They started to trickle in about two weeks ago. One or two packages at a time, several times a day. At first we were on top of it, and we stacked the boxes neatly into piles in our back room. We joked about it with our clients and tried to make light of our new found interior décor – which included lots and lots of boxes. And then the onslaught arrived: thirty boxes in one day! When our UPS man delivered another six boxes, we all collectively gasped, “Oh no” to which he replied, “You know that’s not the reaction I normally get when I deliver boxes.”
We had planned for this of course. In fact, we were even excited about it. And we knew exactly what we were getting in to, almost a year ago, when we were offered the prestigious opportunity to host the National Juried Exhibition & AWA Master Signature and Signature Member Show. But somehow we hadn’t quite anticipated that our entire little gallery would be taken over by boxes, and boxes and more boxes.
One hundred fifteen boxes exactly.
But then the fun began. We started to tackle the boxes, one at a time, about a week ago. Thanks to Sarah, our very organized Gallery Manager who had us following precise directions for receiving and cataloguing the art, we had a well thought out system in place which included the perfect tools and sharpened box cutters. And thanks to Debbie Leeuw, AWA’s very capable Executive Director, whose detailed guidelines to all of the artists included strict directions on how to ship their work, we were spared the onslaught of pesky peanuts and other non-eco friendly paraphernalia.
In fact, most of the boxes were so beautifully wrapped that before we even got to their contents, we were oohing and aahing over the packing!
Of course once we opened the boxes, unwrapping each piece carefully and unveiling the art work for all to admire, we started to realize what a fun show this would be. Featuring varied work from dozens of acclaimed artists from all over the country, who have spent years honing their skills and have the accolades and distinctions to prove it, this show brings together a significant collection of distinguished, contemporary American art.
How exciting for us to hang a show with completely new and different artists, and to do it with our signature way of mixing things up! How do you think we will marry these paintings together? Will there be our usual AHA moments?
Diane Rath, Small Gathering
Katie Dobson Cundiff, Together
Suzanne Hughes Sullivan, Luminescent Oranges
Leah Hopkins, Jenna – Haiti
Paula Holtzclaw, Shining Through
And what about the sculpture? This may be the most exciting part for us. After all, we don’t regularly feature sculpture in our gallery, although it is a medium that we all adore. The sculptures from this show range from beautiful, representational bronzes to abstract mixed media. What a great new dimension to our gallery!
Joy Kroeger Beckner, So Good to See You
Marilyn Newmark, Fancy Free
Rosetta, On the Alert
Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic, Mystery
The fun has already begun for us, as we take roll up our sleeves, don our hanging hats and espadrilles, and spend the next few days hanging like crazy. The fun will begin for all of you on Friday evening, at 6 p.m., when you don your party hats and join us for our reception honoring the juried competition finalists (some of whom are familiar names from Atlanta), the Master Signature Members and the Signature Members of the American Women Artist’s Association. Won’t you come see us?
Ta ta …
HH
PS By the way, all of this beautiful artwork is available for purchase. And we’ll even box it up and ship it to you!
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