After a minor delay, the work for the show entitled "Galveston Hangs" is now up on the outside of the historical First National Bank building on the Strand. The murals are hanging in all of the street-level windows, going around the corner as well. There was some pretty cool work there, and the hubby and I had fun at the reception shmoozing with the other artists and a few other random men and women about town. All in all it was a good turnout, even with a light rainfall. I was happy to have contributed, but, alas, I don't think I'll be donating anything this large again.
The truth is I would normally rail against this kind of solicitation of free work, and perhaps I should have in this case as well. In this particular instance, the "exposure" seemed unusually good--it is along the main drag in the city--where all the art galleries and boutiques and such are located, and hence, hopefully, where people who buy art will notice it. I must confess I was also trying to build a good working relationship with this organization because of what I hope we will be able do for each other's mutual interests in the near future. Will they see it that way, I wonder?
Time will tell if this was a good investment or not, but in the end, I may only have bought myself the right to point down the road and say, "my work is up there." So, I will be pulling on my business owner's hat to the next folks who "just love" my work: please get in line, and try to have your checkbook in hand.
