+ The Grand Gallery Opening +

[airshipswank]

Who: Lord Buckingham (airshipswank & [OPEN]
Where: The Gallery - Third Floor, Room 004
When: Sunday, March 9
Rating: PG-13-ish (in case of passionate declarations of art appreciation, and/or elegant marble penis sculptures)
Summary:
You are hereby cordially invited to attend the grand opening of
Wonderland's Art Gallery
On Sunday, March 9, 2 o'clock; Room 004, Third Floor
The Story:
The invitations had been sent two days in advance. The works he collected were all in place, and his own contributions ensured that the gallery's size on its opening day would be fit to impress.

Now the doors have opened, and anyone whose steps lead through them will behold a splendid collection, elegantly set out across the brightly lit hall. To complement the feast for the eyes a buffet table has been arranged just as artfully at the centre of the room, and cold treats and cool drinks are available for all to take.

In addition, the guests will be waited on by four peculiar servants, men in identical shape and dress, their suits impeccably white, their faces covered with masks. They offer food and drinks on trays, but will not speak a single word, and bear a suspicious resemblance to the demeanour of Wonderland's vendors...

But do not let them trouble you, their are far grander sights to be seen, after all! Mix, mingle, and above all, admire the art!

[[ OOC: Buckingham has announced the gallery opening well in advance, and gladly received all submissions donated to the cause. All interactions in that regard have been handwaved, so please feel free to assume that your character(s) contributed one or more pieces, and please, post a picture or description of your character's contribution(s) to this post!

If your character was not yet in Wonderland at the time of his first announcement, feel free to assume that they found a pamphlet or have been told of the gallery opening at a later point. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send a PM or plurk me @ pimpfox

As always, both prose and comment spam is very welcome! ]]

Comments

+ Admiring the Art +

[airshipswank]

[ What a good art. Certainly your character would adore to admire it at length. ]

[symbolised]

[Katniss, surprisingly or not, is not an art person. She can appreciate the beauty in things like Peeta's paintings-- as horrific and trauma-inducing as they sometimes are-- and cake decorations. She can appreciate the talent it takes to do such a thing, as well. She likes to watch people dance, if not for their grace but for the knowledge that they're enjoying themselves. She comes from a place where joy is hard to come by, and anything that helps people experience it is okay by her.

But she doesn't understand it. The art, that is. She can't find much deep meaning in it, though.

She visits the gallery because it's something to do, and because Buckingham sent her an invitation. It seemed rude, at the time, to refuse him. But now, as she stands in front of "St. George and the Dragon", grimacing at the sight of the blood, she's not sure it was the best idea.]

[airshipswank]

Doesn't he look rather worse for wear? You'd think him closer to death than exhaustion, although I'm quite sure he... lived well through the old tale.

[ He approaches the painting with a smile on his lips. There are pieces he collects for the sake of expanding his collection alone, with little adoration for the world they show. Yet other works have his undivided attention whenever he approaches them, his fondness even, as is certainly the case with this particular work.

Incidentally, the sentiment felt towards the young woman admiring it, is not too dissimilar. Especially since she's given him such a delightful toy to play with-- ]

Katniss,

[ he greets with his usual flourish, and places a kiss on her hand. ]

[tenpetals]

[Garry had been on the fence about coming ever since hearing about this. On the one hand, the Guertena exhibition had kind of turned him off to art galleries. On the other, he did kind of like the idea- he'd been in the gallery in the first place for a reason, after all- and maybe he shouldn't let a past bad experience, however terrifying, keep him away from something he might enjoy?

In the end, it's the not-terribly-inspiring thought that he can change his mind and leave if he shows up, but won't be able to un-miss the opening if he doesn't, that decides him. He steps, a little hesitantly, through the doors, a few hours after they've opened. And for a while, it's fine, and he begins to relax.

Later he'll catch sight of Lady in Red and find it difficult to believe what he's seeing, but for a while Garry can almost forget all his troubles.]

[airshipswank]

[ Of course Buckingham would spot Garry sooner or later, and of course he would be most eager to approach him, feeling that he was amongst the most compelling inspirations to dedicate himself to this endeavour fully.

And, last but not least, of course he would make his presence known in the most opportune moment possible. ]

I thought the attention might please her, but she's not... come out of her shell yet.

