Making of an Exhibitionist
Penultimate - Part 3
The Grand Opening of my exhibition - 'Reflections of Yesterday' - will be tomorrow evening. My first public art gallery solo exhibition. I try not to be seen shivering with excitement and a little fear. What if no one comes? What if no one likes my work? What if nothing sells? What if Brad Pitt turns up but I don't recognize him?
But today is the day the crates are all opened by the gallery staff and the Curator contemplates the best layouts, alters the lighting, calms the artist, sets up the sound for playing The Voices and a wall size screen to flash up the historical photos that I had found and got copyright clearance for.
My Everything was there too of course with his incredible eye for detail and perfection. There is something surreal, for me, about the whole day. The journey started five years ago and today I am standing in the newest, largest, exhibition room at the gallery watching my work and ideas fill the space so beautifully prepared by the staff.
Only late in the day does my trepidation grow legs. No advance reporter/s from the newspaper? No list of acceptances sent by the gallery? I had approved the RADF grant presentation of cheques being given out in this same room on the same night and as the Curator said at the time 'they wont throw wine or cheese' at the paintings. A grand piano, to my surprise, is wheeled in for their invited singer during the grant handouts. No tables set up for the arranged little eaties and drinkies though?
Oh dear.