Life After Connecticut College

Saturday night was one of the “Rising Stars” biggest nights. Real Art Ways, the gallery I work for, just threw a Pary, aptly called the Real pARTy. 300 hundred artists from all over the country donated artwork and everyone of our patrons got to select one of the pieces to take home. Original art work, open bar and duet trapeze acrobats with a bullwhip. Does it get any better that that? OF COURSE NOT!

I spent the night hanging out with the awesome interns I work with and sipping on Diddy’s especially smooth CiRoc premium spirits (vodka, yes I’m that cultured). I chatted it up with several of the artists who donated to the event. I spent a lot of time communicating with all the artists over the phone and internet for many months and it was nice to put names with faces.

The highlight of the event was the Canvas Grab, when all our patrons get to choose their piece to take home. Some of the works are worth thousands of dollars...some others not so much. But there was no way to know because all the works were signed on the back. So you could end up with a Yoko Ono or you could get a Ross Jordan. It’s really a toss up.

My boss read out colors that corresponded to groups of 30 in our crowd of nearly three hundred people. It was chaos and pandemonium every time a color was called out. People would be rushing across the 50 foot gallery floor over to where I was. They fought and yelled, trying to be first in line. My job was to some how control and organize a line out of drunken, well-dressed-elite madness. If you know me, I happen to be gentle, short and non-confrontational. But something got in to me and I was not taking crap from anyone. The following are some examples of my new authoritative side:

Patron - “I was at the front of the line!”
Me - “No sir, I was at the front of the line, I did not see you there. Go to the back..”

Patron - “I lost my color. Can you let me through to get the art.”
Me - “Sorry ma’am, only people with a color can select a piece” hands go up and eyes were rolled.

Patron - “Why didn’t you let that nice women select a piece,” Grabbing my arm and pulling at me.
Me - “I’ve had to turn away several people who did not have colors ma’am. I’m very sorry, but those are the rules.”

Patron - “My color is next!”
Me - “I still need you to step back sir.”
Patron - “But she’s going to call my color next!”
Me - “Sir. Go to the back.”

I did not know people were so serious about art. I was impressed and scared at the same time. I also did not know that I could get yelled at and groped by tipsy older women in the same night.

My art show is at Broad Street Gallery on Trinity College’s Campus here in Hartford, CT on April 25th, from 4:30 - 7:00 pm. The address to MapQuest is 1283 Broad Street Hartford, CT. 06106. There will be refreshments, wines and art, all are welcome.