Monday, February 11, 2008

The Opening of My Show "Peripheral Vision"


On Saturday afternoon my solo painting show opened at the Alfred Van Loen Gallery at South Huntington Library on Long Island. The weather was overcast and chilly, but not especially wintry. We had a great turnout, and the show was beautifully curated by Deborah Katz. Of course my paintings look a whole lot better on the large and well-lit walls of a beautiful gallery than they do crowded onto my walls at home. My thanks to all my visitors and to my blogger friends who sent their best wishes!


One of my favorite moments was actually on Friday, when Deborah and I were hanging the show for Saturday's Opening. Two adorable kids came through the gallery with their mother, and I heard them utter "Oooh, Mommy!" in excited voices, as they pointed at one or another of my paintings with huge smiles on their faces. It seems they loved my colors! Now there's my most enthusiastic audience, I thought! Maybe I haven't lost the child in me, after all!


I had to wonder how such a tiny tot as this little boy could respond to a totally abstract work like "The Garden in Spring," seen here, with such apparent delight.


Whatever the reason, I enjoyed his reaction and it made me feel good that for this child at least, my work was fun to look at. In this photo, the two tots are checking out my painting "Oceano."




And here is Deborah Katz, hanging "Cerebration." I can't tell you how many times she was up and down that ladder, and I was exhausted, just watching her. (I did help her hold up and align the paintings, but stood back to get this shot.)




This is the Alfred Van Loen Gallery, a beautiful space with curved walls and attractive lighting. The wall to the right, not visible in this image, holds many of my paintings. The larger paintings are hung with more space around them, because of their bold and bright colors and active forms.





Here are a few of my guests. I knew many of them, and since there were quite a few faces I couldn't identify, I'd say that 85-100 people appeared at my Opening between 2:00 and 4:00. I had wanted to take more photos, but when the room became crowded, I found myself running around like a chicken without a head, greeting people and talking to friends. And naturally, every time I pointed my camera, someone walked in front of it. (Those are the times when I become aware that I'm a short person, lol...)



Many people approached me to tell me which work or works they liked the best, and that was gratifying. And at least five or six of them asked questions like "Did you take a class on how to name your paintings?" Although they were kidding about taking a course in title-making, there seemed to be a consensus that my titles were apt and well-chosen. Many folks told me they were amazed at how well they fit. To me this meant that the mood, emotion, season or natural phenomenon that the painting evoked for me, was also perceivable to them. It's interesting that abstraction can convey certain impressions or ideas this way, since it lacks literal or objective meaning and has a high level of ambiguity that leaves the mind free to find its own interpretation.


It didn't snow on the day of my reception and the food, catered by a local supermarket, was very good. By the time 4:00 rolled around, I was desperate for some of those bakery cookies, but they were all gone! I didn't get even one of them!


A good friend of mine whom I know since the seventh grade came from New Jersey with her husband, to have dinner with us. For me it was a happy day and although it was fun, I'm glad the Opening is over! (I didn't make my change-over to a "fly on the wall" in time...)


Thank you for sharing a bit of my show with me. I hope you've had a good week!

To view more of my art, please visit www.lyndalehmann.com

AddThis Social Bookmark Button


Add to Technorati Favorites

31 comments:

  1. The exhibit looked like you had a really nice turn out, Girly. I'm so happy for you!

    Have a wonderful time with Dad, k? You both certainly deserve it.

    See ya when you return, Cookie.

    *Hugs for both you and Dad* from usuns here on the left coast in the land of fruits, nutz, and granola bars somewhere within the confines of state of confusion.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the photos of the kids looking at your art. Well done on a having a good response to the exhibition.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lynda:

    I wish I could be there, in this "Celebration", toasting with you to colours, nature, and friendship.

    The best of lucks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lynda:

    Thanks for posting your show. It must have been a tremendous amount of work: pictures, writing, editing! Makes me tired! I loved this post.

    The last time I was in New York was about 1962. I know. Anyway, I don't have any idea where the Alfred Van Loen Gallery is, but it looks very nice.

    That was a cute picture of the kids. Their reaction to your painting must have made your day. Kids are so honest - sometimes brutally so, but sometimes very good, as in your case.

    Thanks for the post.

    Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lynda,

    It looks like you had a great exhibit. From what I can tell from your photos, the paintings are wonderful. I wish I could have been there, if you ever come to Atlanta (or anywhere in Ga.) let us know!

    Two really cute kids. I suppose it's safe to say that if you ever feel any doubt about your work, think back to this moment. Children are sometimes the best judges of beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow...so, even kids are looking at your works and they like them!
    Now that it's already a success, how will you celebrate?
    Thanks for your comment on my Peach flower post, I wish you every success in future exhibitions.

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow Lynda !!!
    it's just as I imagined
    your art work looks absolutely stunning...and such an elegant gallery....
    that's a great turn up for your opening and your 'Garden in Spring' is absolutely divine...
    the photos you have taken of the two children is a wonderful memento of how art can simply mesmerise and transport us to another level...
    haha...running around like a chook without your head ...wouldn't it be nice to do a replay on slow motion...
    thanks for posting this Lynda...
    I feel like in some small way that I was there....and your recount of the day was a joy to read :) :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've been thinking about you ever since I read your camelia post and hoping that everything was going well. I'm so glad it did! Your paintings look phenomenal in that wonderful space! Such a great place to have them shown. I'm so happy for you!

