Last week I installed my exhibit "What's in a Story" at Haley House
Bakery Cafe: haleyhouse.org/bakery_cafe It feels great to be
showingat local venue for a change, especially one which is so
supportive of building community. Their website says it all, "We
believe in Food with Purpose and the Power of Community."
Have fun exploring their website and facebook page. Haley
House's story is inspiring.It started as a soup kitchen and today
includes the soup kitchen, an in-community housing program, a
farm, one-the-job training,classes, the cafe and more. The cafe
has become a busy venue for all sorts of events including music,
art, poetry, readings with regular open mics. The folks that
gather and work there demonstrate the wonderful diversity and
creative energy in our neighborhood.
Celia Grant organizes the gallery in the cafe. When she asked
if I'd be interested in showing, I jumped at the chance. The
challenge was to present 3-D work in a space where two
dimensional work is usually displayed. But hey, I've never
been one to avoid a creative challenge...Windows were
adapted for flying books, storytellers and large journals.
and shadow boxes and posters were hung on the walls.
There is a large screen which comes down in the middle of the
back wall so nothing could project out very far in the center.
We set up small shelves (made by my hubby for my recent
NYC show) to the right and left and put posters between.
The creatures and figures thought they looked good against
the brick walls.
An overhead support was perfect for Snarval,the large dragon.
The opening was last Friday eve announced via the flier
above, plus various social media networks, emails, and
ad in the Bay State Banner. My thanks to to Bing Broderick
and Celia for PR and helping brainstorm setup, Sandie
Fenton and my hubby for photos of the opening and to
everyone who came. 40-50 people showed up, young, old
and in between from many different connections. Also
thanks to all the folks at Haley House Bakery Cafe who have
been talking about my work to customers since the opening.
Snarval was noticed:
There were lots of stories shared, questions and good
Haley House sweet potato pizza.
I discussed techniques distributed a few stories, talked with
friends including kids I have worked with and met new folks.
A "Can you name a dragon that is not in Wendy's Great
Book of Dragon Names challenge" resulted in two more
names to ad to my book which had 451 dragon names.
Haley House cafe is a place where going beyond comfortable
boundaries is supported, so I stepped up and read from "Sophia's
Quest" the mythic folk tale I have been working on for a long time.
I'm hoping to get it into a finished form by the end of the summer.
The story was inspired by the cupola of a run down Victorian
house in the neighborhood. I kept looking up at the cupola
wondering what was up there. A nest ? perhaps the nest of a
phoenix? I didn't know if my creatures would show up in the
tale, but of course they did as well as a library of flying books.
some of the posters I had in the show..and soon will begin
to give a peek at some of Sophia's travels.
Meanwhile, if you're in the Boston area, drop over to Haley House
Bakery Cafe at 12 Dade Street, Roxbury for conversation, good
food and to contemplate "what's in a story".
Adventure on! Wendy
