This is the third and final little rubber robot toy; this one is kind of a speed racer. He was both hard and fun to paint. He’s very small and yet full of so much detail, but the detail is so tiny, it’s hard to discern. His little face is actually not very detailed and kind of strange-looking. Each of these little guys is in fact a slightly different color; one is more bright green, one more army green, and this one is in-between bright and army green.
I aimed again for looseness with these last two paintings; it continues to be a struggle to overcome 20 years of painting habits, but I’m not unhappy with these.
Ryan Coover’s River Blooms II, 2011 at Wally Workman Gallery
Last weekend, we finally made it out to Wally Workman Gallery to see the group show “Rivers.” So much excellent work! I was particularly interested in seeing two paintings by Ryan Coover, which were whimsical abstractions that seemed to contain microscopic life seen up a little closer. His two larger paintings were both beautiful and fascinating.
I also really enjoyed the wonderful luminous colors in the large and small abstract oil paintings by Joyce Howell, and the lovely large worlds created by Saliha Staib. Neighbor Jennifer Balkan’s paintings are always a delight to view; I love her hunky application of paint!
Well, instead of reading my blatherings about how much I enjoyed all of the work in the show, why don’t you check out these photos I took of some of the paintings there:
The 5×7 show at the Arthouse is open through June 12th, sooooo you still have a shot at picking up some wonderful small art.
Crowds checking out some of the art
I did not end up going to the ArtSplurge (the first night opening when the art is initially revealed and available for sale), but the Art Social on the second night was great! There was pizza and beer, good live music and lots of friends, and a gazillion wonderful 5×7 paintings and sculptures!
Some of the old building preserved
The renovations at the Arthouse are excellent, allowing for much more exhibition space. The beauty of the old building has been preserved while also injecting some gorgeous contemporary design elements. I really love the modern variation of glass block windows.
And see some of the gorgeous art on that’s still on view at the Arthouse here (my two paintings are among this group of pictures; can you find them?): Art Openings: 5×7 Show 2011 Opening.
I was so thrilled to be selected for the 2011 People’s Gallery Exhibition at the Austin City Hall. One of my paintings, “Luminous Future,” was selected from among 1400 pieces entered by 325 local artists and arts organizations. This year the jurors were: Carla Nickerson, artist and Production Coordinator for ProArts Collective; Johnny Walker, artist; and Herlinda Zamora, Culture and Arts Education Manager, Mexican American Cultural Center. The exhibition was finalized and designed by Jean Graham, the City’s Exhibition Coordinator. (Thanks, everyone, for including me!).
I thought I was feeling better from several days of allergy-related illnesses, so Terry and I got spiffed up and headed downtown. We arrived at the City Hall just in time to hear a few words from the mayor, and to see Caprice Pierucci receive her People’s Choice award for her piece in the 2010 Exhibition.
Jill Alo’s painting “Big Skies, super hot” on the left and Ethan Azarian’s “Herd of Shoes” on the right
It was wonderful seeing so many of my art friends there, and that so many of them were also selected for this show! Jill Alo and I were beginning painting and drawing students together in Minnie Miles’ classes at ACC back in the ’80s before she moved on to UT and I went up to SAIC. We also worked together at a framing shop while in school. We have been good friends ever since, and have been in several critique groups and art exhibitions together, so I was so happy to see her very sunny piece in this show.
Sandy Lowder’s painting “Night Lotus Pool”
I also have exhibited and been in critique groups with Sandy Lowder, whose lovely large painting was hung right next to mine. I love the abstract qualities that she always infuses into her paintings (which frequently begin in a figurative way).
Gladys Poorte’s “How Did it Come to This?”
Gladys Poorte also has an awesomely beautiful painting in this exhibition. Jill, Sandy, Gladys, and I were all in the “Topographies” show together at Studio2 Gallery in 2003, along with 4 or 5 other artists.
Kristy Battani’s “Dry Creek”
Kristy Battani from the Texas Wax organization, of which I was a part for a couple years, had a lovely encaustic work in this show, too.
There were several other friends and acquaintances whose work is in the show, but (for some reason) I did not get photos of their pieces during the opening (I simply must go back!).
Take a gander at the photos I did get below, and if you’re in Austin, I highly recommend taking an hour or so someday to go see all the awesome paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, assemblages, and installations in this show. You can even vote for your favorite piece.
The show is at the Austin City Hall through January 13, 2012, exhibited in the hallways, conference rooms, lobbies, balconies, large stairwells, and in the Mayor’s office–all throughout the first 3 floors of the City Hall. Mine is #92, in The Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office hallway on the second floor. Hours are from 8am-5pm M-F.
Just a reminder that I had a painting selected from over a thousand submissions of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and more for the 2011 People’s Gallery Exhibition.
The opening is tomorrow night from 6-9pm at City Hall and features over 100 artworks from Austin-area artists, galleries, museums, and art organizations displayed throughout the first three floors of City Hall.
Short films selected for the 2011 Faces of Austin multimedia program will have a premiere screening in City Council Chambers, starting at 7 p.m. And in the Atrium, enjoy music by The Djembabes and refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market.
Get updated event and parking information at Austin Art in Public Places
If you go to the opening, look for me and/or my painting somewhere in that space!
Woo-hoo! I’ve had a work accepted into the 2011 People’s Gallery Exhibition at Austin City Hall! I consider this a great honor. The work will remain on view in the Austin City Hall for an entire year. The exhibit runs from February 18 2011 – January 13 2012.
There will be an opening reception on February 18, 2011, from 06:00 PM – 09:00 PM, with refreshments to be provided by Whole Foods Market.
Austin City Hall
301 W 2nd St.
Austin, TX 78701
For the rest of the year, Austin City Hall is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The first floor atrium lobby is also open to the public during City Council meetings.
See the People’s Gallery Exhibition page for more information or the Events page on my website.
Many thanks to everyone who made it out to the opening reception for my first solo show! It was a great opening!
People started to arrive right on the dot, and before long, friends and art fans were arriving so quickly that I did not get to meet at least a couple of dozen guests (sorry!), nor talk to quite a few of my friends! The good advice I got from another artist was indeed accurate: “Think of it like a wedding, you won’t be able to have a complete conversation with anybody, but they won’t mind.” At least I hope no one minded!
In eight days, I will be greeting friends and fans at my solo show at Bay6 Gallery in East Austin. I am really looking forward to that moment!
Getting ready for this has been an amazing process. Doing all the necessary organizational stuff besides trying to paint every moment that I can for weeks and weeks and weeks, that is.
I sent out email invitations to most of the people I know; and Bay6 has also invited a large number of folks. We’ve notified people via email, Facebook, Twitter, EventBrite, Eventful, and word-of-mouth, and we may be expecting a great turnout! I picked up my beautifully printed postcards today from Tom at ipgprint.com; I will be mailing those tomorrow. Plans are set for music, food, and drink, and we will start to hang the show next week. I owe some responses to emails and blog commenters, which I will try to get to as soon as my mental energy rolls in that direction.
