Keep an open mind . . . especially with art
living room // art by Zack Smithey
Some of the first pieces of original art that found their way to our home were pieces by the uber talented Zack Smithey. I had followed him for some time and fantasized about where I would hang his work in our home when the unimaginable happened—he announced a studio sale. And I have never been more committed to getting somewhere in my life. Once I arrived to the sale and meticulously worked my way through every piece for a fourth time, I deliberated and eventually created a small pile for purchase. I was overdoing it for sure, but I quite literally could not help myself. That’s when another quite unexpected thing happened—more unexpected than the studio sale itself. My husband, who had joined me on this dream outing, pointed out a piece of art that he liked. And it was not a piece in my small pile. What????? Does he know I’ve studied every piece? That I’ve painstakingly worked my way through the overwhelm of the beauty in the individual pieces and in the impossible decisions to be made that day? That I’ve tried and failed to ground myself and summon some financial discipline? That I eventually developed a detailed and conscientious plan? A plan that didn’t include this particular piece? Has he been following Zack Smithey like I have? Does he know his body of work? Where do we go from here? Can our relationship survive this? Despite being completely stopped in my tracks, I eventually reminded myself that my husband does, in fact, live in our home, and it was our money that was going to fund this venture. Convinced the piece would have to be banished to my husband’s office, I yielded. The piece was now ours.
Now for the third unexpected turn. My husband’s chosen piece was not banished to his office. Instead, it found its way to a prominent place in our home. It’s the first thing you see when you walk through our front door, hanging over our piano and next to another Zack Smithey piece that I adore. I never imagined that these two pieces could co-exist, and I certainly never thought I’d grow to cherish my husband’s selection as much as I have. What was once unexpected is now a treasured focal point. Admittedly, it was more marital guilt than an open mind that got us here, but I’m grateful for both Smithey pieces that now live above our piano and for the reminder to keep an open mind, especially when it comes to art.
