Shonee's POV
The morning sun bathed the streets of New York City in a warm glow as we sped off in one of the Beckham family's private cars.
Dean brought the car to a halt at our destination, and I thanked him before helping Mirasol out.
"Shonee..." She called, adjusting the hat on her head. "Where are we?"
I beamed. "Well Mirasol, since you've developed such a huge interest in art these past days, I thought you'd like to see some awesome paintings made by professional, well...soon-to-be professionals."
"I like paintings," She admitted with a cute smile.
"Then you'll definitely love these ones, come on." Taking her hand, Mirasol and I made our way towards the NYU Student Art Gallery.
The air was crisp, and the city buzzed with the energy of a new day. Mirasol, dressed in a colourful outfit that mirrored her vibrant personality, skipped alongside me, her excitement palpable.
The sliding doors parted way the moment we made it to the entrance. We must be the first visitors for the day because the gallery was practically void of humans. I hadn't been here since I graduated six months ago. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it. I used to come here all the time to get inspiration for my projects. I wondered if the attendant, Fred, was still around.
"Whoa! There are paintings everywhere!" Mirasol gushed out.
"Yeah," I laughed. "Let me show you my favourite ones."
Walking hand-in-hand, we strolled through the vibrant corridors of the NYU Student Art Gallery, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colours and an extensive mix of artistic expressions. Mirasol's eyes widened with wonder at every turn, and her infectious enthusiasm added an extra layer of joy to the experience.
As we approached the first exhibit, I pointed towards a striking abstract painting that seemed to dance with emotion. "This one is by a talented artist named Lily Chang. I love the way she plays with colours and shapes to evoke different feelings."
Mirasol studied the painting intently. "Hmm, I like this one better." She pointed at the next painting. Against a soft background of the sunset sky, the artist had painted a doodle that waved and curved in different directions.
"Oh really, what do you love about it?"
"It's pretty and if you look closely, you can see the outline of a ballerina." She pointed out.
At first, I couldn't see it, then I squinted, tracing out the lines. I finally saw it: A ballerina standing on her tippy toes with her arms up in the air and curved to the side. "Oh yeah, good eye Mirasol."
As we moved from one exhibit to another, I continued to share the stories behind some of my favourite paintings, recounting the moments of inspiration that had fueled my own artistic practice during my time at NYU. Mirasol listened with genuine interest, occasionally expressing her thoughts about the artworks we encountered.
Amidst the sea of paintings, we didn't even sense his presence until he spoke.
"After six whole months, look who finally decided to come see me."
When I turned, I couldn't hide my smile. "Hi, Fred." I pulled him into a hug.
"Long time, no see, Shon." He patted me before pulling away, his eyes crinkling at the sides. "You look great."
"Thanks, and so do you." I could feel a blush coming on. Fred and I met here in this same gallery, during my third year in college. He was—and still is--handsome, lean yet athletic and has this incredible sense of fashion that had me drooling over him a couple of times. His passion for art was evident in the way he spoke about the exhibits, sharing insights and stories with every, single visitor that came by the gallery. I think that's what drew me to him and luckily, he felt the same way about me too. We went out on a few dates but didn't quite feel that romance spark, and because we didn't want to make things awkward between us, we settled on being friends.
A warm smile crossed his face as his eyes landed on Mirasol. "Who's this little angel?"
Mirasol nervously slipped her hand into mine and I chuckled lightly. "This is Mirasol, who's recently developed an interest in art. So, I decided to bring her here to show her your wonderful world of painting."
"You mean our wonderful world," Fred interjected before squatting to Mirasol's level. "Hi sweetie, want to see something cool?"
Mirasol looked curious but a bit shy as she nodded in response to Fred's question.
He grinned and motioned for us to follow him to a particular exhibit that seemed to hold a special surprise. The three of us walked towards a corner of the gallery, and as we turned, an array of interactive digital art installations came into view.
"Whoa!" My mouth dropped open.
"Welcome to our latest section, The Techno Symphony Zone," Fred announced.
The room was filled with several glass panels that sort of reflected different splashes of colour at the sense of movement.
Fred, with his characteristic passion for art, began explaining the unique aspects of each installation, engaging Mirasol's attention with the vibrant displays. Mirasol's eyes widened in amazement, and her initial shyness melted away as she interacted with the digital canvases that responded to her touch and movement.
"This is amazing," I gaped in awe, touching one smooth glass surface. A burst of orange popped out from underneath my hand, travelling all the way up to the ceiling. "When did these come in?"
"About a month ago," Fred responded. "The new head of the Visual Art Department, Prof. Amalas Clinton, had to do a lot of talking before the university board approved this project and I'm glad they listened to reason. This is the only digital art installation room in New York and it's definitely bound to fetch us some positive feedback."
"Hasn't it already?" I quizzed.
"Oh no, this place isn't open to the public just yet," Fred informed me. "We're planning a grand opening by the end of the month. Preparations are already in order; we're even putting together a small children's orchestra to perform during the event. There's a setting on these installations that allows the visuals to respond dynamically to live music. My boss says if we can get some talented kids to perform while the visuals play in the background, it'll make for good publicity."
"So, you need talented kids for this event?" I asked seeking more info.
"Not just any talented kid, kids who are really good with instruments."
"Then you're in luck, cuz Mirasol here is an excellent violinist. She's been playing since she was three years old."
The moment, I mentioned her name, Mirasol stopped hopping around. The earlier anxiety returned to her face.
"Oh really?" Fred's eyes lit up with excitement. "Then that's amazing. Mirasol, would you like to showcase your violin skills in front of a big audience?"
She remained motionless. Mirasol looked up at me with a mix of anxiety and uncertainty, then slowly shook her head. The idea of performing in front of a crowd seemed to intimidate her. I knelt down to her eye level, gently squeezing her hand.
"It's completely okay if you're not comfortable with it, Mirasol," I assured her. "But I think it could be a wonderful experience. Plus, you'll get to be a part of something really special."
Apprehension wafted into her features and Fred chimed in. "Just give it some thought, sweetheart and when you decide, let me know. We're hosting auditions this coming Saturday at three."
From his pocket, he handed me a flyer. "Harmony in Colors: Join the Techno Symphony Kids Orchestra!" was written boldly on it with some more details and a vibrant collage of music notes and digital patterns enhancing the aesthetics in the background.
"Thanks, Fred." Getting on my feet, I pulled him into a hug. "Thanks for everything."
"Don't mention it, Shon. And also, don't be a stranger. Stop by often."
I laughed, "I definitely will. Byee."
As we made our way towards the exit, the sun had shifted in the sky, casting a warm glow over the city once more. A few minutes after calling Dean, he showed up with the car and Mirasol and I got in. With grateful hearts, we bid farewell to Fred, promising to return soon to explore more of the ever-changing world of painting that the NYU Student Art Gallery had to offer.