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Excerpt from 'A Private View' by Douglas Stuart Describes Family Interactions Before Art Exhibition
In an excerpt from Douglas Stuart's story 'A Private View,' the narrator accompanies their mother, Jean, to an art exhibition opening organized by their husband, David. The narrative details Jean's appearance, recent changes to her hair, and preparations for the event. It includes interactions between the narrator and Jean as they arrive at the museum.
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The narrator's husband is involved in the event as an assistant to the chief curator, and the narrator assists with logistics, including delivering a folder of checklists to him earlier in the day. The story focuses on the narrator's relationship with their mother, Jean, who arrives from uptown via an arranged car service.
Jean wears a knitted dress with embroidered herons, their necks intertwined and the moonlit sky behind them set with paillettes and sequins. At the weekend the narrator had taken her to Ann Taylor and then to Eileen Fisher and offered to buy her anything she liked.
Jean came out of the changing room in one outfit after the other and stood before the narrator as though the narrator had talked her into trying on a hessian sack. The narrator wondered aloud if she wouldn’t like to look a little more refined for the opening.
Upon arriving at the museum foyer, Jean asks how long they need to stay, and the narrator responds that it will be just long enough to show support. The narrator had instructed Jean on recognizing the Uber for her trip and assured her that arrangements were in place. Before the event, the narrator visits a hotel bar for an Islay malt to ease discomfort around the art crowd.
Jean has dyed her hair red that afternoon, shifting from her previous bottle-black color and a brief period with natural gray tones. The narrator notes the red dye on her fingers and comments on the change, which Jean says was to combat feeling drab.
Earlier, while staying with the narrator in New York, Jean had expressed concerns about her natural hair color aging her appearance and potential staining from smoking.
The narrator reassures Jean about her appearance, holding her hands and examining her hair in daylight to check for stains. Jean reveals a quarter bottle of Smirnoff in her coat pocket, explaining it as preparation for the event. She gives a Scout's salute and references the motto 'dyb, dyb, dyb' while grinning.
