Shazam

"Are you Laura? There is a woman who said she has to meet you."

And that is how my evening at the Oak Park Art League began, me introducing myself to a woman who found herself seeing my name next to each print she found herself drawn to. And if I hadn't worked so hard on so many levels to be where I find myself now, I would tell you it's a little disorienting.

Shazam! I'm an artist at an opening reception, and there is Peter, and we're clinking paper cups of wine while recalling when he told me he I should show my work, and that he'd come to the reception, and he'd be in a black turtle neck with trendy eyewear, and I'd be actually doing it, this 'photography thing" I kept saying I'd try to "do something with" someday.

It's a new life.

I'm meeting people who don't know anything about me, other than I'm an artist. That just seems to be an accepted fact of my existence. I don't need to draw any bridges. As far as the people who are meeting me are concerned, I could have sprung from Zeus' head. No past careers. No blog posts. No anything but the work on the wall.

And no Michael.

It's just me and the work on the wall.

Comments

[Peter]

A few years ago, it was a little joke, a gentle needle, the tiniest of nudges. I said that I'd come to your opening wearing all black, sip chardonnay and eat brie. Then you'd officially be one of those "arty-types."

It's not a joke anymore.

Well, me in all black is still a joke, but you as the artist - most certainly not.

I'm not claiming any credit here but I did want to commemorate the change.

[Kate]

Congratulations to both of you. A landmark event, I'm thinking... Wish I'd been there with you.

[Laura]

You were, Kate.

And P, yeah, it's starting to get interesting. Will fill you in once I get a few things settled...