2015 is about to become history, and I don’t know whether to
laugh or cry. On the bright side,
I’m still here. On the not so
bright side, I’m one year older. I
know…old age is a privilege, and I do my best to remember that, but sometimes
the aches and pains, and other rather delicate infirmities get in the way.
I set out to look back on the highs and lows of the past
year, only to discover that I could not remember them. Undaunted, I turned to my journal for
help but found it difficult to read because of my scratchy handwriting (and I
have not practiced medicine in 14 years!). Now clearly, a lesser man than me would have given up on
what appears to be a hopeless situation, but the tiger in me – have mentioned
to you that I am a tiger – asserted itself and I rose to the occasion. (Reminder to self to change the wording
here.)
Using the studio/gallery data on my computer and my imagination
to revive memory I have been able to create a summary of 2015.
I began the year working with watercolors, and by the beginning
of summer had completed less than 163 small paintings! I think the actual number was 10. I received requests from several
galleries in NYC and Chicago pleading with me to do a one-man show, but I told
them no. I was committed to a two
man show in October with my good friend Keyth in Salisbury NC. The show was very very successful. I didn’t sell anything, but got lots of
exposure, and everyone knows that is almost as important as sales for an
artist. Many people attended the
show. Unfortunately the Obama’s
and Biden’s couldn’t be there, but Joe, my dear old friend and one time
roommate from college, joined us and we had a grand reunion.
One week later I traveled to Philadelphia for the 50th
reunion of Jefferson Medical College’s class of 1965. My painting of the old College building was unveiled to
unbridled acclaim and thunderous applause. I was impressed that the three classmates present could make
so much noise.
2015 was also a year for commissions – lots of them. I think I had 25 for the year. No, that’s not right. It was closer to 15…I think. Okay, I just checked my inventory database
– it was 5. I had 5 commissions.
Finally, the year’s review would be incomplete without
acknowledging the completion of the TRILOGY. I cannot begin to tell you how many awards it might have won
if I had submitted it for consideration in annual book award competitions.
My resolution for the New Year? To overcome my extreme humility and reticence that
comes through in these newsletters.
Happy New Year
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