I never run late for anything, but here I was, running late to my own exhibition. Not just any exhibition. It was my first solo exhibition, sponsored by Arts United of Fort Lauderdale, at the Stone Wall library. The room was packed by the time I got there, something I had not expected. The entire Sun-Sentinel graphics department, my boss, and friends from the Post Office, whom I had not expected to see again, showed up, along with people from the community. The crowd was amazing, and I was pulled in all sorts of directions. I was interviewed by New Times and Gay News, and pictures were taken. Appetizers were served, along with red and white wine.
A young man approached me and said how deeply my artwork touched his heart. My series on exhibit focused on inner child work and surviving abuse. No flowers or sofa art. These pieces had an impact on everyone in attendance and moved them emotionally. Half the pieces sold that night, which I was very grateful for. As an artist, you want to make an impact. I had been concerned that my subject matter was not for the faint of heart. My artwork was large-scale, so it was a pleasant surprise that people wanted it for their living rooms. I had acrylic paintings, linocut prints, and woodcut prints.
The Solo exhibition was offered to me after having won several ribbons and awards in other local group exhibitions. Like several Broward Art Guild exhibits, The Hortt, Tri-County Art exhibition, and the Boca Museum Marriott Courtyard Exhibition. I also had an art book on permanent exhibition in the rare books section of the Broward County Main Library. It is a continuation of my work on inner child and abuse, titled Inside Myself, and is a handmade book of Linocut prints.
The opening slowly wound down, and I was exhausted from talking to so many people.
I was not used to being in the spotlight like that. I expressed my gratitude to the Art Exhibit organizers; I did not have to do anything but show up. The exhibit was beautifully hung and stayed up for the whole month.
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