my first gallery feature

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A couple of weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to show five original, framed photographs in a juried art exhibition called "RED pop-up gallery" in my hometown, Jackson, MI.

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Me with my Dad and sisters. What a fun night!The gallery was serving three purposes: mainly as a benefit for the region's Red Cross, but also as a feature of an available older building in the area (the gallery "pops up" there and then goes away) and to feature/promote local and national artists.

The gallery opening kicked off with a ticketed VIP "Red Carpet" gala on March 24 and was then open to the public for viewing through March 27. I was very honored to be included with such a wide array of artists' work (painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, food, etc.) that filled several rooms.

Plus, it was the first time I had ever been featured in an art show outside of college! I was both nervous and excited going into the show (and quite exhausted from the week of assembly leading up to the show, the drive, and my car accident the night before), but all the butterflies subsided after seeing my work finished in the hall, with hundreds of on-lookers.

I think my pieces really popped with color and size in the photography room they were located in. I even sold one! :)  I couldn't be happier. Much thanks to my family and friends for being supportive of me as I achieved this milestone.

This second-annual event as a whole attracted quite a bit of attention in the town. The local newspaper, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, had a photographer there who spotted me mingling during the VIP night and wrote up a little blurb under her online post about it. There were other photographers there for other local media coverage and a few stories that were written about it. Here's a neat article. Also, if you're curious, check out the RED committee's website.

Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to participate in this event again in the future!

Here are more of my photos from opening night »