“I’m so glad you’re doing this!” the woman said to me as she walked out of the alley. She had been out on a walk with her two young sons on a beautiful summer evening in Missoula when she stumbled upon my little impromptu art exhibition. Her sons were little artists themselves, and spent quite a bit of time coloring and drawing on a large piece of newsprint I had taped to the sidewalk, while their mother slowly walked up and down the alley, perusing my artwork.

After writing about graffiti as public art, I wanted to do some cool sort of public art myself, but wanted to do it in such a way that many could enjoy it and no one would be offended. So I packed my car full of most of my artwork and headed downtown to be a part of the First Friday Artwalk that Missoula hosts downtown each first Friday of the month. I didn’t make it to the alley until after six o’clock, and I wasn’t fully set up as the first stream of curious people began trickling in, but it was fun to have people watch me as I set up the DIY gallery.

People know that art is important, and in Missoula every first Friday of the month, they come out in droves to mingle, see art and buy art. I’ve done art shows in the past, and I’ve usually spend a good amount of money on fliers and postcards, sent out a blast email and all well in advance of the show. I wanted to see how well I would do with a one night stand in the alley, no marketing, no advanced notice, no pretension, just art. About 200 people walked through the alley that night. Some of them I knew, many of them I didn’t. It seemed that everyone was having fun and enjoying themselves.

As the evening wore on, I must admit I was a little frustrated that no one had bought anything. When I did the art in the alley show last year, it was in a different alley. I wondered if my location wasn’t right? Last year I sold some work in the alley. Sure, this year I had some inquiries, some people took a card and said they were thinking about it. But no solid sales. The sun was going down, and a guy I know only casually asked, “How much for these two?” I told him, he said, I’ll be right back,” and he left for a few minutes. He came back with cold hard cash an a promise to call me once they are hung in his house. Very cool.

I’m not sure what I’m doing next month. A business in town has approached me as a result of the show in the alley and asked if I might be interested in displaying work at their business for the month of July. I’m hoping to get something worked out on that front, and if a “real” show doesn’t pan out for August, look for me again in one of Missoula’s alleys. The only art gallery in town where you can bring your dog or smoke a cigarette while you look at beautiful art.