Big and Bright: New Work From Texas - Press Release

Thursday, January 26 at 11:00am at Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA

"Big and Bright: New Work from Texas" January 26, 2012- February 21, 2012 Southwestern College Art Gallery Opening Receptions Thursday January 26 11-1 & 6-8 SWC Art Gallery Artist Talks Sponsored by the SWC Foundation Thursday January 26 12 PM featuring Matthew Bourbon & Vincent Falsetta .

The Southwestern College Art Gallery presents "Big and Bright: New Work from Texas", curated by Jessica McCambly . With the title taken from the song, “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, this exhibition is a regional survey that highlights the diverse range of work being created in Texas today. Despite the massive size of the state of Texas, there is a close community that exists amongst the artists who live and work across the state. They know each other.. or of each other.. and are usually fans of each other. The strength of this community of artists and the scene that they contribute to seems to defy the obvious geography that physically isolates them from the LA/NY art centers. With the presence of strong academic programs along with the support of regional cultural institutions, artist-run spaces, commercial galleries and virtual, cultural outlets that bridge the distance, these artists work and interact within unique and fertile conditions. This, along with the prevailing ethos, results in a vibrant and important art scene filled with complex and distinct work that stretches across Texas.  

  

Featuring work by: 

John Adelman * Susan Barnett * Iris Bechtol * Christine Bisetto * Paul Booker * Matthew Bourbon * Candace Briceno * Jim Burton * Rodolfo Choperena * Matt Clark * Shelby Cunningham * C.J. Davis * Eric Eley * Vincent Falsetta * Thomas Feulmer * Garland Fielder * Anna Fritzel-Shows * John Frost * Lily Hanson * Stephen Lapthisophon * Annette Lawrence * Dameon Lester * M * Margaret Meehan * Renee Nunez * Kim Cadmus Owens * Harmony Padgett * John Pomara * Ryder Richards * Rusty Scruby * Noah Simblist * Charlotte Smith * Terri Thornton * David Willburn * Sarah WIlliams

 

Curated by:

Jessica McCambly A graduate of the University of North Texas, College of Visual Arts and Design and former Texas artist, Curator Jessica McCambly is an artist currently living and working in San Diego, California. She also serves as Assistant Professor of Art at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, California.   

Art at the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas ended last weekend.  I managed to go twice this year.  We went once on a Friday night that was billed as "High School Day", so there were hoards of high school aged kids in groups.  It took us 45 minutes to get to the fair even though we only live less than 3 miles from the fair grounds. I went back on a weekday for a very short visit to simply take pictures of things I missed or did not have sufficient sunlight for the first time.

Believe it or not, there is art to be found at the State Fair.  Granted, most of it is what many would consider to be 'Community' art.  I find it fun to see what the art hobbyists, enthusiasts and crafters are making each year.  Sometimes they echo high art, but more often than not it is pure fun outsider art.

I'll start with the Fine Art on exhibition.

I made a special visit to the fair grounds just a few days prior to the opening of the fair to see the exhibition "Generations: A Woman's Conversation" at the African American Museum. This exhibition features the work of six women artists: Annette Lawrence, Vicki Meek, Letitia Huckaby, Anita Knox, Valerie Bennett-Gillespie and Marilu Flores Gruben.  This exhibition ran from June 4 through October 29.  These artists investigate the notion of image and its power to suggest ideas that women should embrace.

Annette Lawrence, Untitled, tape, paper, china marker, graphite

installation shot with Annette Lawrence's Untitled in the middle flanked by Letitia Huchaby's Debutante Gown on the left and Something Old, Something New on the right.

Letitia Huckaby, East Feliciana Altar Piece

This was the 125th anniversary year of the State Fair of Texas.  People do come to the fair from all over the state to exhibit their livestock and to participate in the rodeo competitions.  I'm not sure how far the "State" aspect extends into other venues however.  Case in point: Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden.  Lottie Minick is a local artist and her husband designed the fountains that designate both ends of the sculpture garden area. I met Lottie at this year's White Rock Lake Artists' Studio Tour and she explained to me that she invites her North Texas sculpting friends to participate in the sculpture garden during the fair each year.  She had hoped for a few more of her friends to participate again this year but they were not all able due to other commitments.

