Exhibit & Holiday Spirit

Mostly because I've had a break through.

Amelia (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

This coming week-end, I need to edit my hundreds of photos down to my favourite 15 or 20 (but I'll aim for 15). I finally have a venue and an approximate date for my first exhibit: the Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery will welcome my Ballet in the Streets/Ballet en marge project in January 2012.


It's crunch time now to select my favourites and polish them up, nice and pretty to be printed and framed.


Part of me is terribly nervous, but I'm also very much excited about potential developments regarding this project. So I will be diligent in adequately preparing this first exhibit.


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I will however save time to savour the festive feeling in the air. I can't help but be swayed by the sparkles, reds, golds, lights and bells I see in store windows, the Christmas music I hear in the mall (or to be more exact, on my internet radio) and the sweet and spicy smells that fill the air around coffee shops...

I can feel the inner child beaming...

I embrace the holidays, and Christmas in particular. Not because of the presents, and certainly not for the insane amounts of dollars people spend on a few days a year... No, I love the holidays because to me, it's a celebration of life and I realize how many wonderful things sew my life into this beautiful quilt of memories, experiences and people. With each Christmas, and each year, a few more squares are added to this masterpiece that I can cherish.

Ballet in the Streets/Ballet en marge

Amelia. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I have been buried in work, both at the Ottawa Art Gallery, as well as at home. I'm one of those people who just isn't feeling at ease if I don't have at least two ongoing projects outside of a day job. I mentioned a few posts ago, that I was working on my first photography exhibit. Naturally, this is a lengthy process...


I can say that I've been enjoying every minute of the shooting phase; I have worked with fellow dancers and friends and met some new and interesting people along the way. I've found and created beautiful images and built up my confidence. I feel physically tired, but much in the same way you would after a day of enjoyment, whether it be on a trip, during market day or a pleasant evening with friends. This project is a combination of two of my passions: dance and photography.

Tea time. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I am now entering the editing phase, which promises to be the longest, most detail-oriented and possibly frustrating part of this project. Skimming through hundreds of shots, discriminating, sometimes coolly disregarding the hours of work that went into a series of images, tweaking what I thought was nearly perfect. It seems never ending. But this is part of the craft.


I have not found a home for this exhibit yet, nor do I have dates, but I have decided to be kind to myself and to truly respect this project, by focusing on every step, as I take them.