Free Parking is Not Free

Hayes and I went to Herron School of Art and Design last night, October 7th, 2009, to see an artist, Mark Slankard, lecture about his artwork and to see the opening of Between History and Memory in the Eleanor Prest and Robert B. Berkshire Galleries. (We also dipped down to the Photography gallery to see the Senior Exhibit.)
Because Scott and I are in the Alumni Association, we receive publications in the form of postcards inviting us to these events. I read carefully to be sure that we don't have to pay for anything because there is just no room for extras. Usually, these events are free. Parking is always an issue on campus and it being Wednesday at 5:30, well, many classes are still in session. So, at the bottom of this postcard was a statement clearly directing patrons to park in the sports parking garage-here.... let me quote it exactly: "Gallery visitors please park in the Sports Complex garage, just west of Herron. Parking will be validated in the Gallery, courtesy of:...." and then there was a logo for The Great Frame Up Picture Framing & Print Gallery. So, I thought, 'great... free parking and I will be able to easily find a spot.'
We got there a little late because we had to drop Scott's tools off to him at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art because he is doing some work for them after hours in preparation for their Friday opening. As instructed, I parked in the parking garage and I brought my ticket in for validation. It was kind of perfect that we were a little late because we ended up standing at the back by the doors just in case we needed to make a quick exit. I know... you are thinking '10 month old baby at a lecture? Really? How did that work out for ya?' Well, let me say that I didn't have great expectations. I knew that it would be a challenge and we may end up disrupting the whole thing but, to me, it was worth it. Herron doesn't often host photographic artists in their main gallery. Being a photographic artist myself who graduated from Herron, well, it would be silly for me not to go. We stood by the doors and Hayes was quiet and good for a while. I took his picture so that it would be documented: his first artist lecture.

Then he began to get a little restless. Every person who entered the doors, he reached for.... waved to... stared at. It was great. Those students were already nervous about being late and then there is this baby staring at them as if he is judging them by their tardiness. So, I sat down on the carpet. I tried to find things for him to play with... but all he wanted to do was crawl down that long aisle. He made a noise. We were out. I praised him for doing such a great job and being such a good boy. Who brings a baby to a lecture, anyway?
We, then, walked around in the hall waiting for the lecture to end so the doors to the gallery would open. I let him crawl around on the floor. We went and washed his hands. I ran into a couple of people I know... one, a former student and another a former co-worker. The caterers removed the covers from the jalopeno popper dip, the veggies, the cookies. I went and filled a tiny plate with goodies. I couldn't very well eat and not let Hayes have anything....(although, he had his dinner before we left home) so, the only thing he could really have was a little bit of cookie... the healthiest option: oatmeal. So, Hayes had his first, yes, his FIRST taste of cookie. He loved it. It is a good thing I don't buy cookies. After we emptied the plate, we went into the gallery to view the work. It was an amazing show! I was very pleased. There were stereographs that were a bit racey, so, I sort of censored the show a bit for Hayes. I am not really sure if he would even be able to see the image looking through those two holes--but only I let him look through one. We were on our way out of the gallery and I stopped at the desk to have my parking ticket validated. There was a student manning the desk (as usual-this is normal procedure) and I asked if he was validating parking. He said, "oh, uh... we decided not to do that at the last minute." I said, "okay... does that mean I have to pay for my parking?" His reply was, "oh, no... you will be okay." "I will be okay?", I said. "Ya," he said. Okay. We exited the gallery and went down the stairs to the photo gallery. I thought that it was weird that it was clear and in print that they were validating parking and they "decided not to do it at the last minute". That just didn't sound right. I didn't worry about it, though. I really thought that I would "be fine." We saw the seniors' work, ran into a few of my former students, a former classmate and then I heard some one say, "Hey, Hayes!" I thought.. 'how weird.. who knows my son?' I looked and I had no idea who the dude was.... he introduced himself... he met Hayes and Scott at the Bootleg Exhibition last weekend. He had work in the show. He is a graduate student at Herron. He was very kind... he even remembered Hayes's birthday... that must have come up in conversation last weekend. I enoyed meeting him and I invited him to the show tomorrow night: Rites and Ephemera at Healing Arts Indy.
Hayes and I made our way out of the school and into the van. As I was pulling around to the gate, it dawned on me: "I don't think I am going to 'be fine'." I got my wallet ready... luckily I had a few bucks in it... sure enough. I had to pay $2.25 to exit the garage. That pissed me off. I mean, that is BAD business. Herron Galleries: What were you thinking?! You don't put something like that in print and then decide at the last minute not to follow through... especially if you have a sponsor who has donated money to pay for parking. I wonder what The Great Frame Up would say if they knew that you decided at the last minute not to use their money the way they understood you would. I decided that I would make a phone call today to the correct person at Herron and let them know what happened. I am not worried about two dollars and twenty-five cents. I am worried about truth and accountability. I graduated from Herron and I happen to think it is a great place. I just don't want them to lose credibility. I am probably the only person who asked to have my parking validated. I am probably the only person who is giving this a second thought. As a curator and someone who designs cards like this each month, I would be burned at the stake if I did something like this. I called the gallery assistant and let her know what happened. She was surprised that the student took it upon himself to make that statement. She anticipated many more calls today and said that she would look into it. Fine. I guess I did my part. I was sort of hoping to find out what happened. But, I will settle for knowing that they know and hoping that it will never happen again.