Not 24 hours in and what a rich experience I’m having. Just now my co-worker Megan and I had the privilege to meet and speak with Galina Perova, a Russian painter showing at Huntington Bank. The third-great-granddaughter of a famous Russian painter (Vasily Perov) she is a master in her own right. I won’t recommend many pieces, but go see her entry. Trained at the Hermitage she has been hired by Christies in New York to paint ten portraits of famed American artist Jasper Johns. She was delightful. I feel like I just had a brush with history.

Megan and I attended the lecture on “Art as a Catalyst for Community Relationships” on the lunch hour. Artist Carol Cook Reid has designed pattern squares and created an interactive game-like experience that is bringing people together. It was interesting to sit and listen to her observations of what occurred with the seniors, government workers, bankers, school children, and neighbors she’s visited with this here in GR. She says aesthetics are often more a process than a product. I agree. It was the "pathways" between the participants and their processes of working together that rang louder than their finished pieces.

Last night four of us headed downtown as the event got underway…me, my friend Jeanne, and her two mannequins. Fiona Potter, a weaver from Scotland, found her way to me just yesterday afternoon in a determined search for mannequins to hang her woven wear on. Mildly frustrated at not finding any already Jeanne and I were able to help her out. She’s showing at the Free Spirit Worship Center. We were there as Artprize officially opened and the Reverend invited us into a prayer. She prayed to “that which is most holy” over the well-being of the artists there. The thoughtful prayer and Fiona both were a sincere and unexpected way to start Artprize.

I also met a guy last night, at Stella’s Lounge. There was a little bit of mutual checking out going on. So, of course, that made the night even more fun. His name is Scott, and Jeanne and I shared some art banter and laughs with him and his cousin Jenny. It would be nice to cross venues with him again.

And I ran into my artist-in-residence C.Jacqueline Wood last night. I was happy to see her. She’s been a very busy girl since she arrived last Sunday and I’ve seen her for less than an hour the entire time. Keep in mind I’d never met her before Sunday. We are ships literally passing in the night. I’m impressed by her efforts and commitment to her projection piece which is visible only at night. She’s had the Downtown Development Authority and Pioneer Construction helping her and is now working on finishing touches. She has a key to my house and while not seeing her much was really odd the first few days, now I’m just happy to be able to help her (and her crew) out with a place to stay. Her mom is here with her, she had a friend in from Washington DC for a couple of days, and her sister is flying in from Rhode Island this weekend. Her brother is coming from somewhere else. I’m impressed with the support she’s receiving from her family as well as how far supporters are willing to travel to see this event. This is just one artist and look at all the support she's getting. Kudos to us all.

Wander on.