I talked with a friend recently about her art being returned to her after a long hiatus. She had requested the piece back from an ex. It took forever, but when she did get it back, the experience was somewhat bittersweet. The piece had been altered and though glad to have it back, it wasn’t the same.
I had an unexpected return of a piece I’d done back in 2007 just the other day. It was for a friend at work back then. We no longer work there, and I guess when he left his job after me, he left the piece behind. I was back there doing some consulting a colleague (Fellow #2) asked me to swing by his office – he had something for me. He smirked, or smiled, I wasn’t sure which. I wanted to believe it was a smile. I wanted to think that he had something nice for me to smooth over some old ill feelings.
I took my meeting with Fellow #2, and when I left his office, his admin pointed to the painting. My heart sunk. Why hadn’t Fellow #1 taken the piece with him when he left? Did he forget? Did he not like it?
And that smile – now I could see it was definitely a smirk. Fellow #2’s wife is an artist and surely he must know the feeling of getting art back that you have lovingly gifted away to a new home.
Overall, though, I was happy to get the piece back. I loved making it and love it.
It lives up to its name: 26 Types of Failure. Monoprint/Mixed Media Collage 22×30, Rives BFK Paper
