I first saw the call for submissions to the Festival Art Show at the St-Laurent Complex while sitting in the never-ending school pick-up line. You know the one—thirty cars deep, inching forward while you mentally juggle dinner plans, homework, and the fact you forgot to switch the laundry… again.
Spots for the exhibit were limited, so I thought: better do this now before my brain drops it completely. I quickly filled out the form and typed in placeholder one-word titles—because, honestly, my perimenopause brain could barely remember what I had for lunch, let alone the exact titles of each piece (and definitely not while stuck in a car lineup). I promised myself I’d refine it later. I just needed to secure the spot before my kids came running with stories of lost water bottles and after-school drama.
Later on—somewhere between the grocery run and trying not to burn dinner—I skimmed the confirmation email. In my rush, I missed one small but crucial detail: the titles I submitted were the ones I had to use. And the artist bio they requested? Let’s just say I didn’t even scroll that far.
Fast forward to exhibit day. I arrived with pieces from my Beautifully Unravelled collection, feeling proud, excited, and even prepared with neatly cut labels for each piece. I was only slightly frazzled (par for the course). My stomach dropped when I learned I was locked into my placeholder titles… and then came the kicker—I hadn’t submitted a bio at all. At that moment, I felt like I might unravel right there in the gallery lobby.
But here’s the miracle: instead of disqualifying me (which they had every right to do), the incredible ArtEast volunteers gave me grace. They let me dash home, print new labels, write and print my bio, and return to hang the pieces. They waited. They were patient, kind, and generous beyond words.
And the irony? The collection I was hanging was called Beautifully Unravelled. Work that explores what it means to fall apart, gather the pieces, and move forward. That day, I lived my own exhibit theme—scrambling, stumbling, unraveling—but still managing to piece myself back together and shine.
I am especially grateful to Rashmi Rekha and the ArtEast volunteer team for their kindness and patience. Without their understanding, this single mom’s juggling act might have dropped the ball entirely.
Beautifully Unravelled isn’t just about art—it’s about life. It’s about showing up imperfect, with all the cracks and chaos, and still allowing yourself grace to move forward.
Check out the Festival exhibit at the St-Laurent Complex from October 2nd to December 4th.
Shaping the Crazy 