WE’RE getting ready to open on Friday, for the 2023 season. I’ve used this reference before, but it’s been a little Sanford & Son around here. We always use the off-season months to clear out the cobwebs and get ready for the upcoming season. There are ongoing projects, like our website. Some years we teach Mentorship programs, or create books. And there’s an astonishing amount of junk [junque] from all these years of running a fine art photography business. This year we delved headfirst into that last thing. The junque.

We had 25 years of financial files in our storage space that we brought to the gallery [“we” means “Alison”], sorted, shredded, and threw away the oldest 15 years worth. Then we [Sue] bought ten snazzy plastic file boxes online, that *all* arrived cracked and busted. After a ridiculous number of calls to Staples, we [Claire] arranged an inconvenient solution. We [Alison] took the boxes back off-island on the next trip, and exchanged them for good ones. Yes, this is a lot of detail. I’m telling you this so you understand life on an island.

There were lots of old computers too. Cords, keyboards, monitor connections, mice, all found and hooked up so we [Sue] could wipe the hard drives. Then we [Alison] took them to the electronics disposal day, and paid to throw them out. You get the point. We do this stuff every year, but this year we went deeper than usual.

2022 was the last year for the pandemic [yay], postscript fonts [boo], and vacations in Florida [political reference I’m happy to clarify in person]. This week Alison and I are watching the finale episodes of some favorite tv shows: Ted Lasso, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, and Succession. It seems like so many things are going away, or already gone.

Our ongoing effort clears space for what’s new. This year, Alison has continued to scour the East Coast, in search of boats to photograph for her current passion project. She’s enjoying her travels, and meeting lots of boat owners and restorers along the way.

Every year, Memorial Day Weekend means one thing for islanders – the official start of the summer season. Alison Shaw Gallery opens this Friday, launching the familiar whirlwind that is summer on Martha’s Vineyard. Please stop by, say hi, and see the first round of Alison’s new photographs. We’re looking forward to seeing you!