Good news. Wait no. Great fucking news.
I met with Frédéric, the owner of the Salon, and after showing him a portfolio of my pictures, he agreed to let me have an exhibit in the next show in February.
As this wasn’t only his art gallery but his house as well, I offered to let him make the decision after seeing my completed work. He told me there was no need, as he trusted me based on what he had seen in my portfolio, which I felt was a very nice compliment.
As artists (and I use this in the loosest sense of the word to describe myself), we’re very different. I told him that I like to study photographic techniques, especially in photos that I like, and apply those techniques to what I want to express or show. When I look at a piece of visual art, I look at meaning and intent. When I create, I keep the same thing in mind. Frédéric, on the other hand, is more of a gut-feeling type of artist. He does what he feels is right, and doesn’t worry as much about the underlying message.
He asked if I was single, and I told him I was. “Good”, he said, “That’ll help you focus”. It made me think of a quote by Alexander Dumas:
Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them.
I made a remark about how I’d have a forum to develop my ideas now, projects I never pursued because I didn’t have a way to get them to a wider audience. He told me that I shouldn’t worry about an audience, and gave me an example to demonstrate his point: if you create the most beautiful thing you’ve ever done and you keep it in your basement, it isn’t art because no one sees it1, but to get caught up in that dilemma, and to not create simply because of that, is a tragedy.
So now I can pursue and develop one of my photo project ideas. I have to decide on a theme. I have see how much enlargement I can do to my photos without too much loss of quality. I have to decide on the size of the final prints. I have to decide on the frame size and shape. I have to get the final prints framed.
I’ve always wanted to create accessible art2.
Perhaps this will be my chance.
well, congrats! now go get those pictures! :)
Hey that’s cool that you’ll have your own exhibit! You’ll have to take pictures of your pictures.
jeff man con-fuckin-grats man this is awsome news!!!!!!!
you have allways been an artists to me i love ur pics this is just the first step man next we get u an exibit in Palais du Louvre in Paris
im so happy 4 u man get me some dates i will try my ass off to be there
good job bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ana — Oh, I’m already on it. :)
@Sophia — Yeah, I was already planning on asking Pat to bring his camera to take pictures. Cause I’ll be, you know, mingling and trying to sell my stuff to pay for all my camera gear. ;)
@Rob Mayer — Thanks, man! You’ve always been one of my biggest supporters. I know it’s a long drive, but I hope you can make it to the exhibit in February.
Congrats! I’d been waiting for something like this to happen to you.
Dumas’ quote is so true.
Great! Should be a fun process framing your ideas.
(When it has show dates, promo yourself. Might even go back to facebook and create an event?)
Congrats! That’s awesome!
@Uncle Joe — Thank you! Published novel maybe, recorded album maybe, but I never thought I’d be an exhibited photographer
@Pearl — Actually, I think framing will be the least fun part, although when that’s done it’ll feel good nice to see the final product. Thanks for the suggestion about promoting myself.
@Jason — Thanks!
I meant a framing in a more metaphorical sense, the process of creating, deciding subject and composition.
Simply amazing. Would love to see.
@Pearl — Ah, my mistake!
@Maeko — Hopefully someone will be there to take pictures so I can post them.