SIGH

[thestormcomes]

[Athos is a great admirer of art - he has, on occasion, commissioned pieces both large and small for his home. While he does tend to abhor the overly opulent nature of King Louis' living arrangements, he cannot fault the decor. Hundreds of artisans were employed to decorate the palais of Versailles; hundreds of livelihoods, a great deal of employment for a class of working folk who take pride in their accomplishments.

There was even such a man here in Wonderland, once. Buckingham's Mirror had seen to fill that particular void, eagerly sketching and painting his hours away. For whatever reason - as it is beyond Athos' ken - he found great pleasure in rendering the eldest musketeer and Athos, in turn, found great pleasure in looking at his work.

One particular painting he had never seen, as it was only the sketch to which he had borne witness. (It sits above his mantle now, with several others.) It is enough to make him feel somewhat sad, if only for a little while. Unfinished as it is, it reminds him all too keenly of less complicated times.]

[airshipswank]

[ Looking out the window to give his eyes rest from the concentration they require to drink in every single detail on display, Buckingham feels the electric shiver of his Athos senses tingling, and turns around to spot the Musketeer, gazing at just the piece Buckingham hoped he would discover.

Hurriedly he makes an elegant beeline for the man, and announces himself cheerfully: ]

I was quite fortunate to find his work still preserved on the other side, and I... am led to believe that this was the last thing his brush touched, before he... perished.

[not_apriest]

Aramis gave the painting an odd look, because he hadn't known its creator and the scene it depicted was clearly not from the book about them...

"Where did this come from?" Athos looked decidedly less surprised by it than Aramis felt.

Open!

[ex_alighthouse135]

[It was just so thrilling! A real art gallery! Elizabeth remembers when Lord Buckingham had talked of it. She even offered to contribute some of her own work, which she did when it was ready to be displayed. Two paintings here are her own, but she's far more interested in seeing what others have contributed. She's positivley giddy when she arrives, her blue eyes growing wide at the sight.]

Oh wow!

[She is with an escort, but she's also so flighty, it wouldn't be hard for anyone to approach her and talk about one of her favorite subjects: art!]

[tenpetals]

[Garry's just starting to relax in the presence of art again- and hasn't yet spotted Lady in Red- and he's in the mood to share now, so it's just his luck that a young lady who seems enthusiastic about all this has just arrived next to him at Starry Night.]

I've always loved this one.

[not_apriest]

[He glances at the painting she's admiring as he returns with two glasses of champagne, then puts one in her hand.]

Which is your favourite, then?

[oversight]

[ It's near an empty house when Blake finally breaks away from his conversation with Jesse. Generally speaking, he's pretty good at respecting another person's time, but for whatever reason, he finds himself staring intently at this reproduction

Transfixed as he is, his mind wanders as he takes in the stark lines and vibrant colors, as he intently traces that black void, slightly off-center. It's so dark, so contrasting, Blake almost imagines space lies beyond it. He even leans in closer, as if it's all a matter of trajectory and line-of-sight, and frets his lower lip between his teeth in the process.

Christ, is this what it's come to? Once an active and (semi-)engaging individual, John now feels like an emotional pariah, hiding away from Wonderland at large for one sleepless night after another. And any attempt he makes to remedy that — the very reason he's here at all, for example — feels as if it comes up more than a hair too shy of where he should be.

But he hasn't thrown in the towel, not yet. Troubles be damned, Blake's going to enjoy this exhibit, even if it's only at half-strength. ]

[ex_alighthouse135]

[Elizabeth walks up to the painting as well. She hopes he doesn't mind the intrusion, but he looked so deep in thought, she had to ask.]

What do you think of it? I've never seen art quite like this before.

[It's a bit ahead of her time.]

[quis_ut_deus]

[[OOC note: backdated to March 17th or so.]]

[Being, on occasion, a less than social creature and wanting to avoid any initial crowds, Michael waits a week before entering the gallery with his customary flutter of unseen wings.

That, and a general lack of interest in art. He's never been especially creative.

Any new display within the mansion, though, whether erected by Wonderland itself or by its captives, is worth a look. He's not going to refuse additional knowledge of the place in which he finds himself indefinitely trapped, even if he does find the offerings somewhat lackluster. Humanity's ability to create is nothing in comparison to God's, after all; it doesn't prompt an awe-struck silence from him as his Father's work had. Some of it is cute, though. Little pink apes slapping their hands in paint.]

