I am still trying to find words to describe how absolutely overwhelmingly wonderful last night was. I had previously shown some work in a group exhibit at the Museo as part of the Foto Inter/Cambio conference, and even then they treated me as some kind of photographic rock star – I was part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the exhibit, they asked me to speak publicly, and I received a certificate of recognition for helping to organize the conference.
I had brought additional personal work in a portfolio that I was planning to share with attendees of the conference. This included a bunch of my male nudes. One of the staff members saw that work, and was very interested in it. He asked me to show it to one of their curators, Juan Pablo Cardona. Juan Pablo was very taken with the work, especially the four-color gum bichromate prints I had made of an African-American model.
At the opening reception for the Foto Inter/Cambio show, he asked if I would be willing to show that work to the museum director. Not being an idiot, of course I said yes. We stepped off the floor of the reception and into the museum’s framing lab where my portfolio had been stored for the day, and Lizbeth Ramirez, the director, along with Juan Pablo and another museum staffer, had me go through my portfolio.
Everyone was excited by my work, and at that time Juan Pablo asked if I would be interested in participating in a show for this year’s Pride celebrations. Of course I said YES! And thus began the journey to yesterday’s opening.
I got to the museum a bit before 6 PM – the opening was scheduled to start at 7, and they had asked all of us artists to be there an hour ahead of time. That was my first glimpse of the installed exhibition:
The museum staff did an absolutely amazing job of preparing the space – I love the way they used color blocks on the walls to break up the space and give the work a flow and a rhythm around the room. This gallery is on the first floor of the museum immediately off the entrance, so public visibility is excellent. I had expected this would be in their upstairs gallery where we had the show last year for the conference, but this is the big deal.
Also to my surprise, I was selected to be one of three of the fourteen artists to speak at the opening. They also listed my name first on the list of participating artists, which to me was a very high honor.
When organizing the event, the museum staff indicated it was limited to 100 people. I think over the course of the evening, significantly more than that came. When I turned around to look at the crowd waiting to be admitted, I was absolutely stunned at how many turned up.
I’ve never had a crowd this big or this enthusiastic at an opening before. This exhibit, and especially this opening night reception, has been the absolute high point of my career to date and quite possibly the most incredible night of my life.
I realize I am incredibly tardy in posting this, on the cusp of the closing of the show (the museum very generously extended the show through September 2!). I wish I could be there in person for the take-down and to collect my work (I have a friend who will be picking it up and storing it for me until I am back in CDMX next), but that wouldn’t be practical.
Until next time, Mexico City, thief of hearts!
