I’ve learned a great deal in my experience of The Firefly, much of it to do with the profound healing powers of art. In fact, a lesson in that is precisely how I found this place to begin with.
Of Elephants, Cows, and Cosmic Moments
It all started for me in 2016. I was at a major transition point, my mother had recently passed away, and my daughter, Lizzy, wanted to save elephants. I, who had long photo-documented my family, nonprofits and more artistic imagery, had been strongly considering a foray into fine art photography.
A Cow Harbor Day booth in Northport seemed like a fun way to do both!
Lizzy was a bit young to work, but very capable and at least as interested in how it all operated as she was excited that we were raising money for elephants. With the help of a few friends, we had a wonderful day and got to make a nice donation to the World Wildlife Fund. At the same time, I began to learn what it’s like to be both a professional artist and to run a gallery…training I still had no idea I’d ever use!
She was totally into it. We had so much fun.
Linda Advised: Art Heals
While I will never forget our opening experience, a woman who fell in love with a snowy Centerport scene and walked away embracing it like some great treasure, my best customer was a woman named Linda, who came toward the end of the day. She told me she worked at The Artisan House up the road. She also told me she’d dealt with ovarian cancer since she was a young woman.
I’m not sure how old she was at the time, but this had clearly been a decades-long experience for her. Linda shared that she was always “a good girl” and had done everything her doctor told her…and had also tried just about every alternative treatment folks have come up with. After describing more than one trip to death’s door and back, she told me the one thing that she felt saved her from both the disease and its cure was meditating on art. She expressed gratitude that my work was perfect for this and said she wanted to buy a few pieces.
Enrapt in her story, I was I think startled by her punchline. Deeply humbled and honored, for sure, I just wanted to give them to her as a grateful gift. Linda refused. She insisted artists should be paid.
Then, she said, “You should be a Firefly.”
“What’s that?”
Linda explained that The Firefly was a neighbor business, then located down by the Firehouse on Main Street. She thought we would be a good match.
Back at the beginning, a few locations ago…
A Spark of Firefly Light
Deeply impressed by the experience, I soon got up my nerve to go in and offer my work to the Firefly. It seemed like a nice place. The art was beautiful, and they were friendly. Still, I had no expectations and had almost forgotten about my application when they gave a call in mid-2017 to invite me in.
It was another deep honor just to be asked. Mildly terrified, I leapt at the opportunity.
I soon realized I had stumbled upon something truly special: A warm, welcoming, highly talented house of local art and artists. The best part was they accepted Lizzy – and the rest of my kids — as one of them fairly immediately. It’s been an honor and a great adventure to serve them ever since.
Thank you, Linda. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Hope you come by to see us sometime.