    Hugs,
    Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi! I'm dying to ask, how many did you sell? But that's far too personal, so I hope you sold the lot.

    Being a big kid myself, I can see why they loved the painting. It's full of wonderous colors and motion that leads my imagination, and I suppose theirs, to places I can only dream of going to.

    Take Care!
    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Saboma,

    Thank you! I'm still cleaning up my house--since I had twice as many paintings as we could hang at the show, I have to re-do the wires and get a slew of them back on my walls.

    Hey, I thought most of the nutz were here on the East Coast, lol...

    Talk to you soon.

    Hugs back at'cha!

    Lynda :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jenty, thank you! I see you have an adorable cherub of your own!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello Mariana! It's so good to see you! If we were rich, we could just fly across the continents to get together. I've never been to Argentina, and of course I would love to see it, and have a visit with you.

    Hope all is going well for you. We'll talk soon!

    xxx Lynda

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello, Mark! Don't feel bad about not being in NY since 1962--although it HAS changed quite a bit since then. I often feel I can't get further than the neighborhood grocery store--but of course that's just a bit of an exaggeration.

    Yes, the show involved months of prep and painting. Also post cards/invites, price list and statement (original and revised), labels for the paintings, wiring, music, food, transporting all those paintings, hanging the show. I won't bore you with further details but trust me, it was a LOT of work!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Deborah, I never thought of it that way! "I suppose it's safe to say that if you ever feel any doubt about your work, think back to this moment. Children are sometimes the best judges of beauty."

    I'll hang on to that thought!

    And yes, if I ever get to Georgia, I'll look you up.

    It's good to see you! :) And thanks for your kind words.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kriz, thank you! I have another one coming up--in two years!!! (Don't even want to think about it for another year. I just want to paint and do photography--as time permits!)

    Thanks for coming by.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lynda love your little visitors, they are so cute, love your painting too, it is really nice. BTW what ever colors those kids are wearing are in your painting probably. That must have been nice to see that, and thanks for sharing your show with us, well done. Anna :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Linda,
    It looks like a week for exhibitions. From what I have seen of your art I really like it and enjoy your bold use of colour. I would love to see it first hand, but alas am too far away.
    I hope it is a roaring success. Have a wonderful weekend

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you, Kim, for being with me in spirit! I really did enjoy the day, although it was overwhelming. I have never enjoyed being "On." Hence the chicken act, just trying to greet and acknowledge everyone, while keeping my bearings to take a few photos!

    It's great to see you, my friend.

    While we're talkin', do you mind if I change the color of your "Significant Blogger Award" to something that goes better with my greens? (I'm very color conscious on my layout...)

    Hope you've had a pain-free and rewarding day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Cindy, thank you and hugs to you!

    I'm glad it's over, so I can read blogs, write bills, and clean up my house for a day or two (or five) before I move on, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Peter, I'm glad you're a big "kid" too! The world needs more joy and innocence, and we're lucky if we can open ourselves to that state of mind.

    Thanks for stopping by! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anna, I agree, it looks as if they dressed to match a couple of my paintings, or I painted to match their outfits.

    They were just adorable and so expressive! And of course I appreciated their "critique."

    Hope all is well with you, Anna, and you're keeping warm. I see buds on the trees here now. Although they're small, it's encouraging!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Max-E, thank you for your kind words! Yes, we live worlds apart (I wonder how many miles?) but I wish you a happy and peaceful weekend across the great distance.

    Amazing how the internet let's us share and communicate with folks around the globe!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh, Lynda! You took me on a wonderful trip. The venue is superb to have the master pieces. The adorable vibrant little ones are totally merged in vibrant colours. Those compliments are just from the heart. Contrbutions of every drop right from your friend to the visitors, ofcourse the main you and your paintings made a wonderful ocean in which i totally immersed myself and had a great swim. love

    ReplyDelete
  24. Merging Point, you are so expressive and your comment warmed my heart!

    Yes, those little tykes certainly were vibrant in their appearance and their manner!

    I'm so glad you stopped by to share this with me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Good luck with the show. Looks like a beautiful gallery.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Gads...I used to live about 10 minutes from Huntington. Too much. Congrats on your show.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Lynda,

    I am soooo happy for you :D!
    Those kids are so cute, so cute..."Oceano" is a great painting, I love it myself (the kids have great taste)!

    The gallery is beautiful too: you were blessed with such a great space!

    May success be with you :D!

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is very exciting! It looks like it was a wonderful show, congratulations! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. congratulations! The paintings look fabulous, great turn out and obviously the food was great :D

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great show! I love your style of painting - so colorful and full of life and movement. I also loved how you shared about the children enjoying your art- reminded me of my little ones. Have a great day, DAWN

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hope the exhibition went well

    ReplyDelete

I try to respond to comments whenever I can. I ALWAYS appreciate your visits and friendship, and I will reciprocate with visits to your site. Thanks for sharing parts of your blogging journey with me. I value each and every one of you.

NOTE: Please, no more memes, schemes, or awards. They're fun and they may help us to know each other better, but I'd rather spend the time reading your posts and having you READ mine!

Happy blogging!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Buy My Art!

My most popular images for sale at Shutterstock:

Comical and Endearing Bird Ritual....