Today, I wrapped up my first official art show at Jamian’s in Red Bank. It was a sad day. It took about 6 minutes to take my art down and another 9 to get my art out to my car and get my money. It felt like Megan and I were hanging it up only last week, and yet it was a complete month later.
I sold one painting, the infamous Mother. Although I am very pleased with the person I sold it to, I am sad to see it go. It was an important piece for me, emotionally and creatively charged. It was also featured in a short film named Wreakage that I worked on with my crew, Paul Christian, Matthew Gustavsen, Pat Perrotto and Matt Siciliano. (Pat got some awesome footage of the painting which I hope to get up here). Between the film and emotional ties, it’s difficult to let Mother go.
Yet it is also extremely poetic. This painting was a coping mechanism for me to deal with the heartbreak of losing the person I believed I was going to marry. I really thought Bryan and I would be together forever. He was my first ever boyfriend, which in and of itself says a lot about what I felt for him. I’m picky as hell with who I date and thus far, he is the only person to make it past dating to boyfriend-dom. Despite how much I wanted it to work, ultimately Bryan did not feel the same way and cut all communication with me after going over to the Philippines.
Needless to say, dealing with this was tough. Combine that with the fight with my mom and Mother was born in early January.
The heartache lingered until the very last week of February. I was tired of being sad and hurt. It was too much. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I don’t know if you would call it praying, or just asking the universe for help, but I remember crying, asking the universe for something, anything, to help me move past this, to give me a sign that things would be okay.
The universe answered.
Photo Courtesy of Gina AsprocolasSunday, February 28th, I got a call saying I was on for the March show. I hung my artwork up Wednesday and had the best night ever at my art opening Thursday, and Saturday I officially sold Mother. At that moment, it could not be clearer to me what the universe was saying, that it was time to let it go. The universe was offering me something I needed and I was taking it. I let it go.
Reflecting on the conclusion of the show and the fact that Mother is the one piece that I sold, I do feel good. This is one painting that I can truly say a piece of my heart and my soul went into it. I hope the home that it finds is a good one. I believe it will be. It is also thanks to the person who I sold Mother to that I may have my next show falling into pieces today. So if you happen to be reading that, THANK YOU!
All of this together, I can’t help but believe that sometimes things really do happen for a reason. You just have to be open to it and seize the opportunities that are presented to you. And last, but not least, a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to the show and supported me over the month. This was really important to me and sharing it with such awesome people made it all the better.