Thanks to a tip from Stephen Segal, Irene and I went to Gifts Inn of Boonsboro this evening for the opening night reception of Brigid Ashwood‘s exhibit “Winged Things & Improbable Machines.” He’d described her work as being in the steampunk/fantasy vein, and put out a call to his local facebook friends that they shouldn’t miss her gallery show. So Irene and I headed over to Boonsboro, about an hour away, getting to the shop around 5:15.

We approached Brigid fairly quickly, and she gave us a tour of her art, explaining her technique. I was particularly interested in her silverpoint drawings, a method I knew nothing about. We talked quite a bit about the origins of steampunk , and why it’s so popular. I said it’s nostalgia for a future that never was, though I couldn’t recall who originated that theory and phrase.

I could see Brigid’s work fitting in at a science fiction or fantasy convention, and found it fascinating that she and her peers moved in an entirely different circuit of cons, ones dedicated specifically to faerie. There was a cognitive dissonance present, because though our paths had never crossed, it felt as if they should have crossed long before now. I talked up the local SF con scene, so maybe we’ll see her at a Balticon or Capclave someday.

Here she is at the gallery surrounded by some of her work:

She obviously has her fans, as the lower color image by her elbow was marked SOLD by the time we left a few minutes after 7:00.

Fun fact—the gallery is owned by romance author Nora Roberts, who also owns the Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe and the Inn BoonsBoro.

Irene and I had planned to have dinner after the reception, though we had no idea where, and since we overheard one of the attendees talk about being the mayor of Boonsboro, I figured—who better to ask for a tip as to the best restaurant in town? He directed us to Palettie, which was across the street from the gallery. I was hoping for at least a good meal, but I never expected to get a great meal. Not only was the duck excellent, but even the salad was impressive.

According to the menu, the salad is different every day, based on available ingredients, and “can have just about any type of vegetable, fruit, nut, seed or croutons. If you are particularly unadventurous when it comes to this fresh array of culinary surprises, then you would be better off ordering our deliciously simple house salad.” Being the adventurous type, I went with it, and was not disappointed. Irene and I will be back.

So—a successful evening on multiple fronts.