The Artist's Perspective

So the gallerist couldn't visit as arranged to view the new work because too many people at the gallery were sick. No argument there. The artist herself was sick for two weeks. A new date has been fixed. You have to be philosophical. I'm experiencing delays too. But there is no point in either of us acting like the only people on the planet. Good has already come out of it. Before I left the flat this morning we cleared and cleaned the living room, sliding the bright red sofa against the wall and getting out seven of the pieces. We sat down on the sofa together and viewed the work. The work to me looked formidable in the morning light and it's obvious that the consistent line of detail in the pieces has become its chief characteristic. The artist was fine about the cancellation. We never used to be as reasonable about pitfalls as this. Perhaps we are turning a corner. Impatience can thwart. Besides, exposure to other people's problems can soon put your own into perspective. For a country with so much wealth there is an incredible amount of poverty here alone. I was thinking this on the train today. But apparently half the world - nearly three billion people - live on less than two dollars a day. According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. Thirty thousand. Anup Shah of Global Issues states that some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. Incredible. So, I guess, the gallerist postponing her visit by two weeks because people have flu is what you might call, in this light, or dark, acceptable.