Art Riot?

The Mystery Art affair at the Cleveland County Arts Council Thursday night was a great success. The air of mystery created around the event worked to create quite a buzz in certain circles. Getting images of all of the paintings up on the Web site helped everything by letting people see what quality had come through. But the identity of the artists was never disclosed before one purchased the work.

Well, the buzz was enough that many of us would have gotten there before the opening time to be sure we staked out our purchases. The Arts Council was getting worried. Then they decided to lock the doors at 5 and re-open at 5:30. About 20 of us were on the steps a few minutes after 5. People could be seen walking in that direction too. Would order be maintained?

Yes, the City of Pleasant Living was orderly, but we streamed in there with no delay, no greeting old friends, but headed directly for our targets. I scored two of the best small portraits I've ever seen. Isaac Shelby and Maj. Patrick Ferguson will soon be framed and grace the front hall.

But even better news is that there was a really strong group of 5 x 7 canvases from area artists. 270 or so, in fact. Some were student works, students from local high schools and adult classes, and some were by professional artists. Best of all, it wasn't possible to tell amateur from pro in most cases. Some were playful, some very serious, but most were objects that I'd feel good about seeing every day. And even when we know the identity of the artist, there's still mystery there if you are going to live with art.