Baby Love
How does it feel to own a piece of original art? Pretty good.
The above is a painting I co-purchased for a cool sum. It was created on the spot at a Los Angeles event known as Tuesday Night Cafe, where many diverse artists congregate to share a free night of music, dance, spoken word, comedy, and more.
As I entered the venue (the patio area of the Union Center for the Arts in front of East West Players), I noticed a woman painting some undefined shapes. I had no idea what it was to become. Later, she would tell me that while she usually sketches out her works, she didn’t have the benefit of a pencil so she just did it off the top of her head. The trees and leaves are apparently characters in her other works, but the way they came together was different.
Her name is Alfie, which you can see signed at the bottom right. This is now hung next to my bed and above my desk, where it will inspire me. Each Tuesday Night Cafe has a different theme, and the one that generated this painting was marriage. So naturally it features two trees bonded at the trunk. And ironically, as co-owner of the painting, I must share this painting with someone else. I get it for 6 months, and she gets it for the other 6. It’s almost as though we have joint custody of our “baby.” And like a real baby, I am responsible for it.
Alfie’s painting actually displaces the previous painting that hung there. Well, it’s a Picasso print that I’ve had for years and years.
I enjoyed this image, but there was always a desire to have some original art, something “real”. So yes, it feels great to have an original art work all to myself (and my co-owner).
September 11th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I meant to tell you that I love that piece you bought! Congrats!