The "Makin' A Change" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just returned from the William Ris Gallery in Stone Harbor, NJ with some of my artwork that didn't sell. About 10 years ago, after retiring from teaching and starting to make my Polariod manipulation prints and stained glass window panels which incorporate sea shells, beach glass, and river rocks, I needed to find places that would sell my artwork on commission. The Tag Shop in my home town of Lancaster was a natural, since a good friend of mine, Barry, was the owner. I did quite well in his shop and thought I may be able to sell my art in other locations. Within a year I had my work in shops in North East, MD, Chestertown, MD, Rock Hall, MD, Chesapeake City, MD and Havre deGrace, MD. Did quite well with my Polaroids in all those locations, but the stained glass was too expensive an item to sell in these small shops. About a year later I was on vacation in Stone Harbor and stopped in the Wm. Ris Gallery to see their artwork and knew I had the right place to sell both my photos and stained glass. I talked to the owner, who happened to live nearby in Harrisburg, PA, and she agreed to look at my work. I took samples to her and shortly was making a delivery to Harrisburg. The next few years I did quite well, especially with the stained glass window panels. Even had to travel to a few homes to make custom fit units. Then all of a sudden the business stopped. No more sales. A few weeks ago I emailed the gallery in Stone Harbor and told them I would like to stop and pick up the remaining artwork they had of mine. I stopped today to collect the unsold artwork and noticed they brought all the pieces from their rear storage. Ah ha! No wonder my items weren't selling. They weren't on display. Didn't even question them, since it really was too costly for me to make deliveries to the Jersey shore all the time and it certainly was too expensive to mail the items. I now am preparing the two dozen photos and two glass panels for delivery to Strawberry & Co. in Lancaster to see if they will sell in a shop closer to home. Strawberry & Co. has replaced The Tag Shop as my seller, since my friend Barry died a little over a year ago. Hope someone enjoys what I have made enough to make a purchase. Time will tell. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from the top show the Wm. Ris Gallery in Stone Harbor, NJ and a stained glass panel. The dark mass in the panel on the bottom left are several river rocks which are leaded into the design. Tough to tell that unless you are looking at the window in person.