About Us

A story by David Jaacks

In the spring of 1997, Justin and I entered our second year in business at Exhibit A. We spent many hours trying to get the word out that Exhibit A could build whatever anyone would want for their marketing needs. At this stage we were happy to take almost any job. One day as I was walking through downtown Providence, I recognized a friend from years past, Bob Rizzo, who is head of Capitol Arts. Bob was having a coffee on Fountain St. I stopped in to see him and use the opportunity to spread the word of Exhibit A's capabilities. Bob shared some time and stories about the upcoming Convergence Art Festival that he was working on. We recalled the last time we had seen each other was when I had helped my best man, Peter Stempel,construct and install his piece, Ceramic Buoy Color Field, in Roger Williams Park.

Bob is responsible for most of the public artwork that is present in the city of Providence, and it is through his tireless efforts that Rhode Island has a presence on the Nation's Art Map. Little did I know that soon I would be an accomplice to his yearly undertaking. Roughly a week later, Bob called and asked if I could build some work for some out of town artists that could not transport their work to the site. Though it was not our usual business, it was still work and something I was happy to do. We were asked to construct 3 different pieces for 3 artists from Macedonia. I was concerned that Bob was so busy it would be difficult to get answers for the inevitable questions connected with the project; especially, since it was due in less than 2 weeks. It was at this time that I met Bob's assitant Lela for the first time.

Lela had been working with Bob for two years helping with everything from artwork installation to press releases. Bob had asked her to oversee the completion of the work by Exhibit A. Each time Lela would visit the shop all work would stop, as she would light up the room. Lela was insightful and diligent in her efforts to get the job completed. Her faint Australian accent provided a starting point for conversations not related to business, since Australia has always held a sense of mystery for me.

The day arrived when we were to install the finished work. I met with Bob and unloaded the pieces, and I asked about Lela. Bob informed me she was busy at another part of the festival. I drove back to the shop and ended my workday. Since it was such a beautiful day, I returned to the site to find Lela surrounded by some of my employees and other friends from town. I thought, "This girl certainly makes an impression." I went and had a cup of coffee wondering if the possie would die down. It did, but not by much. Then, as I was about to leave, she headed for the sculpture Exhitbit A had built. There, on the newly finished bridge overlooking the Providence River with our sculpture completed, I asked if she would be interested in having dinner sometime so we could talk about Australia. Much to my surprise, she said yes and I left.

Almost a month passed before we were able to have that dinner date. (I have since found out that Lela was excited about our dinner date, too.) During that month, I remember one Sunday afternoon when I was working in the shop. Lela walked through the door, Peter was working on the table saw and I was working in the vault on some designs. I was taken by her assertive nature - taking the initiative to visit with no previous call. Peter commented later about the energy that was present in the room when we were together. All of this time, I still led myself to believe that I was only interested in Australia.

A week later we finally attempted the dinner date. I picked Lela up from the bus stop in Kennedy Plaza as she returned from a weekend trip to New York City. We went to her apartment and talked for two hours. It was as if we had been friends for years. A very awkward moment came when I revealed that I was seeing someone else. The look of disappointment that filled her face is a look I hope never to experience again. She let me know that I should do what I thought was right. I believe we talked for another hour or so, and at that point, I invited her home for a Peter Stempel lobster dinner. However, upon arriving home, I found out that the person I had being seeing was already on her way over for the dinner. I had to drive Lela home in a very humbled state.

I soon learned that Lela planned to take a year off from Rhode Island School of Design and for 6 months of that year, she would be in Australia. She was to leave America in 4 weeks. Our 3 hour conversation created a dilemma in my head: whether to end a good relationship with someone else, for a month long relationship with someone new. My heart already knew. I decided to end my other relationship.

We spent as many days together as we could before she left for Australia. My mind raced ahead to what would happen if she did not return from her trip; what would happen when she returned to school and all of those others boys experienced her glow as I had. Lela, in her infinite wisdom and presence, suggested that we take it day by day and have fun along the way - "If it is meant to be it will all work out, and if it doesn't, we at least know that we gave it our best shot."

