Just a few clouds...

...and an ocean.

When it rains it pours as the old saying goes. When I first arrived on Maui I couldn't get into any of the art shows on the island to save my life. Nobody wanted to see another photographer and they didn't even want to look at my photos to see if they were good, bad or different. They just didn't care. And these are the art groups that are supposed to be about nurturing and helping Maui artists. The galleries here won't talk to you unless you've been on the island for at least a year and have had some sales. It's a catch 22 situation in that if you can't get into the shows or galleries then you can't have any sales and for the most part, you can't afford to live here for a year.

Now, after being here a while there is another old saying that has come to life; it's not what you know but who you know.

I have been doing one weekly show for a few months now (I must have had my sad puppy dog face on when they agreed to let me in) and that has afforded me the time to have my work seen and commented on. It has also introduced me to a multitude of people that have either been in a position to help or know someone that can help. All that has lead up to this past weekend where I was offered two more weekly shows and a new once a month weekend show under the banyan tree in Lahaina, which is one of the premier spots on Maui to sell art. That show starts next month and I'm really looking forward to that show for several reasons. Another old saying; the best revenge is success!

The only thing I can say is that if you have a dream, go for it! There's nothing wrong with trying and failing and you never know, things may work out just like you want them to. I'm still waiting to see how my dream plays out but I feel good about trying. As a friend of mine told me, "build it and they will come". Hopefully that movie line will prove to be true.