July has been dedicated to passages.
In moving my loft I did not hurt my back, but I did hurt my foot…and cut my hand on glass…and then…
For the last week I have been moving my loft into another loft a few floors up in my beloved cotton mill in Greenville and anyone that has had a major move knows it is exhausting and exciting and…..wet?
First night in the loft. (oh man it is so quiet up here…) and the views! I was rewarded with a stunning sunset outside my windows. I love the chimney. I feel like he keeps watch over me.
So all was quiet my first morning in the new loft. (After a lot of schlepping and amazing friends helping me) I got up early. (so much sun coming in the windows is definitely going to reset my inner clock) and I hear water running. Shower. Huh. Must be my son and I was impressed he got up so early. I made some tea while surveying the junkyard that is my new home and debating where to put everything.
Hmmm. He is still in the shower…..wait. It is not coming from the bathroom… it is coming from the front door. Yeah, a water main line broke RIGHT OUTSIDE and above my front door. I slam the door shut and call the emergency line and the fire department not knowing if it was coming from the water sprinklers. Luckily, I didn’t get much in my loft, but the apartments below me got pretty soaked and our elevator, which had a ton of water running into it, is out of commission for a few months. Luckily, we have other elevators at the other ends of the building and I am glad most of my belongings got moved before this happened.
Then there have been a few other water-related instances like a leak in the apartment above me and the toilet going off without stopping. My kitchen sink sprung a leak too. (I also cut my hand on glass) I have had friends (and a daughter) say this is a bad omen. (or a ghost) Bah! I looked it up and according to feng shui, running water outside your front door is a sign of abundance and money flowing in. I’ll take it! So I choose to believe that.
In the meanwhile, my show is hung at the Center Stage Theater Gallery for my exhibit, “Passages” (moving from one place to another is definitely a theme this month) and they look pretty darn good there. The Artist Reception and Opening is this Friday, July 24th from 6-8pm. There will be wine and light snacks along with the opening of the musical, “Dear Evan Hanson” so if you are near Greenville, SC I hope you can pop by for this casual show of my work. The paintings are images that have intrigued me, both physically from the hallways where I live in this big old, reclaimed cotton mill, and also mentally with portraits representing journeys from dark to light and how we find ways toward abundance and light. What bring light into our lives? And what does that path look like?
Here are a few images from the show.
So I hope to see you Friday.
And the last passage I have to make is my studio move. For some reason, this one feels more personal. I will still be within walking distance from my loft to the new Beacon Studios where 8 new studios have been built for a new community of artists. I can almost see the old reclaimed church which will now serve as my “second home” from my bedroom. I start schlepping paintings and my easel this weekend. So if you are near Greenville and see a woman pushing a large easel up the street, yeah, it is probably me….
So while I am moving from one place to another, I find I am also moving mentally from one place to another. New locations are invigorating. My brain is already thinking about new work. Although those new inspirations will have to wait a bit. I’ll be sending out a “come visit my new studio” invitiation very soon.
But hopefully I am done with water issues for a bit.