Being a part of the 2017 Austin People’s Gallery became real to me when I drove up to city hall and saw the line out of the building. I arrived 30 minutes late, or “on time,” according to some cultures, but I found two yoga friends already in line. The security check had created the line. A guard came out, passing plastic bowls, so guys could empty their pockets. He informed us women we could keep our jewelry on. One of my friends confessed to having a pocket knife. When the guard asked how big it was, she whipped it out to show him and he told her it was OK. I just laughed and asked the people behind us, who’d witnessed the exchange, if they felt safe.
As befitting “The Live Music Capital of the World,” a musician performed near the entrance.
Two large screens flanked either side of the “stage area.” Once my picture flashed, I realized I’d worn the exact outfit as in my picture, making it appear that I only had one nice dress for an evening.
I received my name tag, which included the number of my painting and the booklet that included a layout of all the artwork along with an artist index.
The mayor told us a funny story about the architect who’d designed city hall and had liked the stone walls so much, he didn’t want anything to hang on them. So much for that!
We slowly ascended to the second floor, appreciating all the other work along the way while heading to my painting.
The design of the office space isolated my painting away from the other work. The people who placed my painting there did me a solid. So much good work was displayed that my painting could have easily looked shabby adjacent to a real painter’s work.
One of my friends teased me about having the title of my book in the painting’s title, but the real question is, why would I waste such an opportunity by not advertising my book? As a matter of fact, I think I could have been clearer that this painting illustrated a book. Probably better not to have gone overboard with the self-promotion.
I hope Mayor Pro-Tem Tovo gets lots of visitors to her office. After the reception, I called my father, an avid lottery player, to give him a pick-3 and a pick-4: 089 and 2121.
As soon as I saw Redd Foxx, I started singing the “Sanford and Son” theme song. The blurb stated this was how he’d look when he finally joined Elizabeth.
This mosaic exuded richness and complexity in its design, but such simplicity in the suggestion of her face.
I didn’t bother to read the artist’s blurb for this work. I just figured these politicians should be paddled for the transgressions shown below their image.
Since my long-term 2017 project is repurposing a dictionary for one of my nephews, I loved how this book had been incorporated into this contraption.
Among my friends and I, most of us saw the big picture of the guy, whereas one friend had zoomed into the tiny toys that created this mosaic. The 3-D pieces added more shadow and depth than my camera phone captured.
After attending this reception, I truly wanted to start another painting although I didn’t have the schedule to take on any new projects. Once the weather turns consistently warmer and the daylight lasts longer, I’ll have more incentive to put paint to canvas.