Well, Last Thursday was awfully quiet. The galleries were open and going but I counted only four street vendors and the sidewalks were nearly empty of pedestrians. Not even the Clown House (what appears to be a co-op of people in crazy costumes who joust and have mudwrestling) was busy.
I did manage to get some nice gifts, though. It’s very difficult to shop for my wealthy Spanish Matriarch, surrogate grandma. She has more money than I may ever have, so trying to buy her something that she needs is futile. Art is the perfect solution. It’s unlikely that she will have the particular item I’m getting for her. Moreover it’s not the sort of thing that one can “need,” exactly. As another plus, I seem very grownup and cultured whenever I give “art.”
I stopped at a series of several galleries in one building around NE 17th and NE Alberta. For this particular lady I bought a black iron candelabra with three spokes for holding candles and twisted like a bunched up knot in the middle. I have never seen a candelabra in this woman’s house. This could mean that one would be a welcome decoration upon her dinner table, or it could mean that she hates them.
I stopped in a place informally called “The Art House,” in front of Jennifer Wells Design at 16th St. Each room of the house is like its own little gallery, featuring different artists every time. This Last Thursday, The Art House was having a holiday artwork sale for people like me looking for presents. For one of my aunts, I bought a plate of textured glass about the size of one and a half notecards. The artist had printed an old photo on the glass: a black and white image of a well-groomed man kissing the hand of a lady in white. Seen in the air, the plate of glass is hazy. When hung against a wall, the photograph is startlingly apparent.
There are no more Last Thursdays before Christmas, but the galleries will still be open during normal hours for your consuming needs. I encourage people to consider doing some of their holiday gift shopping on Alberta St. I plan to return to make some mulled-over choices. Technically, Last Thursday continues through the winter but the cold is scaring away street vendors and buyers alike. Wait until it gets warm again to see a spectacle.
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