WOW, what can I say? I had my first big artist reception today! I can't believe that the art committee at the University Club of Winter Park actually called to invite me to do a show. I really thought maybe it was a prank call at first. But it wasn't! They actually said they would like to see my work on the walls for the month of July. Nita, Daphne and Joe at the UC all welcomed me in and have been effervescent in their help and suggestions. Both Daphne and Nita are painters and exhibit themselves so they know the ropes quite well.
And props up to my buddy, Pam, an amazing photographer who has been exhibiting at various galleries and helped me set up and place the photos. She has an excellent eye for knowing what goes where! The funny thing was, when we came to set up, the lightening and thunder were Hellish and seemed poised right over our heads. As lightening stabbed down all around us, I unloaded the truck with my many photos. The cart I used was shiny, metal. One bolt flashed hard and seemed so close it sent Pam running for the safety of the building as I wheeled the 'lightening rod' cart up the ramp to the doors. I had to laugh, I told Pam, "I can see the obituary now! Local photographer loses bid for first exhibition when she and her photos burned to ash by a lightening strike that came from above Palm Cemetery and set her and her artwork ablaze."
But it wasn't my time and today was my reception and a few wonderful people came out to support me and I very much appreciate that they took the time and even the gas, and drove to Winter Park to be there for me. My family was wonderful in helping me with so many aspics of this. I am happy they encourage their 'crazy mother' to snap away! And sweet Adam, he is the best at helping his old Mom through this maze of artwork that I have taken on. He will go out of his way to be there to help me trudge my art work around Alive After Fives, or other venues! I couldn't ask for a better assistant. My Andrea is a great critic and a budding acrylic painter who I hope will join me in exhibiting as she builds her own portfolio. And Aaron, though he lives and works 110 miles away, he comes over when he can. And I appreciate that when he comes, he doesn't mind sleeping among the clutter of frames and matting.
My art exhibit will continue through July 30th, so if you are in the area, go check it out, please look at my nature photos. My motive is to make you smile and think about the wildlife around us and how lucky we are to have it so close by. So thank you over-zealous developers and politicians for crashing down acres upon acres of trees and shrubbery and filling in wetlands so the fauna of Florida have no other choice but to wander onto our properties.
And seriously, thank you so much, all of you who genuinely came to my aid and filled some space! You all will never know how much it meant to me and how much I appreciate you!
Abbe
