Art Always Has A Backstory by Jacob Bright

Portrait of Jacob Bright by Nall (Image courtesy of Jacob Bright)

My Portrait

Years ago Nall did a big show in Hoover, Alabama. He called me and said 'Jacob, I need help!

Please come here and work your magic and you can help me sell my art and get a commission.' I told Nall that I'd love to and took some of his pieces at my store with me.

Nall and I worked and had a wonderful, successful show. Nall told me that he owed me some money for working that day. I told him that I didn't want any money. Maybe he could do something for me one day. Some time after that Nall had something for me. He handed me the portrait and told me that this was my gift for helping him with the show. It was a total surprise--I wasn't expecting anything like this. I treasure that portrait.

Mary Nall Hollis (Left), Nall (Middle), and Jacob Bright (Right) (Image courtesy of Jacob Bright)

A Photo With Nall and his Mother Mary

My store in Arab, Fine Things, was the first store to retail Nall's fine china. Nall was having a show at the Monty Stabler Galleries in Homewood, Alabama. Nall christened me that I was his china representative and to bring samples and sell china at the show.I picked Mary up and with the car loaded up with China we headed off to Birmingham. After the show, Nall took his mother and me to dinner. He told us that we were his two angels and his dishes were our halos. I thought this was so creative and I love this photo. His mother is not with us any longer and neither is Nall, but I have that photo framed in my bedroom. I just love it!

Photograph of Nall (Image courtesy of Jacob Bright)

My Half-Bathroom Gallery

The video of my half bathroom is downstairs right by where I exercise. I call it my Nall half bathroom. Nall spent the night before the show at my house and signed the back wall in the bathroom.

Opera Mask customized by Nall (Image courtesy of Jacob Bright)

The Mask

The little Phantom of the Opera was held in the spring of 2000. A group hosted a black tie tuxedo dinner and Nall was the guest of honor. Nall invited me to go with him and be one of his guests. At the event, everyone was given a mask. Nall starts doodling on my mask. When he put the year down, he made a nostril the last zero of 2000.

Jacob Bright
Owner of "Fine Things" in Arab, AL