Finding the familiar

I spent several hours today at the gallery in Ridge Spring. It has been well over a month since I've taken a turn as "gallery associate," keeping the place open for visitors. Although I would not have not gone to Alaska or not have spent generous time with family (and I'd depart within the hour if given half a chance), I find I've missed the place.

Much has changed. A new sign on the school building-turned-gallery, for example. A pretty but vicious-looking vine tendrilling its way through the front shrubbery and along the handicap ramp. Paint and a new (to us) mirror in the restroom.

But, it's the same, too. Familiar art. Welcoming wicker chair in the porch. Steady traffic on highway 23 and the coming and going of Ridge Spring's personnel to the maintenance building next door, an array of vans, golf carts, pickup trucks.

Mostly, though, what's familiar is the building's restful feel, restful not always having been a primary characteristic of the recent weeks, And then, there's the afternoon thunderstorms, the rooms, even with their huge windows, receding into gloom.


Ahhh ...

Gallery sitting

For the past several days I've been at something of a low ebb. There's nothing in particular ailing me. The flame's simply a bit dim.

Today I was scheduled to sit with the gallery run by the Art Association of Ridge Spring. Normally, since such sitting is a rather quiet endeavor, I and other gallery associates (that's what we sitters are called officially) do something constructive -- like paint or clean. Today, however, I stayed quiet, enjoying the people who strolled through and forging ahead on the mystery I'm reading.

I did have the camera with me, however, so I have a few photographs to share. The gallery is in an old school -- well-remembered by many Ridge Spring residents and much-loved by, well maybe, not all of them!

This is a view of the larger of the two rooms currently used as gallery space, taken from the central hall where the desk is located. This room is to the right off the front door as the visitor faces the building. The large, old windows -- all in need of glazing, sorry to say -- provide lots of rather soft light.

This is the room to the left of the front door. From the looks of the far wall (left side of photo; wall without blackboard), this room was once the size of the larger gallery, having been divided into two rooms at some point in the school's past.

And, here is where I spent a good bit of the day ... in a cushiony wicker chair, the "art gallery open" banner flapping in the breeze (and wrapping around the pole), the book in my lap and sun on my legs.

An artistic endeavor

As of the first of the year I am a member of the Art Association of Ridge Spring. I know. A garden club and now this! An artist I'm not, but they let admirers into the group. And, a few even consider photography something of an art.

The AARS (no commenting on the acronym, please) was approached by Relay for Life in Batesburg to assist in a spring fundraiser. Simple wooden bowls, purchased at Wal-Mart, were provided and we (the real artists, specifically) were invited to decorate them. At the Relay for Life event the bowls will be auctioned.

I ended up with three to paint. Armed with art supplies from Wal-Mart (guess who's making the money in this enterprise), I spent Tuesday at the kitchen counter being creative and having unanticipated fun, graduating from muttering "damn bowls" to being pleased with myself. The AARS president (one of the bonified artists) had told us that we didn't actually need a plan or a design before we started. "Simply paint something," she said. "Then add something else. Sit back a bit and see what it needs next and so on." I expected, on following that advice, to end up with a hopeless mess -- times three. As it turned out I turned in three rather smart looking bowls.

Tal, watching this process, did suggest, though, that if I had a day job, I should keep it. Oh well ...