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"The Hanging Committee:": thread for amusing tales about arts events.

Aladdin

Well-Known Member
A thread for "Amusing Artistic Events"

So I "joined" the local Art Society a few months ago. Every 3 weeks an email arrived. All very nice. They meet once a week in an old unused church... etc. I haven't gone to a meet yet..but would have hoped to once my immunosuppressants are reduced. (I keep telling myself that)

Then an email arrived about their Annual Exhibition. So I prepared 2 paintings, masked myself up and headed off today to the place they are exhibiting.

I should say that I had already told them that I am very immunosuppressed and don't go out much let alone to a gathering of people in a gallery.

From the moment I walked in I felt like I was in a Mapp and Lucia episode.
" hello..and you are?"
I gave my name...which had to be said 5 times because I am masked up and they are elderly and I suspect quite deaf..
"Your name is not on the list..I'm afraid you cannot exhibit unless you're on the list
..are you a member?" "Well I thought I was" I explained my situation..cocooned etc..contacted "Mabel" who said "oh that's fine" and
".I am so sorry. I received the email about the exhibition and can show it to you If you like... Can I join now?"
Bit of discussion behind two magazines...

"Of course. Here is a form and you can fill it out over there..€30 for the year and €10 for your painting submission today". I hand them my €30 and €20 for the 2 paintings. The second lady hands me back €10. "Oh I thought it was €10 per painting. "No no it's 10 no matter how many paintings"
"It SHOULD be €10 per painting!", grumbles the elderly lady, "stop people handing in their rubbish!!"

"Is it raining?" Says the older lady sitting by the table
"No" says I .. now aware that I had a heavy raincoat on.."but it was ..earlier", I stammer.....she looks at me like I am odd... they are now looking at the back of my painting mumbling to each other about "string" and "I've seen that type before" and then looking at me. The man says " I'll make sure that hangs..no need for string".

At this stage the little old lady asks "do you like painting?" And I say "I love to paint. I try to paint every day"
..she turns and sniffs and says " well I don't enjoy it much anymore"

I ask about their 'once a week meet"...do you bring paintings along and paint? "
"Oh no..well sometimes. Mostly we meet and have a chat and a cup.of tea ..sometimes we are entertained and someone sings a few songs..." She looks over at the older man and they both exchange a friendly smile.

At this stage the space was getting quite hot. The second woman points to a roster and says, "will you sign to spend 2 hours curating the paintings".. the man stepped in and obviously had taken on board what I said about being immunosuppressed and not going out much. "We can sort it among ourselves ".. They seemed to be a bit miffed...so I apologised for being unable to do the roster...being immunosuppressed and being a human...

Off I went.. feeling like I had been in an odd kind of a drama.

About 3 hours later the phone rings. "Hello this is Madeleine from the xxxxxx Art Society.. now .. you will have to come out and sort your paintings. We cant hang them without string"
Once again I explain my situation and that a gentleman there said he would hang my paintings.
"Well..this is most irregular...I will check with the hanging committee".
Clearly the "hanging committee" were beside her.. mumble mumble.."oh really?" More mumbling. "Well it seems we can hang them after all..but in future please have them ready to hang with string" and she hung up.

I'm thinking when I am better that I will toddle along to their evenings ... just for the comedy of it. .

Mapp and Lucia were definitely there.

😀😀
 
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Actually joking aside..
I rather like these type of characters..
Harmless - usually..
Mostly spotted with their glasses on chains..
Or perched on their nose
God bless 'em..
 
I'd be disappointed if it was not a shillelagh...
Crack a few noggins before going off to do some voluntary work...
 
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