+ Binging on the Buffet +

[airshipswank]

[ ...and if not, well, at least there is free food and drink, available at a wonderfully arranged buffet table, as well as on the trays of four ominously silent servants. ]

[strangeboy]

[This is, of course, where anyone might expect to find a teenaged boy from Gascony. D'Artagnan stands at the table, napkin in hand piled high with various finger foods, and a drink in his hand. He actually hasn't considered how he might eat the food, given the lack of free hand movement, but he has a strategic mind, or something. He'll figure it out.]

[sorta_cinderella]

[So, is there free food from everyone and everywhere on a daily basis? Because Saki is down with that. But she promises herself she'll look at the art later when she's finished eating. Eventually.

However, she does keep eyeing the servants. She's trying to hear them, but not in the way you might think. There's more than one way to hear someone, even if someone is quiet.]

+ Mingling with the Masses +

[airshipswank]

[ But what is good entertainment without good company? Look around, and strike up a conversation! ]

[airshipswank]

[ He's admired (or judged) every single piece well in advance, he's arranged them all with his own hands, and though their sight still pleases him greatly, today's true treat consists of the first visitors to his work.

Perhaps the gallery does not compare to his exquisitely painted collection at home, a wealth of class and dedication; and perhaps the viewers he expects have little of the admiring nobility he is used to entertaining.

But they have their stories, their reactions, and their thoughts, and that will suffice perfectly well for time time, as Buckingham makes his rounds through the hall, a glass of wine in his hand, a bright smile and a friendly greeting on his lips. ]

Open!

[cowhouse]

[Okay so galleries? Totally not Jesse's thing at all. He'd gone to that one exhibit to appease Jane, sure (and despite his whining at length about how lame doors and flowers are, he has nothing but fond memories of that particular afternoon), but his tastes tend to run more along like lines of Scott McDaniel and Jim Lee than... The type of stuff most of the people here seem to enjoy. He can appreciate some things like anatomy and form and whatnot, but any and all talk of brushstrokes and feelings evoked will go right over his head.

...At least as far as he'll admit.

But hey, it's something to do, right? A way to break up the monotony of the time in between events, to get out of his room to do something other than smoke. And what is it Jane'd said? A little culture won't kill him? Yeah, there's that, too. At least some of the stuff here looks like what it's supposed to be, he can dig that.

And so he'll be wandering around for a little while, occasionally making faces and/or tilting his head at the stranger of the pieces. He'll be hovering around this one and will circle back to these more than a few times, but other than that he'll just be meandering, looking about as out of place as it gets but enjoying checking things out in spite of himself.

If you catch him at just the right second, though, maybe while walking by a particularly abstract sort of painting or statue... There might be some sadness in his face, too.]

Open

[likesimpossible]

[ The said masses might notice a man in a long coat wandering about, stopping here and there to admire a painting or two. Or three, actually.

At some of them, he doesn't stop for more than a few seconds, but others, he stays to look for a bit longer. All of the paintings are fascinating, and some of them are just downright odd. But he's enjoying himself all the same, especially because the environment here in the gallery is just perfect.

There's a bit of a buzz going on the background from the people making conversation, but it's not too distracting and serves as a rather nice backdrop for his perusing, at least as opposed to complete silence. ]

Art Appreciation with Amy

[oncefairytale]

[Ever since she first heard about the gallery, Amy's been excited. She's been pulling pieces out of her closet until they are absolutely perfect. There are several she has donated and she can be found admiring many of the assorted pieces. A few of them it takes her a moment or ten to understand, but she always loves the stories told within the art. Each line and brushstroke has its own tale to tell.]

[not_apriest]

[He draws up beside her with a bit of a smile.]

Fancy meeting you here.

Re: Art Appreciation with Amy

[evilhandissues]

[Lindsey owned several expensive pieces of art. Wolfram and Hart was all about it's acquisition but he never got it. It's a thing that he's always hated - a rich man, a powerful person should get things like art. Music he gets, he can feel that, touch that...It's a part of his soul.

Except he thinks he might have gotten this one. Maybe. Staring at it intently John Hughes style he tilts his head to the side squinting.

Then he tilts his whole body to the side.]
Oh.

[likesimpossible]

[ There's not a lot that the Doctor doesn't find interesting, even if it's a thing that really doesn't serve much purpose other than to be looked at. And art is one of those things; it's pretty, and it can be awe-inducing, but in the end, it doesn't do anything but hang on a wall and be stared at.

But well, there's a lot of people gathered about, and for lack of anything better to do, the Doctor shows up there as well. And he happens to run into someone vaguely familiar, and this time, no one's dead or injured, which is a promising thing. ]

Oh, hello. Do you like paintings, then?