As gallery owner's, Amy and I are very fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful things. This experience has also opened our eyes to the beauty that occurs spontaneously in life when people and art come together.

Here in the gallery, after almost three years of ownership, we still have a few pieces that were part of the previous owner Camerone's inventory.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that Amy and I feel a little twinge of sadness when one of these pieces sells because we consider them to be like "old friends" who have been with us since day one of this big adventure in our lives.

One such piece is a stuffed black toy bear which stands about 2 ft. tall with outstretched arms on a little square wooden pedestal at the top of the gallery's entryway stairs.

Many customers come into the gallery preceded by the fast energetic footsteps of their children as they run headlong up the stairs and into the waiting arms of the little bear with the love and familiarity of someone they've known their whole life. Someone who was waiting there specifically for him or her to arrive.

The twinkle in their eye as they hug this little bear holds no judgment, no hatred and no fear. It provides that little spark of innocence in which lies all the answers to the secrets of the human soul that we, as adults, fumble through life trying to figure out.

These little bear hugs are as warm and genuine an embrace as I've ever seen and have provided us many instances of true joy.

Secretly, I hope this little bear never sells as I believe it still has much to teach me about what is truly beautiful about life.

Love to all

Todd

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