One step at a time...
After last week’s blog, I settled back into my usual weekly routine of going out only when I had to! I did manage another coffee social outing with a friend at The Arts Village, which was a good start. I decided that it’s all very well thinking that you should change your life until the moment when you’ve promised that you’ll change.
However, it really was a case of one step at a time. While I was drinking coffee, I heard about a new exhibition opening in The Art Village itself on Friday evening. Although I couldn’t make the opening, I added it to my list for Saturday.
On Saturday, I drove into town and walked into the exhibition space. A huge weight suddenly lifted itself off my shoulders. The first couple of artworks were fabulous. One made me laugh, and the other one was by a friend and was beautifully painted. They were also very appropriately about the life experiences of artists following lockdown – the very reason I was there, trying to do outside life! Funny how a couple of years ago it would not have made the same sense and yet now every piece spoke to me.
After the first couple of paintings, I spotted one of the artists ahead of me. I called out and, when I’d caught up, I asked where her work was. We went over to look at it and had a conversation which really made the exhibition experience special. I described what I felt when I looked at her work and got to hear firsthand about why she painted it. That’s a pretty special moment, being told a story by the artist as you stand in front of their artwork and so good when you hear that you have understood the message. One moment which I certainly would not have got sitting at home on my computer.
I’m looking forward to my next outing now!