Era Nova is a peculiar small book shop not far from the city’s most popular streets and shopping centers. Some hearsay declares the area to have always belonged to those drawn to magic. But that is just a rumor I am not sure can withstand investigating. Whoever came up with the name wasn’t innovative, though extremely sincere. Translated from Latin it means New Age.

I don’t go there often, but I have blown through the place a few times. While I am a spiritual person, I am also equipped with serious condensations of academic skepticism and Era Nova with its aura readings, crystals in all sizes and often burning incense can feel a bit overwhelming and even intrusive. Even when the personnel is nothing but lovely and warm, and in that sense the atmosphere is truly welcoming.

Despite my reservation I happened there on Women’s day, because the shop I had intended to visit was, to my surprise and dismay, closed for the day and Era Nova was close. And open.

They have a room at the back of the shop that can be rented for events and where they always have an exhibition going. I always check it out.

And that day I experienced a surge of inspiration and asked the vendor if it would be possible to bring my art there one day, as I felt my fantasy themed acrylic paintings would be at home in the back room.

And so in May I quite accidentally ended up with an art exhibition. We came to set it up with friends and took it down with friends at the end of the month. My godmother bought a piece, so did my mother in law, a friend wanted one. I sold two to strangers I would never meet. And I gave one piece as a gift to one of the workers, because she told me her child had loved it, and had I taken it home it would have just ended up back in the closet.

Of the 10 works I am now only the owner of four.

It was a very eye opening experience. (Though I think I still have only two.)

First of all, because apparently there are a lot of people that can enjoy my art.

And secondly, because apparently just by declaring something to be on sale, people see it anew. I hadn’t really been hiding my paintings from friends or family. It has always been clear to me that if someone wants one of the works, they can simply have it. My godmother must have known the painting existed, so did my friend. But the declaration that they were on sale somehow prompted them to want to own those art pieces.