CHAPTER 8 : OPEN HOUSE - DOCUMENTARY

A year ago, May 16^th, 2014.

I started a diary, in a little notebook with a picture of “El Baño del Caballo”/ “The Bath of the Horse”, de Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida,  one of my favourite painters ever.

Joaquin Sorolla , spanish painter, " The Bath of the Horse"

 

In the first page of the notebook, with my terrible handwriting, I wrote the quote that illustrates this post, in Spanish: “Cada creacion es una victoria sobre el miedo”.

In the beginnings, my Ver Art Gallery diary

 

My first post was all about the excitement of receiving our first two pictures on May 8^th, 2014. Many exciting moments came after that, and will keep coming.

My first post, May 16, 2014

A year after, May 3^rd, 2015, a lot earlier than I planned, we hosted our first Open House.

Every project starts with an idea, and as  physicist Linus Pauling says, “To have a good idea, you need to have many ideas”.

Then you need to start dreaming, and find the best team. The Dream Team.



Alba Gamboa,  Software Engineer, Web Developer; Leonor, me, unstoppable  dreamer; Leo Perez ( my daughter), Graphic Designer, curator; Sancho, mascot.

 

Santiago ( my son), Business Manager; Meen ( my husband), Carpentry and Framing director,  Official translator English - English, copywriter and owner; Sancho, Mascot; Carlos, Financial Advisor

Meen and Leonor, Ver art Gallery Owners

The rest is love.

Special thanks to my friend Regina. She lighted a corner of the Gallery with her hand painted beautiful Taparas.

And Juan Pablo Gonzalez Amaya, talented young Venezuelan artist with a strong, passionate approach and social content. (I owe him a post )

Also, special thanks to Maria Eugenia Otero, my “socia”. She is my eyes and spiritual artistic presence, in Venezuela.  A keen eye for art and a generous soul: that is her. Thank you for all your support.

Finally, the Open House day arrived.

 

I was much stressed, and as always, full of fears.

The soft voice of creation always saves me. For sure, every creation is a victory over fear…

After a couple of Champagne’s glasses, I finally relaxed and even gave a Thank You speech.

Thank you!

The dream has just started.

 

Thanks to all!

CHAPTER 7: THE TEAM

When things are done with love and honesty, at least they have a small chance to succeed.

When you have the best team, then your chances increase exponentially.

I am lucky to say Ver Art Gallery has the best team.

And this is my definition of best team:

The best talent of each person, in the right place, at the right time, with a different motivation than money.

As I have said before, this project, against all scientific theories, has started as “spontaneous generation”.

An exuberant idea, (an art gallery?!?), that would have died at birth if it was not ignited and re-ignited by the talented people around our “lonely wolves” lives.

I want to thank my dream (and also drink) team, for bringing to life an idea and materializing a vision.

Leo Perez, graphic designer, visual communications, quality control, curator. Everything she touches gets better instantly.  Plus she is my extremely talented daughter.

Maria Eugenia Otero, art agent in Caracas, Venezuela. She finds art that talks to me, to us, to all of you.

Alba Gamboa, my big eye, beautiful software engineer and web developer. Always offers not one, but multiple solutions to any problem. Her mom, Janet,  has also been great support, and she makes the best "tortilla de papas" ever.

Santiago Perez, business developer: Somebody needs to remind me that love of art is not enough.  Santiago happens to be my handsome son as well.

Carlos Vera, brilliant economist: Somebody, also needs to remind me that a real business has books to be kept, taxes to be declared, permits to be filed, GST stuff, all the boring things. He will marry my daughter soon.

And finally, my husband: He is my official translator from English to English (He is English, my portable Shakespeare). He reviews everything I write, so blame him if this is not impeccable English (remember my first language is Spanglish). He is also mastering the art of stretching and framing. It is a wonderful retirement hobby. He happens to be the love of my life.

I forgot Sancho, our four legged best and loyal friend. He is our spoiled rotten English Springer Spaniel.

And in general, there are so many people that have supported us expecting nothing in return, that we have no other choice but to keep this dream going.

Thanks to all!

It is just magic.

No more words, here is the team.

                                                                                                                            

From left to right: Alba, Leonor, Leo and Sancho

 

From left to right: Santiago. Meen / Sancho, and Carlos.

 
NEXT: CHAPTER 8: JUAN PABLO GONZALEZ AMAYA - YOUNG VENEZUELAN ARTIST