the long awaited post! long overdue because of my project (see upcoming post and past procrastination posts)!
so, we met the queen. we arrived, we were herded into a huge room out of the way while she got set up, and then we got to go one by one and shake her hand. and we were expected to introduce ourselves first. she, of course, being the queen, just got to smile and say something like “nice to meet you.”
there was a speech. another speech. then the queen spoke, and she had a nice and warm voice. i couldn’t help but wonder, though, who wrote her speech. she thanked many people involved in organizing the exhibition, and i couldn’t help but wonder, does she really know who those people are? i don’t know the answer to that. i don’t know how involved she is really. then she announced the winners, they all got their photos made with her, and off the other artists, M included, went to stand next to their paintings so the queen could come by and have a more personal chat about the work.
i was planning to be all cool and collected, but in the end i couldn’t take the camera from my face. M was in the room at the back, and so i was scoping out exactly where she was in the 9-room exhibition space. i wanted him to be prepared and ready and not talking to a mere normal person when she walked in. she (and the hordes of media; camera crews, photographers, the whole bit) finally made it into the back room, and began the rounds. i shooed away some non-regal person when she was 2 artists away from M, so that he could prepare, focus. when she came to him, i went beserk (from a distance) with my camera. i didn’t hear anything she said! i missed the entire conversation! but i got a few good shots, and then my paparazzi moment was over in 5 minutes.
i thought.
after that, it must have appeared that i was stalking her, but i wasn’t. there just aren’t so many rooms you can escape to in a 9-room gallery. i was trying to just be cool and look at the art after that, but no matter where i went, which painting i was looking at, there she was, with the whole entourage. i’d go to another room, make the round, and think, “oh i’d like to see that painting again in room 6.” i’d make it to room 6, thinking the queen must not even be here anymore, and suddenly she’d turn the corner. at least i wasn’t taking photos any longer. i tried not to be in the way… but i wouldn’t be surprised if i end up on the “do not invite” list next year…
anyway, it general, it was really fun, and i was so proud of M. he’s worked so hard , and finally it pays off.
now, you may be wondering about my outfit. i did not end up wearing what i planned to wear. first of all, it was COLD, and i didn’t think wearing a sleeveless blouse would be very smart. second of all, the official invitation arrived one week before the event, and it said “attire: tenue de ville.” it strikes me as funny that for an invitation to a bunch of artists, one would say something like “tenue de ville.” i like tradition, i like etiquette, and i realize i am showing my level in society by even writing about this, but i wonder how many people knew what that meant, beyond just a literal translation of the french words. i spent a good half-hour on the internet researching, eventually concluding that ‘business attire” would be the best bet. but what does “business attire” mean to a bunch of artists? probably not, in my case, a ruffly white sleeveless blouse and flowy black pants. too bad! in the end, i opted to keep the pearls, but wear my hair down, and pair a nice tweed skirt with a raw silk twin set. here, you can see me and also M, looking really smart in his new suit!
