Uncomfortable Art Moment No. 8

So ----- I've been getting a lot of new visitors to the gallery lately. Lots of men stopping by on their way to the barbershop and "tattoo parlor" (oh, those quotes are there for a reason, trust me) around the corner from my shop. Most of them walk by the shop every month on their way to get their hair cut -- but have never so much as paused as they pass the windows. Til now.

Why the sudden interest in Pulp among the menfolk of Benson? Let me introduce you to Propane Jane:


Jane is part of Jeff King's show in the gallery this month, and altho I love her dearly, I could live without the almost constant flow of creepiness she lures into the shop. Most guys just stand there for a minute -- make some comments under their breath and leave without looking at me or anything else in the space... no biggie, I can take that lot....

But this afternoon --- I had a guy in here that was freaking me out a bit.

He walks in, and instantly the store reeks of cigs and old beer -- he's FILTHY -- like, not a little unkempt -- but downright dirty. I'm waiting for him to ask for some money -- but instead, he goes right over to Jane, face right in front of her ass... leaning into the painting -- and says loudly: "Damn -- ain't this SOMETHIN'! I REALLY like this picture. How much does somethin' like this here cost?"

I tell him --- expecting him to leave... but he doesn't. "My son's getting some work done over at that tattoo place... I was killin' time -- didn't 'spect to see something like this -- no sir! Lookit her! Jeeeeeeeesus!"

Okay. I'm officially uncomfortable now. This guy just stands there --- staring ---- for, I kid you not, like 5 minutes. He examines the painting from several different angles -- like he's gonna get an extra glimpse of something if he crouches and looks at it from below.

Finally, another customer comes in and breaks his "concentration" and he starts to leave -- not before coming to my desk to tell me that I made his day. "MmmmmmMmmmmmMMMMMMMMM! Didya ever!"

I need a shower.

This was followed, about 30 minutes later, by my looking out the window to find a couple making out like no body's business in a car parked in front of my shop. I mean --- seriously going at it. I turn around and go back to the computer, and about 10 minutes later a woman comes in and says "I think the people in that white car might be having sex." Ummmmmm --- okay. I decide not to look -- but when the woman was leaving, I glance out the window and the couple are still in the car -- windows rolled down, seats back, smoking.

Ummmmmmmmmm..... yeah.

Shower.

................

In other news ----

Had a great night at the shop yesterday. Some reps from Knoll hosted an event in the gallery for about 30-some local interior designers and it turned out to be a wonderful night.

They brought in lots of food and wine... and the designers decorated recycled binders and boxes with wrapping paper from the shop. Everyone was super sweet -- and it brought a lot of people from West Omaha down... which was the best bit -- because I have yet to figure out a way to bring West Omaha folks into the space. By the end of the night -- they were making plans to come to the next opening (yay!) It was really wonderful having people who design spaces for a living saying that they loved what I'd done with the store, design-wise..... made me super happy and proud. Everyone had a great time... and it was wonderful promotion for the store -- a pretty perfect night!

Tonight, I get to have supper with my friend, Stefanie -- whom I haven't seen in six months since she moved to LA. And then I get to spend the weekend soppin' up some east coast love with Tara & Stuart -- so happy!

Despite the rainy, gray days (and the occassional creepy perv at Pulp) --- I've been *super* happy this week....... it's pretty perfect all the way 'round, these days.