It hit 90F in Phoenix this week. I had a box of artwork in the back of my car that I had to offload, or the contents might suffer in the heat. I drove home from work with that box almost a comfortable presence sitting unseen at my back: until I took it inside the house, until I opened it, what it represented wasn’t true. I’m afraid I cried a little bit all the way home.
The box contains art returned (for the moment) from Scottsdale Estate Collections, as that seller is going through some changes.
You see, SEC had been Occasions at Scottsdale, ArtSpace Gallery, and Textures Gallery, as the owners moved gallery sites in Scottsdale’s main art district, joined forces with other gallery owners, and eventually abandoned brick-and-mortar retail for online sales through Ebay.
Textures was the first ‘real’ gallery to say Yes to me and my work.
I spotted their brightly-colored front window display across Marshall Way in late November 2002. A quilt. Nobody had hung quilts in a Scottsdale gallery since Mind’s Eye (a famous fine-craft gallery*) had faded away a few years earlier. *The owner of that gallery moved to Tucson, then took it online in 2009.
So I wandered across the street, looked around, was wowed by the little storefront, and introduced myself to the two owners. I didn’t have access to slides (yes, galleries still did that in 2002), so I talked my way into a personal interview in early January 2003.
That dog-and-pony-show worked. I became a real artist in a real gallery, and they sold enough of my work to make their commission worthwhile. That validation also gave me confidence – in art and writing – to tackle some huge projects and difficult goals.
I owe the three ladies who began it all so much I can never begin to repay them. They are not just business associates, but family now.
So, I did bring the box in that night. I opened it, and spent a good hour sniffling over art and memories. Tonight, after I get back from Deadpool and pizza, I’m going to start re-photographing everything and getting those pieces up on Amazon. Hopefully I’ll be back to SEC soon with better stuff.
But right now, I have to keep moving forward.