Fame

 
Guess we're a big name now.

A grand opening

We got to the gallery around 2:30, got shown the break room, class room and of course the gallery itself. They did an admirable job with the display, Denise's paper on one wall, books on a series of shelves opposite, pots on pedestals in between. I'd sent four themed dinner sets, but they broke them up and did a mix and match arrangement, which I think worked better. A few things had already sold, red dots on a hummingbird small baking dish and one of Denise's journals. (The university gallery doesn't handle sales themselves, but collects and organizes contacts for me to follow up on after we get home.)

I did a walk-through to take some video for Instagram, stole a cookie from the refreshments table, and settled down to wait for 4 o'clock. (For a value of "settled" equal to "pacing nervously back and forth.")

Just after four, the first guests arrived, a couple our age. You don't remember me, do you? asked the women. Turned out we were pottery students together, back in the day. Pat and I lost touch when I went out to Oregon, but I remembered her married name--something of a miracle, names and I don't usually stick--and met her husband, Frank.

And then the students arrived, and we were too busy to do much more than ride the flood. There was a crowd of them, sketching their favorite pieces--I assume a class assignment--and asking questions. Good questions. (Not one asked "How long does take to make this?)

It was Why did you decide to paint animals? and How do you choose what to paint? and Do you have a favorite animal?

One young man asked How do you decide when to try selling your work? (Short answer: when there's no room for pots in the garage anymore.) Denise was similarly besieged with questions about books and paper.

And then more old college friends started arriving. Char and Barbara down from south Minneapolis. Bessie still here in La Crosse. A vaguely familiar-looking trio turned out to be Sheila (who got a postcard, because we exchange Christmas cards) and mutual friends Cindy and Kelly, who happened to be visiting her last week. (I think they drove up from Madison?) My high school classmate Nancy and her niece drove across the state from Kaukauna.

Three of my college professors showed up: Tim, the potter, Diane, the watercolorist, and Larry, my math prof, who arrived with a koala clipped to his collar. My buddy and music partner Hans and wife Carol arrived and reconnected with musician Char and publicity staffer Randy, who also happens to play bass in local bands.

My sister, Maggie, arrived early from Minneapolis, and brought her mother-in-law Carol. My brother, David, and wife Charlotte drove over from Milwaukee. Neither had seen the other since our wedding, I think, due to a family split, and I nervously awaited an explosion. None came, thankfully, but rather a tearful reunion. 

Last through the doors were my niece Emma and two buddies from Winona State. Total tally: six college friends (seven, counting the Art department head, Sherri), three professors, two siblings, one niece, a high school classmate, and I dunno, two or three dozen students? It was an amazing time, my head is still buzzing, and I totally forgot to take pictures till nearly the end of the party.

Incidentally? There were a lot more red dots by the end of the evening.