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included Dr. James Comer, a Yale professor, and his on the ground. Horace started explaining right away.
wife Shirley (now deceased); Charles Ogletree of “Tere must be some mistake,” he said, and told the

Harvard University; Cornel West of Harvard (now at police that the truck was loaded with art en route to a
Princeton University); Andy and Wendy Vincent; Earl Chicago art show. At this moment another Ryder truck
Graves of Black Enterprise Magazine and Dr. Louis H. sped past rather recklessly. Te police, recognizing

Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services under their mistake, got back in their cars and drove away.
President George H. Bush. Needless to say, our guys were shaken to the core.
Tis is one of many road hazards our crew endured.
None of these traveling art shows would have been

possible without our loyal and diligent friend and
By 1996, the Black art shows were fnished. With
driver, Horace Wright, who has worked with us at
many more art galleries in the marketplace and customers
October Gallery since its inception. Over the years, he
already primed for purchasing, October Gallery was
has transported what has to be thousands of pieces of art
forced to change its focus. Rather than continuing to
valued in the millions of dollars, and has never lost a single
travel all over the U.S., we had to give greater attention
piece of art. Horace saw to it that each piece was wrapped
to the one show we had in Philadelphia, which was a
well and stored with care, something he is still proud of to
diamond in the rough. Our new frontier would be the
this day.
growth of the Philadelphia International Art Expo and
While on the road, many instances made caring for the merging of art with technology. Tat year our Web

the art a big responsibility. Without conscientious help, site was created: octobergallery.com.
it would have been easy to leave art behind by mistake.
Today, our site averages between 300,000 to 500,000
Driving long hours over bumpy terrain or along
hits per month. It has enabled October Gallery to reach
unknown routes could have damaged the artwork had
external markets with nearly the same efectiveness as
there not been someone there who cared.
the traveling art shows once did. Te site has become
Tere was one instance that Horace still talks a promotional and advertising vehicle for the Expo, the
about. Te crew was on its way to Chicago for our gallery, artists, sponsors and partners. Te Philadelphia

show at the Hyde Park Hilton. Tey were driving along International Art Expo is now our fagship event.
an interstate highway in a Ryder truck. A police car
pulled them over and ordered everyone out. Horace
realized the policemen were dead serious. Tey had

their guns drawn and instructed our men to get down

October Gallery Artist Artist and October Gallery
Coordinator: Adon Reish. Sales Coordinator Charles Strawberry.
Our Driver Horace Wright. Gay Head Martha’s Vineyard by Sam Benson

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