The thrill of the hunt
May 20, 2020
When an exhibit is outside along a mile-long trail, it turns into a family adventure and scavenger hunt, not just another art show.
What an honor it was to visit my work displayed for the first time in a juried art show. On the opening weekend of the exhibit, 2020 M2R Fence Gallery, our family of three donned our masks and headed west of town to visit the outdoor exhibit in downtown Marietta, GA. And there’s no better place for an exhibit during a pandemic than along an outdoor trail, right? Perfect timing!
Visiting the outdoor show turned into of a fun walk in the fresh spring air in beautiful, historic downtown Marietta. We passed joggers, fast walkers, cyclists, families, moms with strollers and couples out for a morning stroll. Some were there for a long, energetic run while others just meandered (a great southern term for slowly walking with no particular endpoint in mind) enjoying the fresh air.
Having parked near the middle of the trail and not knowing exactly where my pieces were displayed, we simply chose a direction and started walking. After walking for a few blocks, finally, there I was on a chilly, sunny, gorgeous, Atlanta spring morning finally standing in front of my work, displayed in public, shared with the world — a life-long goal achieved. What a delight to see it hanging among other fantastic, unique pieces, all with different stories to tell.
Having my work accepted into a non-student juried show has been a lifetime aspiration for me. One that never had a timeline. A far-off sort of dream. While I’ve worked in the art world all my life, it’s been on the commercial side of things. And as a graphic designer and creative director for 25 years, most of my work has been digital, certainly produced digitally even if the final product was printed. I’ve always felt a real pull toward more tactile, expressive arts — work that I can touch and manipulate with my hands. So over the years I’ve painted here and there, more as a hobby than anything. And, finally, about five years ago I pulled out all of my brushes, bought fresh paints, took some classes and began to re-learn the craft of painting.
I love color. I love playing with paint and textures. I love bringing life, emotion and feeling to a canvas — sharing new stories through visual expressions. But even better than creating the work is sharing it with others, bringing a smile to other people’s faces or simply causing them to think differently or see the world from a new perspective.
Thank you for allowing me to share my voice. Let’s hope this is the first of many opportunities for me to do so. If you visit the exhibit, please let me know. I’d love to hear about your experience. And if you want the cheat sheet for finding my pieces, you can use my map where I pinpoint the locations. If you go, though, be sure to view all the work. It’s worth seeing and a beautiful walk.
Both Island Breeze and Clarity are for sale.
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
2020 M2R Fence Gallery is a one-mile curated exhibit of area artists and photographers, installed trackside along Marietta’s Mountain to River Trail. The works are printed on PVC panels placed on the fence along the trail. To view the exhibit start at Waverly Way in downtown Marietta and walk along the tracks toward Kennesaw Avenue. The exhibit will be displayed in downtown Marietta, Georgia, through Saturday, July 9. After the initial showing, the exhibit will travel through each city in Cobb County.
Island Breeze, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 in
Clarity, acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 in