My youngest guest, Sam, leaving a thoughtful message with the help of his Mom.
Like many aspiring artists, for more than a decade, I’ve nurtured the dream of holding a show of my own in a really wonderful exhibition space where I display a body of work I’m immensely proud of, surrounded by a supportive network of friends and family. It was only a year or so ago, I remember visiting an exhibition of some friends at the Shenkman Centre’s Trinity Art Gallery and wondering if I’d ever get to the level of showing in such an impressive space. Doubting it would happen for quite some time, I’ve been content to hold shows in some great alternative public spaces such as the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) (Main Branch) as well as the Studio of Conceptual Design (my hairdresser’s hair salon/art gallery).
Putting together these two solo exhibitions last year gave me the much needed confidence to believe in my abilities to produce and coordinate a show of my own. By the end of my Public Library stint, I worried where I would show next. To my disappointment, plum spots like the Starbucks in the Glebe, were already booked for the next two years! So upon the urging of my framer, Luis and an OPL security guard Luc, who noted I could be showing in very respectable spaces, I decided to submit an application to the City of Ottawa galleries. I knew my chances of getting a show in one of these amazing spaces was slim, but decided to apply anyway because I felt it wouldn’t hurt to get into the practice of selling my ideas for a show in a public space. You can imagine my surprise when I received news that I’d been selected to show in the Atrium Gallery at the Ben Franklin Place this year – there sure was a lot of celebrating that went on as I realized my dream was now a plausible reality.
From December 2010 to my November 2011 opening, my days and nights have been filled with creating, financing, planning, marketing, and executing various projects related to the show. You know constructing an exhibition is more than just doing the work, sticking labels underneath it and saying there you go! As I prepared for it, a whole slew of friends, the people I refer to quite fondly as my “team” stepped in to give me a hand whenever I needed it. I was so touched by this outpouring of support. There are very few times in my life, I’ve experienced such generosity from friends, many of whom are working artists and professionals who gave many precious hours or days of their time to help out. As coordinator of the Pieces of Me III “gala” (LOL Maggie!), it was quite a feat to orchestrate so many people working together. There were many days and weeks when my head was just spinning knowing the hundreds of tasks that needed to be done before the October deadline of getting the show up and running in the gallery. When it was finally accomplished, I could only step back in awe of how it all came together!
Nearly a 100 visitors stopped by the opening... it was a great time.
As I share these first few images I’ve composed from the photos of my photographer and friend Carmin Davidson (there’ll many more next month!), I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my “team”, other friends, relatives as well as members of the public who’ve come out to support me or sent email messages and left gallery comments regarding the show. My opening was as beautiful as I imagined it to be – with nearly 100 visitors in attendance! It was a truly memorable experience.
My visitor comments book is filled with funny, heart-felt and honest reflections of the show.
My Pieces of Me III Exhibition Team:
Editors (Writing: Constructive Criticism, Inspiration):
Elaine Coombs
Teresa Serrao
Olive Jones
Jean Griffin
Kevin Casey
Gary Reny
Gates Cooney
Editors (Visual):
Teresa Serrao (Gallery Layout/Selection)
Jean Griffin (Gallery Layout/Selection)
Kevin Casey (Gallery Layout/Selection)
Luis Salazar (Gallery Layout)
Wendy Southin (Display Case Layout)
Patricia Velte (Invitation Layout)
Dan Proulx (Marketing Advice)
Margos Zacharian (Marketing Advice)
French Translators:
Angelica Zaynullina
Céline Amdur
Kevin Casey
Digital Scanning & Printing:
Peter Farris-Manning
Mario Lamoureux
Denis Legault
Ashley White
Norm Prest
Photographic Services:
Carmin Davidson
Peter Farris-Manning
Website Design Services:
Patricia Velte
Framing Services:
Luis Salazar (Art World One)
Gallery Set Up Team:
Maggie Jordan (Gallery)
Kevin Casey (Gallery)
Wendy Southin (Display Case, Gallery)
Christian Southin (Display Case, Gallery)
Penelope Kokkinos (Atrium Gallery Coordinator)
Atrium Gallery Building Maintenance Personnel
Opening Team:
Penelope Kokkinos (Atrium Gallery Coordinator)
Maya Hum (Opening Assistant, Atrium Gallery)
Maggie Jordan (Information/Purchasing Agent)
Olive Jones (Information Agent)
Sheila Cain-Sample (Fine Art Card Sales)
Wendy Southin (Food Table)
Mark Davies (Wine Table)
Dean Kingston (Wine Table)
Kevin Casey (Audio Visual Technician)
Atrium Gallery Building Maintenance Personnel
Carla Richichi (Makeup Artist)
In addition, I want to thank Susan Ashbrook, Lynne Cohen and Andrew Lugg whose loyal support and professional advice throughout the years gave me the courage to fill out my first public gallery submission… although they could not be present I held their spirits in my heart… and Ariane Goodwin and Jennifer Lee – through their courses I’m beginning to truly learn what it means to be a successful professional working artist.
Finally I’d like to thank Misa Kobayashi and Melissa Peters (editor and contributing editor/writer, respectively) of Where Ottawa magazine for putting my exhibition on their Hot Art spots to visit for the month!
More news and pics to come next month!
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