My first art show

Wow, hey, hello there! It’s been awhile, huh?

Well, your neighborhood recluse is popping out of the woodwork to celebrate! Ten of my photos and ten of my poems will be on display tonight at the Garfield Park Art Center, conveniently located a few blocks from…MY HOUSE (which is a story for another time).

Anyhoo, I went on a whole ass roadtrip last year around May to mourn a loss and a breakup. During that trip I took a bunch of photos, even took my big lens. I do tend to have a bit of imposter syndrome and fear applying to things because of that (and mental health, let’s be real), but I am so grateful to take the leap for this opportunity.

Loss sucks no matter how you shake it, especially when you aren’t the best version of yourself you want to be. But, that’s also how we recognize the need to grow, isn’t it? The photos and poems are about that, trying to get out of the low points and the space between.

Thank you to the GPAC for including me in this show. If you’d like to see more of my photos, peruse the portfolio gallery or the stories I’m sure to post on the Instagrams! 🤣

P.S. Here’s one of the poems, based on the image I’m holding titled “someday you will…”

someday you will…

Along the guardrails lost souls guided find

Messages urging visitors to be human, be kind.

The middle of a wasteland a quest behoved

Scrawled on a post “Someday you will be loved.”

What a joy, a terror, and a curse to impose.

A hex no longer under, but one I still know.

And while you sit and wait for enamor to arrive,

Out there agape laughs and your person thrives.

by dion hazelbaker