WHAT A WEEK!
What a week! The RHG gang split into two teams, Team London and Team NYC. It was so be a week that will be remembered by us all. Team NYC flew out to meet James and Laurie (our sparkling new RHGNYC director) and we began the set up of the art fair. This was phase one of our trip, and went really well. Sunday at 5pm, the pack up started and we were able to breathe a sigh of relief, and head out for celebratory burgers. The real work started in the morning. It was a day that even the entire changing rooms team would have applauded. The gallery was a building site, and there was a scary amount to do, but Mr Green never stopped smiling and the work commenced, Rebecca and Amy grabbed paint brushes and transformed a dull brown door, James and the builders went to work sanding and painting and Laurie arrived with enormous bunches of white lilac.
With one hour to go the builders left. The count down had begun; James broke the world record for the fastest hang and an army of well wishers descended to help us with the finishing touches. Lights were going up, limes were bring cut and gin was being poured. 6pm. With the sweet smell of White Lilac and limes in the air, the floodgates opened and the gallery was alive with the buzz of excitement. Friends from all over America and the World came to wish us well and the buzz and atmosphere synonymous with Rebecca was ever present. Peter Clark was the man of the hour, with a remarkable brand new body of work.
The floor was swept, the glasses cleaned, and the lights turned off. RHGNYC was OPEN! As we all stood outside and looked at this massive accomplishment, we were all so excited and proud of what had been achieved. It was time to celebrate with our nearest and dearest, including Peter Clark and his wife Karen Nicol, and fellow RHG artist Alasdair Wallace. We feasted on Devils on Horseback (Amy and James’ favorite), world famous artichoke dip, lamb and scallops. Rebecca gave a wonderful speech and the evening was absolutely perfect.
The following day, Team NYC assembled at the gallery and our first clients walked though the door. The day continued with fellow Mott Streeters coming in to finally see the finished gallery after much intrigue and speculation. Rebecca managed to fulfill her life long dream of sitting on a stoop in New York drinking a coffee at the end of a hot spring day, and as the day drew to an end it was time to go back to London. James, Rebecca and Jess caught the ‘red-eye’ JFK to LHR and went straight to Conway Street to see Team London!
We had to ready the gallery for a big event that night for a charity called Room to Read. We had a show of Phil Shaws work and lots of our amazing artists donated fabulous pieces for an auction, which raised lots of money.
But as if we were done there… We had a private view for our fabulous artist Cybele Young. Rebecca went off at the crack of dawn to Gloustershire to give two lectures, and we busied ourselves with Cybeles show. The party was lovely and we were even lucky enough to get to have a really great chat with her about it. Cybeles work is some of the most delicate and beautiful work I have ever seen. It has to be seen to be fully appreciated.
Its safe to say its been a seriously busy week for all of us at RHG, and the madness continues as Team Melbourne head south of the equator to embark upon yet another art fair. RHG will for the first time, be operating in three continents simultaneously.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank absolutely everyone who helped make this venture possible. It couldn’t have been done with out a little help from all of our friends and we are sincerely grateful. RHGNYC is open for business.
