A night to remember. Boy, does that title sound like a cheesy prom name! But maybe that fits, as this story reminds me of when Steve and I were young. In college, I won the big scholarship for the art school. The next year, Steve won it. The gentleman who funds the scholarship was so taken by the fact we were married. Everyone loved that.
Fast forward 13 years and something similar has happened again. This year, I won second place in photography at the Blair County Arts Festival. Steve won third place. When we were called to accept our awards, they asked if we knew each other and everyone laughed and clapped when Steve explained that we were married. It felt like old times.
We met in an art class and fell in love while creating art together. It was affirming to both win that scholarship years ago and reaffirming to both win awards in the same category this year, being that we still work together as photographers. We have a friendly competition when we photograph weddings together to see who can capture better “moments.” Both winning at the show this year kind of evened the artistic score.
Two of my three photographs that were accepted in the exhibition featured my daughter. She is the subject of most of my personal work and I wished that she could have been there last night. So many people inquired about her, what she thought of being a model, if she enjoyed having artists as parents and everyone asked if our other children were artistically gifted as well. They are. In fact, our children all have work on display at the children’s exhibit (even the three year old), so this year the BCAF is a family affair.
There are many hats that I wear throughout any given week. I am a mother, soccer mom, a wedding photographer, a teacher and a family caregiver. Longer than any of these though, I have been an artist. It felt refreshing and like coming home to be seen as an artist last night. To talk about my series of personal work, to explain my artistic process and to be affirmed that I am good at what I do. I am thankful for the gifts that God has given me. They provide me with so much joy!
Another award winner was our dear friend, Yong Sook Lambert, with me below. She is an extremely talented painter from Korea who we have enjoyed knowing for the past 11 years.
The night was filled with inspiring work, good food and meeting of new friends. I even ran into some of my past photography students, whose work was on display as well (so awesome!). So in the end, the title really does fit the story.
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