work three times, telling me each time how much she wanted four large pieces. On the third visit she told me she would bring her husband to close the deal, and I was thrilled. Minutes later the show people come by announcing a severe weather warning. They tell us we can leave if we want. My neighbors start to pack up, but I just know the woman is coming back, and so I wait. As the weather gets worse I slowly realize she’s not coming back. But now I’ve past the safety theshold and the weather is so bad, my assistant and I are now desperately holding the walls back. I quickly start putting the art into their crates, as Alan keeps the walls from coming down on us. With the help of some of the great and generous artists that do these shows, I manage to get all my art to safety inside my van. However the weather is now pounding us. In one surreal moment, my booth starts to lift from the wind. We get out of the way and watch it lift like in the Wizard of Oz. It is airborne briefly, then comes crashing down on its side and begins rolling. I can hear the horrible sound of screeching, breaking and twisting metal. When it’s all done, I’ve saved the art and half my booth.

I’m better prepared here, but hail ripping through the roof could be a real party pooper. The wind is picking up… I have to go.