Last Wednesday I went to pick up my paintings at the place where I had them last month from the art walk. I was horrified to find when I got there that the manager had taken all my work down and stored it in a warehouse area. I have never had that happen at any show. They always want me to be there to take my work down. One of the other girls art was in there too, and the manager just left me alone with it and said I could carry it out another door, not through the place of business. I was not happy. I carried my work out the door and across the street, stopping by a tree to re-arrange it when it seemed precarious. All the way home, I kept feeling really uneasy about it all, and after an hour and 20 minute drive home, I realized that Simone at Happy Hour and Lucy in A White Garden were not in my car. Now, it takes a lot to get me mad enough to call someone out. But I was really mad.
I called the general manager and told her two paintings were missing and tried to control myself from really going off on her. She went and looked in the warehouse area, and then said she would check with the other woman who had already picked up her paintings to see if she got them "by accident". By now, I'm freaking out, pacing, crying, imagining that they had been stolen by the other woman or someone else. Really, really mad. About 45 minutes pass, and she calls me back and says the woman does not have them. Then about 15 minutes later, she called again and said that a patron had found my paintings on the street! Leaning up against a tree! So it was all my fault! And then I felt bad because they were out there on a busy street in Seattle for over 2 hours and nobody stole them. Or maybe nobody stole them because there are still nice people in the world.
I felt like an idiot.
I got the paintings on Monday.
18 comments:
Oh - I feel your pain. I think you left them on the street because you were already upset about the way they had been treated. I think it is just one of those weeks. Thanks for sharing. Let's hope things are smoother from here on out.
Warmly,
Carrie
isn't it nice to see that there are some nice people left in the world?
Wow, what a rollercoster ride - I can just imagine the panic you would have felt when you thought the paintings were stole. Good thing they are safe and you have them back! Both paintings are really lovely too!
hi
i suppose you wont sell there anymore after been threaten like that ..sometimes your mind can play you around it happens everybody you had luck that the paintings was not stolen
Wow that sounds really traumatic!
I still think it's not your fault though, the treatment of your paintings by the gallery is not on, you should always be there to either take them down yourself or at least supervise them being taken down.
If I was you i'd still be mad! (just my 2 pennies ;)
Micki x
Oh my gosh! What a nightmare! I would have needed a huge tranquilizer for all the hysteria I would be under!
I can't get over thae way they treated your and the other artist's work and had you go out another door! I feel bad vibes from them, too.
Xo, SuZi
I am glad you "found" your paintings. they really are quite lovely.
Don't worry, this type of thing happens to everyone at some point.
I haven't painted in a while & you are inspiring me to do so. Thanks!
Oh my heavens...how awful! I think perhaps they were stolen by any passerby's because they just knew that they were there by mistake, and that they were so obviously waiting for someone to come and get them...like lost little children! Either that, or they thought that it was some form of beautiful art installation?? Whatever the case...I am tickled that you got them back!
Oh Lordy! now that is drama! Im just glad they didnt get blown into the street by the wind or something. These paintings are the sweetest!~
Oh I loved this ..... I mean , I feel bad you went through this but I do stuff like this all the time and then I feel guilty and mad at myself.
I still remember stuff I did from YEARS ago .
I'm glad it all worked out
That is a pretty amazing story!! I am glad it turned out ok. Love all of the paintings. I would have been tempted if I had seen them sitting out on the street!
Jennifer
Sounds like a crummy art gallery, with treatment like that. (Carry them out the back! Humph!) And they are lovely, to boot. Those ladies have class coming out their ears and so do you for finding your voice, but not hurting others unnecessarily. Kudos on your paintings and for standing up for yourself. The passersby must have had a wonderful time viewing your paintings in the impromptu (sp) showing!
Just had a look at your blog and love your style of work - beautiful!
I was feelin your pain and then cracked up at the end! I've been there! So glad you got your work back and now to relax and regain the three days you just lost off your life from the stress of it all!
Terisa
I love your paintings! What a story - it's so fabulous that the person who found them brought them back. It would have been a tragedy to have lost them.
Well all I can say is you're darn lucky I wasn't there!!!, they would have been too tempting to pass up!!!Seriously though, I'm glad it all worked out, and I chose to believe there are still honest folk in this world too!!!
blessings,Flora
It wasn't clear to me whether you "obeyed" them and went out through the front door, not the door they told you to. I hope you did disobey!
How awful to treat your work like that. Yes, it was the way you felt from it that made you forget your work behind. You were upset, understandably, and distracted by it.
I still am amazed at how people in the US respect what is not theirs. In Brazil, those paintings would be gone in 2 seconds flat.
I think we've all done this in moments of stress - gotten a little generous with our anger. You should congratulate yourself on driving home safely (I tend to roll through stop signs and get nailed for same while preoccupied). Beautiful work.
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