Yesterday I closed down the exhibition for the 100 mile ART Project: Cambridge. It was also my last official day as the Artist-in-Residence for the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Reminiscing with Tamara afterwards, I tried to explain the odd feeling I had that we had moved in a circle during this project and now I was back at the beginning. Our talking, the space, everything felt like it did the first night we spoke about this idea.

I imagine that this is the way most artists experience the world. One begins with calm water, experiences a storm of activity in creating an exhibition and then watches as still waters return. The curious part about this journey is that no hint of the bustle of activity remains in the visible world. The only influence I can identify, in the end, is upon myself.

As I return to my usual practice of painting this coming week, colours like Maya-blue and Cambridge Ochre will now participate in my pallet options. The brightness of a Mars yellow will give me a moment’s pause in wonder. And, every time I pick up a rock to create a little pigment, my imagination will attempt to place it somewhere within the world.

To that end, today I carefully unpacked the vanful of exhibition materials. Originally I had made space to pile it in the centre of the floor and I worried a little about finding a place for everything. To my great satisfaction, bucket after bucket seemed to already belong somewhere in my studio; instead of having the task ahead of me to integrate these materials, they already belonged.

As I close this project I need to say once more how very grateful I am to have had the opportunity to do this project. My thanks to the many people who aided and participated me in realizing a dream. While the project has returned to something insubstantial, for me it is now a experience that I will savour.

I’ve had a couple of photographs sent to me from the opening night of the exhibition. In retrospect, I wish I had arranged for someone to document the opening by taking photos but that was one thing that I forgot to plan.

The photograph on the left shows Dale Nikkel leading up to his song about the 100 mile ART Project in Cambridge. Everyone I’ve spoken to really enjoyed his song and I’m hoping I might be able to post a recording of it soon. The photo on the right shows a few guests interacting with the project’s finished icon entitled, Adam Naming the Animals.

If I receive any more photos, I’ll post them as they come in (and if you’re reading this and have some, please send them to me!).

On Friday night the exhibition opened! A crowd of nearly 100 filled the exhibition space, the hallways and the reception area. One of the things that I have enjoyed in putting together this project is the variety of people it brought together; and this evening was no exception. We had the full spectrum of ages and a great diversity of interests.

The unveiling included many other treats besides the installation. Singer and song-writer, Dale Nikkel preformed an original composition about the project and Cornucopia Catering served a wonderful selection of appetizers and food all created from ingredients found within 100 miles!

For the rest of October the 100 mile ART Project: Cambridge will be on display at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Please drop in, look around, enjoy and leave a comment.

Well, tonight’s the night: The 100 mile ART Project exhibition opens at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts at 7:00 pm! Come out and see first hand the treasures collected and the pigment colours created. For the first time tonight the icon created for this project, Adam Naming the Animals, will be revealed.

It is going to be a great night. Besides the art, a wonderful selection of food is being prepared by Cornucopia (all created by ingredients found within 100 miles!) and we have musician, Dale Nikkel, in attendance performing a song he wrote specially for the project!

Hope to see you there!