As I got into my vehicle to leave the local hospital, plugged my mp3 player into the stereo and hit play. The sounds of A Sort of Homecoming by U2 began filling the air. “How appropriate!” I thought to myself as I began to sing the words I know by heart.
You see, this morning I installed several of my fine art landscape art pieces into theARTISTS Galleries located at the High Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. They are hanging in Gallery 3 to be exact, which is located in the Emergency Waiting Room. This is my first official art gallery exhibit since deciding to focus more of my time and energy on fine art landscape photography. And it was just about 20 years ago that I began working in that very Emergency Room as a part time Admitting Clerk when I first moved to the Morongo Basin.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. And I see this moment as a sort of homecoming for me. First Job in the ER + First Art Gallery in the ER = A sign that I am on the right path.
I also felt a sense of relief because I was totally unprepared for this exhibit.
Just last month I made the decision to refocus my photography business on fine art photography. And on a whim I answered the “Call for Artists” I saw posted on the billboard sign outside the Hi Desert Cultural Center on my way home one afternoon. I submitted my images for consideration. Then last week I got the email that my work had been accepted into the first gallery for 2015. I was totally excited and then quickly panicked because I did not have a single piece of art work to hang in the gallery. And they wanted to schedule the installation for later in the week. So I stalled. Said I wasn’t available till this week. This bought be some time to get my shit together. Yes I said shit.
Fortunately, I work well under pressure and I was able to pull it all together in a few days time. Though I had to wait till last night for a few critical supplies to arrive. All the art pieces required a specific hanging system so that the framed pieces could be properly secured to the display wall. Thank goodness none of my regular shows were on last night as I was working late to get all the wire framing attached.
As you can see it all came together wonderfully. These five pieces will be on display (and available for purchase) until the middle of May.
So now you have a healthy reason to visit the Emergency Room at the High Desert Medical Center. Or if you happen to be there for an actual emergency, at least you will have some beautiful artwork to stare at while you are waiting.