On any day in Waynesville, there are visitors that come in the gallery with smiles for the art and curiosity about the treasures inside such a colorful place. One day last week I had a most unusual and delightful visitor who brightened my day and now I hope will brighten yours.
While working at the back of the gallery a young man and his mother walked in and started looking intently at the artwork. I greeted them and struck up a conversation about the pieces they were looking at together. I was curious about their day in Waynesville and asked how the visit was so far, thinking the boy would come back with a negative response since a day walking around was not anything like video games with friends. To my surprise, his face lit up when I asked about their visit and he said, “This is a great place! I love coming here!”
Pleasantly surprised, I asked what he liked most about Waynesville. He responded that he loved art, but that he was also excited to visit all the antique stores. Hmmm, I thought. Here is a ten-year-old boy who loves art and antiques?!
“So, young man,” I said in surprise. “What do you love about antique stores?”
He thought for a moment and began to tell me how much he loved seeing things from so many years ago. He loved looking at all the tools, toys, and treasures of an antique store and imagining how they were used and who may have used them.
“Well,” I said with a big smile. “It is a rare person indeed who truly appreciates the value of a good antique!”
Before I could continue, he and his mom started telling me how much they liked so many of the P Buckley Moss prints and originals in the gallery. They were astounded at the different styles and subjects but as I suspected, the print they were the most excited about was Turquoise Treasure which features a standing cat, with such a playful attitude that happened to be painted turquoise. But then it wouldn’t be a cat if it didn’t have an attitude, right?