First Juried Show

Last night I went to the opening of the DUMA biennial show. I had a piece accepted. It was my first show of this sort.

I met wonderful artists. I saw beautiful and challenging work. We drank beer that my son, James, helped can at Jubeck's. We ate from wonderful food trucks.

Jennifer went with me and Annemarie and Dennis came because they could. These three people are ones I knew when I was in high school, back when I made art before my 25-year hiatus. They were in my study halls or in my art classes or right next to me in every English class I ever took. That was really special.

Mike and Michael were there. They are newer friends, and yet we are old friends in so many ways. They love art and their presence heightened the level of the show for me. My best supporter and partner was not well. Tom has bought me art supplies for 30 years even when I could not muster the courage or the time to make art. Tom helped construct my frames. (Nathan, my other son, spotted that framing stock at the Habitat ReStore where he works and made sure I came and bought it.) He and I will go look at the exhibit together when he recovers. We will look at all of the art the way we like--quietly and for as long as it takes. Then we'll go to Jubeck's and have a beer and talk about art.

The highlight of my night was that my parents were there. My parents were there before I was! We entered the gallery together and started looking at the art. The next I knew, Jennifer was telling me that my mom and her walker had sped past all of the other art looking for my piece. When she and my dad found it, they just parked in front. I wish I had been there when they found it. They were on a mission, though, and there was no way I could keep up. You see, before Tom, my parents bought me art supplies every year. What a wonderful gift to have them at this show, my first "real" show. Not all 50-somethings would be able to have that.

So art is about relationships. I need them to make art making possible and satisfying. I really like the piece I made, but I was most proud of my relationships last night.