Busy Time of Year!

I am taking a quick break between my making and glazing cycle to post. I havent posted in FOREVER!

We had an awesome summer and now I find myself caught up in the mad dash to get ready for the Fall and Holiday Shows.

I hope to see you all at one or the several upcoming shows:

November 1

The Western Loudoun Art and Wine Celebration
North Gate Vineyard
http://northgatevineyard.com
Purcellville, VA

November 15 & 16
The Catoctin Holiday Art Tour
Stop #1 - Art at Garden Corner
www.catoctinart.com



Ok...back to work, see you soon I hope -PEACE!

Art and Remembrance - Atlanta Taboo Artists Group

I watched "Dallas Buyers Club" last night. I texted my friend Jeff and took a trip down memory lane: Atlanta, GA circa early '90's. 

My first piece of art was purchased at The Trinity Gallery. It is a David Fraley textured face. It was the first piece of art that spoke to me. I visited this painting often, I could not walk away from this painting for very long - It was so far out of my league ($) but it haunted me!

A weekend acquaintence, sometimes dance partner and gallery assistant - Shey- ended up working out a deal where I could buy the painting on an installment plan. He brought the painting to me personally and hung it in my little Ansley Park condo! I made those payments FOREVER and eventually owned my first TABOO artist painting thanks to the generosity of this sweet guy. I later looked back and realized he had actually bought it himself and let me make the payments to him- literally a sweet and generous heart in the world. I quit hearing from Shey kind of suddenly, but this was Atlanta, we were young-that happened.

Fast forward, I settled down a bit, met my future husband, and made a few less trips downtown. I found out through the grapevine that Shey had died of Aids. I was floored-I grieved-it was my first loss to this disease. But, this was Atlanta, we were young-that happened. There were fortunately only a few other such losses in my orbit - I was lucky, my friends were safe. But there were so many other losses in that city. I found out in fact that the artist himself succumbed to Aids as well in 1999.

This painting hangs in a prominent place in our home reminding me always of a wonderful time in my life, but also of the generosity of a sweet man, and of the effect of Aids on a generation. I am reminded that I was surrounded and supported by a wonderful group of friends: Jeff Daily, Mike Knoll, John VanVlack, Rosalia Milone and also by sweet, generous acquaintances.

God bless those we lost-they haunt me and live on through this painting!

Creative Loafing Article