Those words would be put to the test as we headed to Vermont to meet her parents, Choff and Christa, for the first time. The weekend trip fell on the same weekend as the Lowery family reunion that Christa was hosting for her family. So after dating for three weeks we were presented as a couple to all of Christa's family. As I wrote in a thank you note to Choff and Christa, rarely have I felt more welcomed and at ease in someone else's home than that first weekend with them. Each day presented new challenges - among them, a four-hour hike up Mt. Ascutney and carrying on conversations with my whole new family of 3 weeks. All of these efforts were the beginning of a bonding education that dictates the definition of marriage.

Five months later I found myself on a plane flying to Australia to visit the girl of my dreams. At first it was strange seeing this girl who I had all of these feelings for in this new world, her world. I smoked my last cigarette in the Sydney airport and was introduced to a new world by Lela and her mother Sandra. The first two weeks in Sandra and Charles' home was a completely new experience for me and changed what I thought was important in life. They included me in their alternate life style - diet, acupuncture, massage, the beach, and love. The pace of the world slowed to a manageable speed. I did miss my cigarettes, coffee, red meat, sugar, and junk food at least for another few days. What is significant is through all of this change and different environment, my feelings only became stronger for Lela and our friendship grew tighter. At the end of my month long stay, we both returned to America. Lela took the spring off from school and worked for Bob Rizzo, Jay Coogan, and Peter Diepenbrock and Didi Suydam. I endeavored to grow Exhitibt A. If I had not been completely taken with Lela already, her actions through the upcoming months sealed the deal.

Starting a business requires many extra hours of many different efforts. Exhibit A was in a serious growth phase with limited infrastructure. I was forced to work many nights and weekends. Instead of this challenging our time together, Lela embraced the situation and worked by my side those weekends and nights, many times after working a full day at her others jobs. I was impressed by her work ethic, stamina, and ability. Lela's talents as an artist are self evident in her work that is also featured on this site. I am convinced that behind all successful businesses there has to be a caring and loving person responsible for the owner of that business. It would be very difficult being alone.

The next two years were spent with Lela in school at Rhode Island School of Design finishing her degree in sculpture. As graduation day approached, I believed it was time to ask Lela to be my wife. Choff and Christa had offered to take the family on a sailing trip around Marta's Vineyard for the week after Lela's graduation. I thought this would be a great time to ask her since I would have a chance to ask her father first. Choff and Christa had been in Australia for the last year, and it was not the kind of thing I wanted to ask over the phone. I had her engagement ring custom made, and it was difficult not to ruin the surprise and hold on to the ring for the weeks leading up to the trip. The trip was great and spending time with people that already felt like family was even better. Lela's brother Rangi was an excellent navigator. Our trip was filled with many harbor stops in different coastal islands and dodging some early June storms.

Wednesday June 8th, 2000 we sailed into Menemshia Harbor on Martha's Vineyard. This day is special for two reasons; it is the day I proposed to Lela and it is her birthday, as well. I could be sure of one thing that all attention would be focused on Lela for that day. Earlier in the day the family went for a walk on the beach collecting artifacts that had washed ashore. During this walk, I waited with anticipation for a moment when I could speak to Choff about this most pressing question. For up till this moment the boat offered few moments of privacy to get an answer without tipping my hand to the rest of the family. Choff and I walked down the beach, Christa, Rangi and Lela were in the near distance building their own beach sculptures. With a large lump in my throat I asked Choff if I could marry Lela, his response was "I think you should ask Lela but it seems like a good idea to me." Now that one part of the puzzle was finished, it was hard to contain the excitement of the big question. Later that evening we had a lobster dinner on shore and watermelon on the boat for dessert. As the evening ended, I asked Lela to stay with me topside as the rest of the family bunked down for the night. We sat under the stars for an hour or so as I contemplated how to steer the conversation towards the big question. Then like clockwork Lela said how happy she was to be with me. I continued the statement with, "I am so happy to be with you and would like to be with you for the rest of my life." I placed one knee on the fiberglass deck and asked Lela to marry me. She stared with a moment of disbelief as I pulled the ring from my pocket. A tear welled in her eye and she responded, "Yes, I will."

The next day we set sail for Newport, encountering an early summer storm that gave all of our stomachs a bit of a churning. When we landed in Newport, the sun came out and on a walk around Fort Adams, we shared the happy news with the rest of the family.

The result is four years later we are still close friends that share all of what life has to offer and welcome the challenges of each day with energy and zeal of the love that we have for each other. I am pleased to share the next chapter of our story with you at our wedding in November, thank you all for being part of our lives.