Mashpee Chamber of Commerce Exhibition - CLARA NARTEY

Textile Art Exhibition

Earlier this month, while in Cape Cod, I got to show two of my pieces, “Shadows” and “Bread and Butter-B/W” (shown to the left) in an invitational show.

I’m always excited to have my work shown in an exhibition. Being able to actually attend the opening reception of an exhibition is just a treat. Opening receptions are wonderful because you get to meet other artists, get feedback on your work and see great work from the other artists who are also showing in the exhibition with you. So it goes, without saying that anytime I get a chance to attend an opening reception I do.

Well, getting to the opening reception in Mashpee turned out to be a circus. First off I gave myself just enough time to get to the venue which I hardly ever do. I almost always leave wiggle room. So that was mistake number one. Then I thought I could easily find the venue just with my GPS –mistake number two. Thirdly, I refused to go in the company of other artists and set off to the venue (in a town I had never set foot in) all by myself – mistake number four.

Needless to say, after asking about 20 different people for directions, parking my car and walking back and forth within approximately one-mile radius for an hour, seeing all the sights that could be seen in Mashpee Commons, I finally arrived at the reception, one hour late.

I know, I should just have quit and gone back to my place of residence but I wasn’t going to travel all the way to the Cape and not attend an opening reception in which I had work. I just wouldn’t have been able to live with myself for doing that.

Irrespective of all the trouble I had in getting to the reception, it was all worth it. It was a beautifully hung reception and the pieces were all elegant. Artwork always looks different when it is hanging up on walls as opposed to lying down. And when a group of pieces are hung together, they take on a new life of their own. Hanging the artwork is an art of itself.

I had a blast socializing with the artists and the public. I got to enjoy seeing some really great work. Looking at art is always inspiration for creating more great art, and that’s one of the reasons I love to see art.

Below are some images from the opening reception. Enjoy!!