Our Chicago Trip for My Fiance’s Solo Art Show

Last weekend, Jamaal and I went to Chicago for his first out-of-state solo art show, "Fear is a Joke." It was a beautiful occasion, one that he had been working tirelessly towards for months. Staying with family, reconnecting with friends, and experiencing the city together added layers of depth to this already incredible experience. As we navigated the ups and downs of the trip, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and determination. This blog post is a reflection on that unforgettable trip, filled with hard work, celebration, and a renewed focus on our shared dreams.

When I tell you that I am not only proud but in awe of how God works...

I remember when Jamaal shared his vision with me. That man makes everything look easy, so I wasn’t really aware of all the work it would take. From making connections with Tina and the T. Mari Art Gallery in Chicago to curating new pieces for the space and deciding what to share.

It hit me when we packed our car with his work and drove to Chicago like, “wow, we are really here.” It was a fun time. Luke got to ride with us to Chicago because he wanted to visit his grandparents (he had his own little agenda). We spent the ride to Chicago in mostly silence, reflecting, and planning how we wanted the weekend to go.

Once we got to Chicago, we dropped Luke off with his family and headed straight to the gallery to work with Tina to hang the work and prepare the space. When you walked in, you could feel the love. The T. Mari Art Gallery was warm, quaint, with a specific blue accent wall that gave the space the right amount of artsy chic, in my opinion. I loved it. It was the perfect space for Jamaal’s work. I just love the thought process that goes into preparing a show. Everything is intentional. I was curious to learn more about the story that Jamaal wanted to share with attendees.

We spent hours at the gallery until it was time to check into our Airbnb around 4pm. The exhaustion was real, guys. As soon as we got to the home, we took a nap to prepare for a night out. A pre-celebration, if you will…

The next day, Jamaal went to the gallery to finish his final touches on the pieces. I stayed in the Airbnb attempting to work but ended up resting and getting some really good flicks (see below). By 5pm, Jamaal’s family had arrived from Ohio, and we were headed to the show. I was excited for all of it. I’ve been to Jamaal’s shows, so I knew the drill. You kind of have to step to the side and let him cook lol.

Our friends arrived early, so I had company from the beginning to the end. I wish you guys could’ve been there though! I was a proud fiancé watching Jamaal explain all his pieces, from newer pieces like "Fear is a Joke" and "Endure" to older pieces like "Dom" or "The Protector." It was fun learning which pieces were everyone’s favorites. At the moment, my favorite piece is "The Protector." But that’s how the night went: me, talking to friends and chugging wine while Jamaal shared his thoughts and connected with attendees. I thought it was cool that he had a few virtual art friends show up to support him. Everyone kept saying how much they loved Jamaal’s work (teary eyed emoji).

Now that the show was over, it was time to celebrate! With friends and family, we went to West Loop to find food and something fun to do. It was a fun time filled with food, music, and love. It was here that Jamaal shared the news about selling the main piece of the show, "Fear is a Joke." We all took turns sharing how proud we were of Jamaal. This was definitely a moment to remember. When I took a second to be in the moment, I looked around and saw every single person at the table. All in our 30s, all reaching goals and living a life that would probably scare most people. But most of all, the table felt safe and full of positive people that just wanted to live a good life, whatever that meant to them.

It was nice to reflect, but being in our 30s also meant we were tired lol. We were coming up on 2am, and you could see the tension for sleep in our eyes, so we all headed home.

Jamaal is definitely a joyous person, but his smile could’ve lit up the whole Chicago skyline. On the car ride to the Airbnb, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I was a proud wifey, and he couldn’t stop thanking me for being beside him… like I’d be anywhere else.

The next morning, I woke up and went to work out with a new friend, Janel! That’s my girl lol. I met her through my friend Dorian at an art event called Art Noire. Janel and I reflected on art and the experiences that it can create. Without Art Noire, I probably wouldn’t have met Janel, and she expressed the same thoughts. It’s crazy how impactful art is. Janel is actually a full-time artist as well. Y’all please pay these people with no complaints, they deserve it!

I went back to the Airbnb, and we spent the rest of the day finding food and chilling out.

I think the biggest lesson God revealed to me was that as you climb and live into your purpose, the devil will do his best to misguide you, and if he can’t attack you, he’ll use the people around you if they aren’t careful.

As we both climb and grow in our respective journeys, it’s important to stay prayed up and support each other.

On another note, I will say that Chicago’s food scene is top tier! Every place that we went to was nothing short of amazing, and that’s what I miss when I’m home: good healthy food on a consistent basis from different places.

Chicago was a time! I’m excited for what’s to come. Tap into Jamaal’s work at www.jqvisuals.net and let me know if you want to hear more about Jamaal’s trip from his perspective. Maybe I can get an interview out of him lol.

They say these things are supposed to be interactive lol so let me know if you want the REAL scoop about the trip. This blog post was just the tip of the iceberg honestly lol

See ya!