Behind the Scenes Art Exhibit: I Never Thought I'd Say This

Matt and I have a standing monthly date to hang new art. (Matt doesn't necessarily love THIS date.)

A couple of weeks ago, he had a conflict. Before heading off to his own activity, he helped me load the paintings into the car, leaving me to carry on alone.

Which I did. Quite successfully, really.

This behind the scenes art exhibit story isn't about needing help. The June gallery got hung. Well, almost. Apparently, I forgot to pick up a couple of paintings that were supposed to be part of the exhibit. Fortunately, I've been doing this long enough to know that minor details like that can be fixed.

June Exhibit

June Exhibit

Still, something felt different.

Usually this is the part where I ask Matt to move something up. Then down. Then left. Then back to where it was before. He responds with a heavy sigh and an eye roll that suggest he is reevaluating every decision that led him to this point.

I had always assumed these moments brought joy to neither one of us. - Apparently, I was wrong.

That day, there were no heavy sighs. No eye rolls. No silent stares into the distance while holding one side of a frame.

And somewhere in the middle of hanging the gallery, I realized something.

I missed it.

Not because I couldn't do it myself. I could and I did.

But I had not realized how much joy I apparently get from causing Matt minor amounts of frustration.

Who knew?

Anyway, the June exhibit went up, the forgotten paintings eventually made their appearance, and life carried on.

But I learned something that weekend.

Apparently, hearing a dramatic sigh while moving a painting half an inch to the left brings me more happiness than I realized.

Thanks for reading The 3rd Flamingo—a blog for art lovers, creative wanderers, and anyone who’s ever made a beautiful mess