Spontaneous Fun Day Sunday

The last weekend I closed my most recent photo exhibit at a local gallery in our community. It was the Thanksgiving weekend, and I had hoped we’d get some good foot traffic to the gallery. When I stopped by on Friday afternoon, I was told it’s been quiet. I must admit I didn’t make too much effort to let my community friends know about it.

Our “village” for the community is only two-block long and a few block wide with a few eateries, a few stores and a bunch of real estate offices (😆) plus the club house on the other side of the main road where there was a festive holiday craft fair was happening on Saturday. I thought we’d have some people walking into the gallery, but perhaps the 3 or 4 step above the ground entrance and not being able to see inside from the street walking by kept people from walking in.

Then I had an idea. I asked a friend who came to see my photos who happened to be a musician if he’d play music outside the gallery not so much to “perform” but to hang out and play. Sure enough, people would hear the music and started noticing the gallery while we were just having fun making noise. We decided to do it again on Sunday, which was the very last day of my show and invited some other friends who played instruments to join. The rest was magic. I love being around musicians when they’re randomly jamming. It was an almost spontaneous gathering of friends just having fun in the community. In the end, we had as many people walk into the gallery as we did for the opening reception.

Even though the initial motivation was to sell my art, what came together that day was purely a joyful and heartwarming connection with the community. And yes, 3 pieces of my photography were sold in the last hour, which I was ecstatic about. And I’m beginning to understand the meaning of community building and what it feels like to belong. I’m so grateful for the people who came out to see me and my work, and more for the friends who were willing to hang out with me all day making music.