An Invitation to Hang

Are you that slippery gypsy that takes a sick day every now and then only for pure selfish reasons. Maybe you want to wash your car, do some gardening, drink a bottle, just stay at home and bake all day, or maybe you simply just want to sleep in, binge on some mind-numbing soap and fat-out on popcorn and chocolate. We’ve all done it, especially if we spend most of our waking hours at a place that is highly demanding physically, emotionally and mentally, unless of course it’s a mere life or death situation if you aren’t at work which may mean you have some sort of longevity super power.

I took at day like this, however it wasn’t a slippery gypsy day, it was planned. I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to hang several days prior. No, it wasn’t to hang with Spiderman, sadly, it wasn't by force and no it wasn’t a hanging one would have witnessed in the 1700’s when a witch was caught hexing rogue thieves or prescribing potions of persuasion. This hanging was an invitation to display artwork, right up my sun saturated ally of imagination! I gratefully accepted, and the atmosphere of the venue couldn’t be more fitting. A quaint wine bar with a hand full of prized ferments and lager on tap, studded leather couches adorn the room to the back which overlooks a fairy light grove of the paved nature-scape.

I spent the afternoon meeting the owners, a small family. These people just exuded kindness, wholesomeness and a willingness to give and make-do, all in a stride of jest. The couple were cradling a new born and their daughter was skipping around asking me about my art work. She pointed at the lady with wings and said, “she’s my favrit!” I asked why, and she told me the lady in the painting reminded her of butterflies. As I moved through the afternoon to hang my artwork, the family were constantly welcoming friends, making plans and seeing them off as if the next time they would see each other would be but a moment away.

I measured the wall space, strung the hangers and hung my paintings while making sure they were level and in line. A few adjustments later and they were on full display, adorning the walls with their magnificent colour and waiting for the imaginations of passer-by’s to be tantalised. The three paintings belong together as a family and therein couldn’t be hanging in a more fitting location. The one thing I love most about being an artist is hearing where people’s thoughts and imaginations take them when they look at a piece. Especially the imagination of a wee little tyke.

** Stuffing on display

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