- November 14, 2024
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"Such a beautiful and glowing person, and her work is a reflection of her,” said Petra Iston who runs the Salvo Art Project with JJ Graham. “It’s colorful and vibrant and it makes you smile when you see all of the colors.”
She was referring to one of their artists, Linda Solomon, who passed away on Monday, March 7. This sentiment could be seen on the lips, in the eyes, and on the faces of those who attended the art opening on Saturday, March 19.
Moist eyes took in the art, and watched the slide show of Linda Solomon’s life projected on the wall. There were also smiles through the tears as fellow artists and patrons remembered the woman who came into their lives and made it brighter.
“It was the right thing to do to dedicate this opening to her and celebrate her life,” Iston said. “She was a huge part of the community. Everyone who knew her was inspired by her work.”
“She was just as I imagined her, except much tinier.” JJ GRAHAM about meeting artist Linda Solomon.
For gallery owner, JJ Graham the inspiration came before he opened his first gallery.
“I’ve known Linda about nine years, before the Hollingsworth Gallery started up,” Graham said. “Before I opened that gallery she used to come over and paint with me in my garage.”
Graham said when he saw her work he knew immediately that he wanted to meet her.
“She was just as I imagined her, except much tinier,” he said. “I think when I meet people like that I tend to want to learn from them. Linda has enriched all of the artists that have been around her, especially the young ones.”
Two of her sons, Ian, who lives in Chicago, and Ben, who lives in Taiwan, were at the opening.
“I’ve been here for the last two months of my mom’s life,” Ben Solomon said. “My first painting ever, painted a little more than two months ago under the direction of my mother, is over there -- my Chihuahua. It was a wonderful experience. I don’t know if I will achieve the level of amazingness my mother had, but it felt great and I know it made her happy.“
When she was healthier, Linda Solomon could often be found in her art studio at Salvo.
“This is an important part of her community down here,” Ian Solomon said. “When JJ recommended doing a memorial show for her, it seemed like an obvious thing to do. She’d want it to be a celebration of life, a celebration of art and a celebration of creativity. I think we are both quite confident that she’s enjoying the show so far.”
Her sons would like to catalogue their mother’s work.
“A lot of her work is in homes,” Ian Solomon said. “We are asking people who have her paintings if they would take a photo of them so we can have a catalogue of all of her work.”
Graham was clearly moved as he watched the steady flow of patrons coming into the gallery for the celebration of life show.
“The best thing anyone can do is to support the arts,” Graham said. “Not just this gallery, but all of the galleries in the community, and buy art. That not only supports the galleries, it supports the artists, and it supports the community. “
