Photos of artists Matt Sesow, left, and Dana Ellyn hang on the fridge in Ellyn's studio apartment. "I decided there was more to life than functionality," Dana says. "And when I met Matt, I thought, 'Oh, that's the 'more to life' I've been expecting."
Dan Zak-The Washington Post
Sesow and Ellyn share a moment while hanging the artwork they made for their art exhibit and wedding in the Long View Gallery on 9th Street NW. The couple met at Sesow's art show in 2001. She saw a man who was living her dream, who left his salaried job and flourished as a full-time painter. He saw a lovely woman who was smart and funny and normal and chill and, therefore, dangerous to his art.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Guests enter Long View Gallery for Ellyn and Sesow's show, "Till Death Do Us Part," which runs through March 1. Despite the major blizzard, the couple continued with their plans to get married at the Feb. 5 opening.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Visitors view Ellyn's oil on canvas triptych, "Garden of Earthly Delights" during the gallery opening. Ellyn's work is more literal than Sesow's, and tells stories. She uses her paintings to express discomfort with religion and her unhappy detour through suburban married life during her first marriage.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Ellyn and Sesow arrive at their gallery opening and wedding as snow falls steadily.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Sesow draws two hearts in the gallery's fogged-up windows before the couple exchanges vows, as the snowstorm outside gets stronger.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Of the 2,116 visual arts professionals in the District, Ellyn and Sesow are among the few full-time painters who make their living by selling their artwork. After the vows, the couple sells 30 paintings, large and small, from $100 to $1,000 apiece, with titles like "The American Dream" and "Letting Go of the Fairy Tale."
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
The couple dances after exchanging vows.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
The married couple will continue to live apart. She needs half the week to herself, and he's happy to work at his own studio, where he can turn up the music and "go to a place."
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Sesow's acrylic and oil painting "Doggy Style" hangs among his other works. His art draws power from the trauma of his childhood accident, in which he lost most of his left arm to an airplane propeller.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Sesow smiles during the opening. Over eight years, Ellyn got Sesow to open up, reconnect with romance. He pushed her to find her style, her artistic confidence.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Ellyn and Sesow deliver brief, improvised vows during their wedding ceremony, presided over by humanist celebrant Jennifer Kalmanson, right.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Sesow and Ellyn enjoy drinks at the bar at Henley Park Hotel before their art show opening and wedding.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
The couple embraces, surrounded by their paintings about marriage. Sesow says that after learning so much from Ellyn, he can no longer call himself a self-taught artist. Ellyn says she felt nothing before feeling for him.
Megan Rossman-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Audio Editor and Reporter and Producer Megan Rossman
Text Editor Sarah Marston
