I’m going to share a story.
I was restless, depressed and looking for adventure as I often do these days. As the bleakness of the current state of the world seems to squash most people’s mental wellness, I was getting discouraged about trying to become a working photographer, or just a photographer in general. Fighting my glum mindset, I decided to grab my camera and take a walk through the current city I call home, Haverhill, MA. I hit the downtown area and started using my photographer’s eye to capture any type of composition I could find, which wasn’t much seeing how I was forcing inspiration. I found a leading line with a traffic island stretching out down a street, a giant mural of a powerful black woman holding a microphone with an inspirational quote, and a few other things that didn’t seem worth it. I also found some interesting locations for portrait shoots. It was nearing lunchtime so I started thinking about food. As I turned the corner and off of the current street I was trekking down, I noticed my favorite café had just re-opened! The Wicked Big Café it’s called. Actually a cleaver name because it’s the opposite of wicked big. I ordered my favorite sandwich the Turkey Basiliyo (turkey and basil) and a mango smoothie and sat down. The tables were six feet apart and they had the typical plastic barrier at the counter to block the virus from spraying back and forth into each other’s faces. Masks were on and the employees seemed happy just to be working again. I noticed the bare walls, which are usually covered with interesting and vibrant art for sale from local artists. I picked out the owner as I was eating and questioned the dull, empty brick walls. He said he used to have a waiting list of artists but with the pandemic and being closed for months he lost the list and has no one interested at the moment. Of course I spoke up and told him I’m a photographer and would be happy to display my work. He was excited and asked for my business card. Without even looking at my work he told me to bring what I have in as soon as I can and he'd be happy to have my photos hanging in his café. So the next day, I hung up what I could, sat down and ate my Turkey Basiliyo and mango smoothie and contemplated the idea of art in this bleak pandemic infested world. Still fighting my depressing thoughts I wondered if anyone would buy anything, show interest in art or even notice the photos hanging on the wall. Will people be able to afford the photos even though I dropped prices? Would they want to spend the little money they might have on art right now? It’s a bad time to try to try and start a career in the arts, I gently thought to myself. Then I realized, at least it will be exposure if my work is noticed and I left my business cards in strategic spots so anyone could take them.
Less then a week went by and again I went walking downtown to fight my restlessness. I stopped into The Wicked Big Café to eat and check in on things. Two photos were missing! I went to order my usual and asked the girl at the counter about it. I was actually worried they fell and broke, or I forgot to fill those spots, but the girl was all excited. She started telling me how fast they sold and how excited the buyers were to get them! People were noticing art, my art! I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I chatted with the employees and ate my sandwich. A couple other customers got wind that the photographer was there and started asking about the landscapes covering the walls. My sandwich and smoothie tasted a little better this time as I smiled and talked with the staff and a few customers.
Ever since that day a feeling of relief and hope has put a little jump in my step. Knowing art is not dead and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel is a huge relief. Maybe art is one of the things helping people get through these hard times? Maybe we as artist have an obligation to help brighten up the drab walls of life? Maybe we are the candles lighting up people’s darkened state of minds with creativity and hopefulness; offering a distraction from the constant negativity in their news feeds and lives?
Art is not dead. It’s alive and is giving people an escape from a world in despair.
If you can't get to the Wicked Big Cafe to buy a print, check out my online store here
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