Sunday, September 7, was a great afternoon and a chance to share ten months worth of blood, sweat and tears with colleagues, family and friends. Everyone gathered at Sweet Inspiration on Market Street, San Francisco for a fun afternoon of cake, more cake, and my most recent series of paintings titled SAGACITY.
I had a chance to see some old friends and fellow artists I hadn't seen in years, eat my way through way too much cheese and salami, and swap some old stories as we mingled amongst the work and the pinot. The work was received well and the usual customers were suddenly asking... "who is the artist?" I spotted a few patrons sneaking looks from behind their laptops and baked goods long enough to ask... "is that you in your underwear there?"
I was overwhelmed in preparing for this show by the love and support of the people that came out and even the ones that wanted to but couldn't. It made me feel just how lucky I am to have people around me that support what I do. I have to admit it is hard at times to be an artist in ways you might not even think of. It can be simply by being locked up in your studio slaving away night after night, weekend after weekend, putting those friendships and relationships on hold with years going by before you stopped to realize just how long it has been since you called on that dear friend. But at times like these, you are rejuvenated by and reminded of those friends that never gave up on you and that friendships truly are in the heart, not the flesh and that time is of no consequence.
I watched as old friends reconnected as well, getting caught up and reminiscing about the old days, a party they once crashed together and that night they lost their keys at a beach bonfire in Santa Cruz somewhere after drinking too much peach schnapps. It was like watching a memory unfold in front of you, relationships were rekindled and new ones solidified. You begin to see your life as a whole, through a different sort of lense and then you realize just how blessed you really are, truly... a sweet inspiration.
The smiles were the most fulfilling. All those smiles... everybody... happy to see each other, happy to be alive, happy to be among friends sharing... being inspired and inspir-ing...
...it was the greatest gift I received from this show in return for the months of seclusion and focus.
The location of this show couldn't have been more sweetly appropriate for the unveiling of this new series of paintings I have embarked on. This is art amongst the people, my people, the ones I know, the ones I don't, but the "people" none-the-less, living their lives... in a coffee shop, at home, in a relationship, alone...getting caught up in the glory of it all.
These works are about them, their inner lives, the lives we all live, everyday, doing the mundane, the rituals, but dreaming about our past or hoping for our future and in a moment sagaciously deciding that life is short and beautiful and that we must take time to live, really live and sometimes follow our hearts desire so that we may live to dream again.
Coincidentaly, this show has been a proud moment in my career for at this very time, THREE of my favorite artists are also exhibiting in San Francisco simultaneously as me,
Frida Kahlo at the Museum of Modern Art,
Mary Cassatt at the Legion of Honor (Women Impressionists Show) and
Shepard Fairey at White Walls in the Tenderloin. If you haven't checked out any of these exhibits... do so soon... and while you are at it swing by Sweet Inspiration for truly something sweet and check out my show, it has been extended until October 4th.
Frida Kahlo Show -->
HEREMary Cassatt Show -->
HEREShepard Fairey Show -->
HERETrey Gallaher Show -->
HEREPhotos: ©Copyright 2008 Trey Gallaher
I remember the shapes of the decorations, the tree, the crane structure and the composition looking interesting to me. I remember wanting some color in it but not wanting it to feel like a painting, but more like a drawing. It's funny, sometimes when I look back at old work, I get a fresh view of it, an almost detached feeling (or seperation) from ever having done the piece, and it allows me to enjoy it all over again or in a new light that I missed before.
