The Great Garden by Peter Shmelzer 2005.
From the Archives:
In 2004, I attended an annual fundraiser at Gallery 101. I fought for & won a small painting by local Ottawa artist Peter Shmelzer. Also met his insanely wondeful wife Missy Marston-Shmelzer. When I asked Peter if he had more, he told me he not only had over 20 paintings in his studio, located in his parents backyard, but also, a series of rather particular sculptures.
That was by far, the defining moment where I decided to move forward with the idea of opening up my own gallery in Ottawa… an idea that terrified me, considering I came directly from the New York City art market & the realization that Ottawa would not be an easy town to make a living selling art.
On opening night, some people waited in line for up to an hour to get in, to the spectacle that Peter was to become.
It was to be the beginning of a wonderful friendship.