I kept looking for something to kick this post off, some quote or blurb that would set the tone, but I couldn’t find anything that captures the mix of feelings of accomplishment, pride, fear, and anxious smallness that comes with the opening of any show I have ever done. Oh, I can find words to describe any of those things separately but that weird mix of conflicting and opposite emotions isn’t easy to find.
Well, let’s just start by saying that my annual solo exhibit of new work opens today at the Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA. This exhibit, Depths and Light, is my 23rd consecutive show in this fabulous gallery, going back to the first show, Redtree, in 2000.
There is an opening reception from 6-8:30 PM which marks the formal opening of the show. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this year. Next year, come hell or high water. I promise.
I have strong feelings about this show. This is where the feeling of accomplishment and pride I mentioned earlier comes into play. In the months leading up to this day, I lived with the work for many hours each day in the studio and the totality of it together always brought me a great sense of fulfillment. It all felt full and complete.
I sensed this during the process of painting the works for this show. Each piece seemed to demand additional depth and layers that went beyond what I had employed in the past. As a result, each piece took much longer than in the past, requiring much more effort and often left me feeling debilitated at the end of each.
This actually felt good, as though I were investing even more of myself in the work, if that were possible. It felt like I was using all my built-up experience and ability to its fullest potential. That’s all you can ask for as an artist, so the exertion turned into a form of exhilaration. I believe this shows itself in the work.
I hope so.
I am not going to go into the smallness and fears that I mentioned in the first paragraph. There’s plenty of time to discuss those things in the future. Today, I want to focus on the better part of the day, that the work gets to show itself apart from me and that it gets to take on a life of its own.
All I can hope for as an artist.
I hope you can get into the gallery to see the show. For those of you who aren’t able to visit the gallery, you can take a virtual walk-through the exhibit by clicking here. It’s easily navigated and you can get the titles and info for each painting by putting your cursor on the blue and white circle next to each painting. It gives you a great sense of the space and the work.
A little tidbit on the space: The building, Gilpin House, is a historic site that was originally the residence of George Gilpin who was a relative, friend and business partner to George Washington. So, there’s a good chance that old George might have walked these same floor boards or warmed his hands in front of that very fireplace. There probably wasn’t a Red Tree hanging over it then.
Again, you can take a virtual walk-through by clicking here.
Or you can browse the exhibit catalog by clicking here.
Redtree Times 