In-Transit
Sep 01, 2016.
During this trip, I reconnected with numerous friends and organized a show at Curt’s newly opened tattoo shop, Enso Tattoo. My journey hit a snag when my flight was delayed in Hong Kong due to adverse weather conditions. Upon reaching Dallas, I missed my connecting flight to Ohio. Fortunately, there was another flight scheduled for CMH, and I arrived around 2 am on Thursday night.
Jet lag gripped me, and sleep eluded me as I worked with Curt to set up my show until midnight on Friday. Despite feeling completely exhausted on Friday night, the In-Transit exhibition was slated to open on Saturday, and we had to frame and hang 29 paintings.
A pleasant surprise awaited me when one of my backers, Cassandra from The Perfect Sketchbook, informed her mother about my show on Saturday. Interestingly, Cassandra, now residing in France, originally hailed from Columbus, Ohio. Her mother purchased a painting before the official opening of the show.
The Herculean task of framing and displaying 29 paintings within 48 hours wouldn't have been possible without the invaluable assistance of my incredible friends. Special thanks go to Daniel Painter (Decal), Curt Everitte (everything), Joe Galati (Cutting Matts and frames), and Nathaniel Wood (Cutting Mattes and frame).
The show successfully opened on Gallery Hop night, despite moderate attendance due to an Ohio State game. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to reconnect with many college friends and professors, experiencing a genuine sense of belonging. Realizing I hadn't done much to promote the show, Professor Hiroshi suggested I email the Columbus Dispatch. To my surprise, they responded, featuring a full front-page article in the life section, resulting in additional sales.
Thanks to Charlotte, I had the opportunity to address an audience of about 100 students at The Columbus College of Art in the Cazani auditorium. There's so much I want to express, but the most significant aspect is not my paintings or crowdfunding projects but the incredible friends in America who supported me through college and life; they are my family. Special thanks to Dr. Chilin Yu for her wisdom and the Yue family and CaregiverUSA for providing shelter in Columbus, Ohio.
After Ohio, I flew to California for a two-week visit, catching up with West Coast friends and finally experiencing Yosemite. My gratitude goes to Youn and Hao for making it possible, and special thanks to Janice and Pencil Cafe for convincing me to visit. I cherish you all.