Redtree Times

Journey and Light– Show Ends Thursday at West End Gallery!!

Every moment was a precious thing, having in it the essence of finality.

–Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca (1938)

We’re in the last few days of the Eye in the Sky exhibit at the West End Gallery. It comes off the walls after this Thursday, August 24.

It’s always a bittersweet feeling near the end of any show. The finality of the ending begins to set in at this point as the removal of the work from the gallery walls looms. Any artist wishes their work to continue to be featured front and center all the time, so to relinquish the wall space is looked upon with a mix of sadness and begrudging acceptance.

But at the same time, there is a feeling of liberation in the shape of a shift from the present– the work that has been done for these shows– to the future and the new work that has been waiting to get past the obligations of the show so that it might emerge.

Doing two shows every year that are only separated by 5 or 6 weeks makes for a very demanding schedule in the first 8 months of the year. There is a push to produce the needed work followed by the obligatory promotional push that comes with each show. Both are taxing in their own way though I view the promotional part, of which this blog is a big part during the shows, as the more demanding of the two. The creation of the work is energizing and self-propelling. It feels natural and ingrained.

On the other hand, the required writing and posting is a very difficult task for me, often feeling unnatural and awkward. I suppose that is why I gave up the idea of being a writer long ago. Writing even short posts is usually a struggle, leaving me feeling as though I am out of my lane.

Writing simply doesn’t create the same sort of joy in me as does the painting. So, removing it as a promotional task solely about my work and making it more about things that inspire and interest me is a relief around the time this show ends.

I am freed.

But, even so, seeing the show come down is always a bit of a downer. But not in a big way. As you all know, there are much worse things in this world. I certainly do. If this is the biggest downer in my life, I am leading a most enchanted life.

Maybe I am. So don’t expect me to be sobbing any more about it.

I am going to take the advice of Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders with their cover the old Kinks song, Stop Your Sobbing, and start moving ahead into that freed up future.

Well, moving on after telling you once more that my show ends Thursday, August 24, at the West End Gallery.