Yes, I’ll dress up a bit
(…within reason).
For an artist and “foodie” like myself, yesterday evening
was nothing short of a slice of heaven. Last fall, my good friend, Susan Kubes,
introduced me to an annual exhibition, presented by the Clearwater Free Clinic. The
event benefits the charitable functions of the Clinic, drawing thousands of
dollars from the art bids of area doctors and professionals. All entries to the
exhibition were juried, so my submission was made with some amount of anxiety.
A glance at the list of yesteryear’s exhibitors revealed many of the area’s
established masters… and my specialty, scenic photography, is
still, in certain circles, regarded as less than fine art. So, it was a great
thrill to be granted an exhibition space ...and, I believe, a benefit to my
pursuits toward earning a permanent gallery space.
The party began at 7:00 PM with drinks (and
cigars) in the courtyard. Dinner was catered by some of the best known
restaurants in the area and included several courses - lobster bisque, tuna
and avocado parfait, seared scallops with cauliflower and bacon, lobster macaroni
and cheese, sirloin kabobs, shrimp and grits, crab cakes, Portobello mushroom ravioli
with alfredo sauce and shrimp ceviche. Desert included a parfait of cookies and
crème, peanut butter pudding, strawberry mousse, dark-chocolate-dipped- as well
as white-chocolate-and-coconut-dipped-pretzels and gourmet coffees.
The artwork was bidded upon via raffle, with each
ticket costing ten dollars. As you can see in the below photographs, by the end
of the night, the martini glass beside my artwork contained several hundred
dollars in raffle tickets… a very pleasant sight, for me at least. Ultimately
my work was won my Misses Draheim and her husband. My thanks go out to them, to
Susan Kubes, for making me aware of the event, and to the men and women of the
Clearwater Free Clinic, who made the night possible.Thank you to all!
L. Polyak
(2 C More art go to www.themindscapeartfoundry.com or www.artoflylepolyak.com)