"Lizzie" - Part 2 of 3 part commission with Krista
nce upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was an enchanted kingdom called Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight. On one cold, crisp, february day, the gallery gnomes were hard at work putting together a magical preview for a show entitled, "A Place Called Lovely", which featured a beautiful collection of works from 5 lovely artists. Working day and night, the dutiful gnomes put the final touches on the email and then with much gnome-y fanfaire, sent it out into the far reaches of the land. And the hills rang out with much chiming and "you've got mail"s!
And it came to pass, that this magical preview reached the dark and musty confines of a lonely hermit's 
"Playing with Dolls" - not mineinbox. Upon hearing the familiar jingle she made her way slowly over to her decrepit computer and with a sigh, heaved herself into her chair. Extending her clawed hand she guided the mouse to the link within the email and, in an instant, the crusty hermit's world was utterly transformed!
Gone were the cobbwebs, dust and dilapidated surroundings that composed her daily life and, in their place, a brand new world opened up. A vibrant, beautiful world filled with willowy, pouty-mouthed nymphs who glided through lush, moody landscapes, who danced together in dimmed spotlights, who sat on branches in the forest and contemplated the rain...
It was then that the craggy hermit knew she needed to bring these worlds into her ramschackle little cabin where they'd serve as windows that she would always have to gaze out on in her darkest moments.
So the haggard hermit hobbled her way to the phone and so began a new era in collecting and she lived joyously ever after.
(and her bank account curled up in on itself and spent it's days rocking back and forth and eating it's own hair).
the end. __________________________________________________________________________________
"Celeste on the Sea of Clouds" - not mine I fell into sweet, sweet love with Krista's artwork when I came across it for the very first time in the "A Place Called Lovely" show at G88. I had never before seen her work but had been intrigued by the piece featured in the flier. Like everyone else who was eagerly awaiting the show, I tucked it into the back of my mind and waited patiently for the preview.
and oh my, the preview. When I saw her pieces, i just about broke a finger calling the gallery.
She absolutely stole the show for me and I came awaywith a single purchase called "Paper Chain", which was the beginning of a long, ongoing love affair. (A love affair built on a foundation of regret because, like an idiot, I didn't follow my instincts and pick up 2 other pieces from the show when I had the chance. Another chapter for the Collecting Gaffs Anthology i'm composing).
not mine
Bygones.
So, what'd I do after this show? (I ask myself). I did what I always do! (I answer myself). I googled the ever-loving crap out of Ms. Huot until I had devoured all-things Krista and finally, timidly, pulled up my big girl pants and sent her an obnoxiously adoring myspace message which by rights should've freaked her out, (and probably did), but she was gracious and funny and wonderfully kind.
For my second piece, I purchased from Krista directly and it turned out to be one of my most favorite pieces in my entire collection - a painting of a small sprite-like creature, a rose, nestled deeply in some foliage, sitting delicately on a twig, knees pulled up to her tiny chest, day dreaming. it's positively exquisite. (And to this day, I still marvel at the fact that Krista had this incredible painting just hanging out at her place and that she was awesome enough to let me purchase it)
Over time, I've gone on to purchase 8 pieces (and counting!) of her tremendous work, including an exciting 3-part commission based on "Women Who Kill" featuring Elizabeth Bathory, Lizzie Borden and Typhoid Mary. Each piece that I've 
not minebeen lucky enough to bring home has had it's own special story that makes owning it that much more meaningful and that much less "just a painting I bought".
It's terribly difficult to explain it without using well-worn cliche's but when I look at Krista's art I feel like a little girl again and I'm filled with wonder and optimism and a deep sense of comfort. As evidenced by the photo galleries on this site, I can be a tad manic about things that give me that visceral juice and Krista's work is far from an exception. I've made countless phone calls, fired off tons of emails, joined message boards, and the list goes on and on, to track down her work and bring it home.
As she has risen in prominence, it's become less difficult to find her work, but way more difficult to acquire it given that it's snapped up immediately by the other collectors that I find myself competing with. And that, yet again, adds a whole other layer of satisfaction and the feeling of flat out good fortune when the stars align and I get to come home with another magical piece of her art.
I'm addicted, what can I say. It's wall candy and therapy in the truest senses of the words and I know that as long as she's around to share her delicate, sometimes creepy, but always wonderful soul through her art, I will be waiting in the wings to put it on my walls. My very own windows into another, more perfect, world.
My bits o' Huot: "Paper Chain"; "The Rose"; "Titania Sleeps"; "Small Offering"; "Collaboration 1"; "The Lost One"; "The Blood Countess"; "Lizzie"
Announcer:
"This has been the first post from the Collecting Vault, a series of verbal car wrecks in which Charity reminisces in way too many words, and far too little substance, about life as a collector.
Stay tuned for the next painful installment in which she again rambles on and on and still manages not to convey her point."
Update on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 4:14PM by
masao626
Happy Day!!! My 3-part commission is complete as Krista has just sent me photos of the last femme fatale in our series, Typhoid Mary! Behold, the completion of the trifecta:
and other things in my belfry
"Sentinels" 
