Left, Breathless. . . . Reflections

So the show at Alegria went really well-- Lots of friends, lots of family, and a few new people came too. It was a treat just to see everyone at the same time and be in a room full of top-notch art.

I really enjoyed putting the show together and i could definitely see myself curating more shows in the future. I have always absolutely loved just going into galleries and admiring the art, so to be the one choosing the art, meditating on it as a group, and deciding how it all would come together in the gallery was a joy.

In art-making, I love bringing all the elements together, composing something beautiful, and then brushing away all the scraps and excess away at the end. The curating process is similar in that you begin with many elements, all unorganized and floating around in your head and you somehow bring everything together in the gallery space and begin to refine it all in the installment process-- organizing, nailing, painting, constructing, and arranging.

Then eventually, all the to-do lists are crossed off, all the decisions are made and locked in, all the difficulties are in the past, and all the directions that the show could have gone have faded and the final vision has become a reality. You put all your tools away, all the unneeded pedestals, all the left over nails, sweep the floors, adjust the lights,  and you are left with a whole new space, a space worthy of being called an art piece itself.

 Christine Fuchs, Co-Curator (+gf ;)

One thing that has come to my attention though is the overall atmosphere of an art opening--what is the purpose of an opening? Is it simply to look and meditate on the newly installed art? Is it to socialize, meet people, and have a good time in a gallery setting? Is the opening about the art or is it about the people? For me it is always a dilemma figuring out weather i am at an art opening to socialize or to spend time with the art. I want to catch up with the people there and meet new people, but i also really want to take time to take a deep dive into the art for myself and a crowded room is not always the best for that.

So, I will be thinking a lot about the purpose of an art opening for the future, especially as I begin more curatorial work. This experience has set me on a new path of thinking, asking questions like, what is the goal/purpose of this opening or any opening? What kind atmosphere am I intending for this event? What is the main focus and activity during this time and how do I make that happen?

The show at Alegria was truly wonderful and it made me very happy to have the opportunity to bring it all together with Christine. I really hope to do more of this kind of work in the future and I will definitely continue to formulate my thinking, starting with the questions above, in this new and exiting work.

Thank you Paul Hebblethwaite for offering the opportunity to put this show together, and thank you Salvation Army Alegria for your wonderful facility and for all the work that you do in the lives of the residents there. I truly hope to work with you lots more in the future.