The Last Hurrah, June 15, 2012
I made an important decision at the beginning of this year to focus more on my own photography, a change in focus that I stated on this very blog on February 8, 2012. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and the changes surrounding that decision continue to resonate.
As opportunities have presented themselves, I made the further decision on May 1 to begin operating the gallery by appointment only. At that time, I also began to consider the option of giving up my gallery space should I happen to find someone to take it. It happened faster than I thought.
And so it was that shortly before midnight on Friday, June 15, 2012, I turned off the gallery lights for the final time, nearly 17 years after I first walked into an empty room in the basement of Tula Art Center and began to set up shop. What happened in those 6164 days and nights in between was filled with more thrills than I could have ever imagined, so many good times shared with close friends and family.
But this is not a goodbye, only a shift. The gallery will continue to evolve and make an impact. A roster of dynamic artists from around the country will be maintained, and work may be viewed online or by appointment. Exhibitions will soon continue at various off-site venues in Atlanta and beyond, so stay tuned.
I could not have done any of this alone, and if you're still reading this now, chances are pretty good that you have somehow helped me along the way. What else can I say but Thank You!
-Robert Matre