Looking Ahead (with fingers crossed)

On Monday, I had a meeting with the Gallery Manager at Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington, MD. I had submitted images via email back in June and he called me in to show a few samples in person and for me to view the actual space.
I was thoroughly impressed!
The gallery space was beyond anything I could've imagined when I first submitted. I envisioned a theater/symphony hall lobby space. Instead, it stands up, in scale and layout, to most "high-end" gallery spaces I've visited. I continue to be pleasantly surprised (and impressed) by the amount and quality of art spaces in this region. Perhaps it has something to do with being so close to our nation's capital.
The space is huge! The current show consists of 40 paintings. The full-on gallery is located directly across (in the same building) from the theater/concert hall. I am absolutely in love with the layout. It's so often that art galleries are one big open area where you basically see the entire show (not in detail of course) upon entering the space. This space is open, but twists and turns, allowing the artist to build narrative (or at least I would) within the show and strategically place some visual surprises around corners. My mind is brimming with ideas.
A solo show would not come without it's challenges, that's for sure. If granted a slot, I anticipate countless hours at the easel (and floor and wall and table... depending on the piece). I would have to operate on a clear and rigid schedule and set the show's pieces aside, until late '09/early '10, no matter how tempting it may be to sell any of them prematurely.

But with challenge comes opportunity. I would finally get to work on some over sized pieces knowing they will be displayed. This would be an important show in my career as an emerging artist. It would mark my most significant show (in sheer quantity and scale of work alone) to date. I had a 30 painting showing in Belgium, but have never exhibited that amount in one single show in the US. In addition, everything (and I do mean everything from transport, installation, promotion, reception, catering...) is handled entirely by the gallery. A nice break for any artist! This show would truly allow me to concentrate solely on the artwork, giving me the freedom to make the type of strong statement I wish to make as an artist.

The Gallery Director still has to bring my submission before a panel. All I can do is cross my fingers for now. What will be will be.
The verdict should be in by early November.

Below is the Harmony Hall Gallery layout:



From my Belgium show at Rollebeek Gallery 28: