One day after “A Dream in the Dash”

Wow.  Seventy-five levels of wow.

It’s Friday afternoon and I’m still trying to get my nerves down.  I’ve received kind words of encouragement from friends, co-workers, blog readers and the like, but I’m still nervous about everything.

“A Dream in the Dash,” my solo art show, debuted yesterday at St. Agnes Cemetery’s new “Living Room” art gallery and meditation area.  And as I walked into the art gallery that afternoon, staring at all my pictures on the wall, hearing Wendy Carlos’ “Switched-on Bach” in the background…

I felt proud and humble at the same time.

I’m still in awe.

Next thing I know, the guests have arrived.  I turn around and Pat DwWolfe and her husband Bill show up; Pat’s one of my loyal blog readers and she told me that she wanted the large print of “Barn Versus Weeds” for her home.  Next thing I know, St. Agnes Cemetery historian Kelly Grimaldi, who helped organize this art show, is putting a red dot next to the picture, signifying its sale.

And the guests – and the sales – didn’t stop with that image.

In a short while, the room is filled with people from all aspects of my life.  And all my connections with Street Academy – both the trivia team and the high school – are represented.  My friends Jeremy and Katie from my Street Academy trivia team have arrived; as has Lillian Tillman-DeWitt and her husband Ken – Lillian was my high school principal at Street Academy, what an honor it was to see her again.

Holy cow, it’s members of the trivia team A Few Cards Short of a Deck, who play against me at Brown’s – and the captain of Woo Hoo a Go Go, who I’ve competed against at Elbo Room!  And is that – wow, it really is – Assemblyman Jack McEneny?  And he’s staring transfixed at one of the Dream Windows!

And my blog readers showed up for the event – in addition to Pat, I saw DerryX, Deb Marks, D357 and Jango Davis arrive.  And there’s Michael Huber, the man who signed me to the Times Union four years ago, he came to see the event.  Wow, Joe Putrock from McGreevy Pro Lab, who printed the lion’s share of the artworks, came to the event.  As did several of my co-workers from my day job – I don’t mention my day job on this blog, but it’s nice that they came and showed support and I appreciate that very much.

And at around 5:30 p.m., Bishop Howard Hubbard gave a benediction blessing “The Living Room,” as well as the stained glass installation “Brian’s Light” in memory of fallen firefighter Brian Elk.

And all night, one by one, pictures suddenly grew little red dots on their nametags.  This is major.  It’s a moment I will always treasure, that the pictures I’ve taken over the past few years have now been claimed and purchased as appreciated art.  Nothing will ever take away that wonderful feeling of seeing this happen.

So let me take this moment to thank everybody who came to the event, everybody who couldn’t come but sent well wishes, and to all the organizers and everyone involved.  At the end of the show – which will run until June 27, and is open when the cemetery offices themselves are open, Monday through Friday from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – I will change hats and go from photographer to deliveryperson, bringing these artworks to their new buyers.  Oh yeah, and signing them on the back.  Artists do that.

Say it with me, everyone.  Say it with me because I want to shout it from the highest hills.

CHUCK IS HAPPY!!!