a word about friends

First...I can't thank Caroline Szozda enough for her help (well, she did most of the work) hanging my show today. 7 hours of work, and she didn't feel good.  and it was an icky-ish day.  without her, i dare say i would have just flung the work up there in frustration.  thank you thank you Caroleena.  so stop in sometime this month - the Library in The Galleries downtown.  I'll be there 5/19 noon-3, but anytime during the month is fine.
While we were setting up, the oddest assortment of people stopped to chat.  and y'all know how i am a magnet for people of the oddest assortment.  one kid in particular stopped by, wearing his gang banger do-rag and all posing and semi-smarmy.  but i noticed he had very proper English, and began asking him questions about himself and asked if he was an artist (i mean, why else would a gang banger stop to watch art being hung?)  it turns out he sketches, and has a few notebooks filled.  i asked him his name, and then Caroline asked him his name - he gave her a different answer, so i called him on it.  turns out, he doesn't like his first name, which is unique and such a melody.  i decided for him that his 1st name would be his "artist" name, and that he should be back at the show on May 19th with his sketchbook, and we would plan his art career.  i teased him about his choice of headcovering.  i watched as he went from a poser, to a young kid, or a young man with delight in his eyes that he could talk about his art.  i hope he comes back.  Caroline & i were starving and trying to leave for lunch, but he kept talking & talking.  thirsty.  i want art to save this boy from his gang.  i want that.

In other news, a few years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Nicola Taylor.  She is beautiful and wonderful and has the most delightful heart evah.  and she has worked so hard for her dreams, and they have come true...she is living them.  and recently, she was picked from a huge huge choice of people in the UK to be in Stoli's first film.  Do not forget her name.  (and her calendars are yumm wonderful eye candy - no, that's not right...the depth of emotion each image embraces most certainly is NOT a quick look.  oh go see for yourself on her website.)  but look at this:(she is the photographer) (oh, and the video will say something about technical difficulty - just click it and it'll take you to the youtube version)