My first museum show opened in the Grants Pass Museum of Art on Friday, April 2, 2010. Despite a rainstorm, 400 people came during the three-hour event. That’s rather impressive for a town of 32,000 people.
While viewing Pilgrimage is a holistic experience, when viewers speak to me as the artist, they tend to focus on a particular impression:
- It’s anthropological.
- The symbols are powerful.
- All of your patterns and textures give the impression of fabric.
- There’s so much movement and rhythm in each painting.
- The feelings being expressed are touching me deeply.
- Clearly, you have something to say.
- You have captured the essence of each place.
- Your shapes are totally original and the colors are vibrant.
- It’s so overwhelming I’ll have to come back.
- Thank you for sharing this work.
This was the third opening of Pilgrimage and each experience has been different for me. I was scared at the first reception in the Hallie Brown Ford Gallery in Roseburg. Pilgrimage reflects so much of my interior that I felt totally exposed. I was grateful that people were friendly and willing to open themselves to abstract art.
The second reception at the Chessman Gallery in Lincoln City was exciting. Being close to the metropolitan center of Portland, people were accustomed to contemporary works. Viewers were so effusive in their affirmation of the quality of my artwork that I was able to begin distancing myself from its personal content.
With two openings behind me, I felt comfortable and relaxed in Grants Pass. I enjoyed meeting many local artists as well as members of the art department from Rogue Community College. Their interest in the creative process made the experience of giving my first official “artist talk” a positive one.
One of my granddaughters asked, “What’s next, Grandma?” I'm wondering that myself!
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