The One I Liked the Best
Besides my relationship with my Lord and being a mother, I think opening an art gallery and painting classroom was my favorite accomplishment. It had been a dream of mine since High School. There I discovered Art and that I was good at it. I found that creating art was a satisfying accomplishment. But as often happens life gets in the way and dreams are put on hold. I had always kept painting as a hobby and personal pastime but never thought to do much with it.
After moving back to the Midwest from Washington State I started looking at Art as a business in earnest. I had owned and operated a convalescing care center and decorated it with my paintings in nearly every room. The person who bought the business wanted me to leave all the artwork in the building and compensated me for it. That sparked my interest in the possibility that I could sell what I painted.
My dream had been on the shelf patiently waiting for its time to arise. I joined a painting club and started showing my paintings. I was asked to teach some classes for the other members of the club which led to my teaching classes for others in the community. When a building came available I made an arrangement with the owner for reduced rent if I did all the remodeling and updating myself. And Beside Still Waters Art Gallery and Classroom was born.
I used the knowledge gained from owning the nursing facility and what I learned about running a business in college to set up the business end of this endeavor. I took on the challenge of turning a warehouse space into a working Art Gallery and classroom. It was located in a small lakeside town with many local artisans nearby.
Even though it was my business it became a community affair. Besides displaying my artwork and that of several other artists we held bazaars and swap meets in the parking lot. It became a weekend meeting place for locals and tourists alike.
I taught classes for all age groups. The local wood carving association gave classes and did shows. The local ceramic shop gave pottery classes and displayed student pieces. I also gave sewing lessons and a friend taught jewelry making.
But as sometimes happens we got blindsided by life. The building owner came in one day and said he had sold the building. I had been given first chance at purchasing but he said when someone comes in a lays down three times your asking price, in cash, it is hard to pass up.
There was no way I could beat that and I was given 30 days to vacate the premises. With the sudden loss of income and no place to teach my dream came to a crashing halt.
Art will always be part of my life. I still do commissions and have fond memories of accomplishing my goal, of being an artisan hot spot and community meeting place.
LIFE GOES ON
Life goes on even after disappointments, but you can’t let them get you down. You have to pick yourself up and start over again. As long as you never stop starting over you will finish your race. No matter if you are first, last, or somewhere in-between.
Leave a Reply