The Quiet Work Behind the Wall
At Arts on Main, where the spirit of the West meets the walls of Delta.
Tomorrow night, the lights will come up inside Arts on Main in Delta, Colorado. The gallery sits in a historic brick building on Main Street, once home to the local Chamber of Commerce and now revived as a creative space that anchors the town’s growing arts scene. It’s fitting, really—what was once a place of local business now serves as a place of local expression.
My prints are hung, the cards are in place, and for a moment, I can breathe. The room is still and smells faintly of wood polish and fresh paint. It’s the calm before the conversations begin, before strangers lean in close to read the titles and names printed beneath each frame.
Preparing for a gallery opening is a test of resolve. It’s not just about printing images and hanging them on the wall; it’s about curating a story that feels honest. Each photograph must speak to the others, carrying a rhythm that runs through the work. For me, this show began weeks ago in Lightroom, scrolling through hundreds of images—some familiar, some forgotten—searching for those that carried the weight and quiet truth of the West.
Once the theme took shape, the rest followed. Printing became a matter of precision, framing a matter of balance. I chose the Silver Gelatin finish for its depth and permanence, a way to honor the timeless nature of the subjects themselves. Black frames hold the work steady against the teal gallery walls, clean and simple, so that all focus stays where it belongs—on the faces, the horses, the horizon lines.
Being a featured artist means more than seeing your name in print. It’s a moment of reflection on how far the work has come and where it might go next. Every exhibition offers a chance to refine, to test what resonates with others, and to remember why the story matters in the first place.
Standing in the quiet of the gallery, I’m reminded that art is never really finished. It simply reaches a point where you’re ready to share it. Tomorrow night, these walls will tell my story to whoever stops to listen.
When the lights dim and the doors close, the work remains. That’s the quiet reward of putting your heart on the wall.