Lottie Minick holding one of her sculptures on the 2011 White Rock Lake Artists Studio Tour 

The signs accompanying each of these sculptures only list the artists' name and phone number.  No title, media, size or dates of creation.  They all seemed to be made of metal, some with glass and some with tile.  There were more than these, but these are more than ample representation:

 Lottie Minick

Laura Abrams

Pascale Pryor

Justine Wollaston

David Hickman

Richard Perrin

Cynthia Daniel

Brad Abrams

Terry Jones

A caricature artist at work at the fair

Kings Handmade Embroidery

These are odd.  Silk embroidery 'paintings'. Most are idyllic representations of village scenes, beautiful women, horses, seascapes, florals - basically Thomas Kinkade 'art' done in silk.  These were for sale in the Embarcadero Building along with hot tubs, mattresses, foot massagers, and other household furniture and appliances. Oddly enough, there were red labels on the framed 'art works' that said "No Photos".  Not sure if they didn't want anyone spreading the good news about handmade silk embroidery paintings or perhaps Kings is afraid of unfavorable blog posts.  I couldn't resist, so I stood away and used the zoom feature on my little Sony Cybershot.  duh

also not exactly 'art', but exciting design on testosterone overdrive

One of my favorite exhibits every year at the fair is the Creative Arts Building.  I end up spending more time in here than anywhere.  I look for the arts and crafts that have been created by my friends from church as well as items created by students of my local art educator friends. And then there are the interesting objects that have been executed well that catch my eye.  There are also objects that have been made from kits, boxes of legos, and collectables that leave me scratching my head every year.

John Touhey, a friend from church

KeLaine Kvale, a student of several of my art educator friends

Jan Scogin, a friend from church.  Jan had three ribbon winning works in the fair.

Kent Bushart

Kent Bushart.  I've enjoyed Kent's dioramas for a couple of years now

Origami with money.  I wonder if this artist ever sees all the art-fair art that is being made of money these days?  

Oh, and don't forget the annual butter sculpture:

September Dallas Fall Gallery Walk

Ray-Mel Cornelius, Robert Browning, acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12", 2011

We saw several new galleries open in Dallas this year, and a number of these opened just in time to introduce themselves at the opening of the Fall art season.  A couple of galleries began the season by exhibiting a sample of works by each of the gallery's represented artists.  A number of other galleries in town focused on solo shows of one or two of their own artists, and I noticed that these shows often featured some of North Texas' favorites.  I saw many red dots as I traveled around to the galleries, so I hope to be able to see some of these fantastic works in friends' homes or businesses soon!

Ray-Mel Cornelius, Charles Baudelaire, acrylic on canvas, 11" x 14", 2011

These first two pics are from Ray-Mel Cornelius' solo exhibition, "Poets and Cattle", at  

Norwood Flynn Gallery.  A bit of poetry to accompany the art as we begin this journey.

 Jay Maggio, Flaming Bradfords II, oil on canvas, 12" x 16"

Jay Maggio, Pink Seduction, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

Craighead Green Gallery featured three solo exhibitions by Arturo Mallman, Jay Maggio, and Heather Gorham. CG Gallery is one of the largest white wall gallery spaces I have seen.  They have ample space for four large scale separate exhibitions.  I've cropped out the frames from Maggio's paintings.  They were all very nice and uniform in black wood.  But it is his varying mark making techniques and the vibrant colors that attract my attention.

 Heather Gorham, Awash in the Everyday, 14" x 6" x , bronze, resin, mixed media assemblage

Heather Gorham, The Private Life of a Hare, 15" x 17" x 9", printed resin, urethane paint

Heather Gorham, Flowering Lamb of Odd, 19" x 17" x 17", printed resin, urethane paint

Heather presented us with a plethora of sculptures and paintings which fit easily in the front gallery space at Craighead Green Gallery.

Otis Jones, Two White Slits on Red, mixed media on canvas, 30" x 30" x 4", 2011

Otis Jones, Black Rectangle with Four Red Rectangles, mixed media on canvas,
80" x 36" x 4", 2011

Holly Johnson Gallery opened the season with local favorite Otis Jones.  Jones continues his investigation in the abstract with these minimalist objects. Dan Pritchett has written a review of this exhibition which has been published in the October issue of Arts+Culture Magazine DFW.

Kirk Hays, Counting to Ten (The Artist Playing Hide and Seek with His Innocence and His Granddaughter),
oil and spray enamel on signboard, 45" x 40", 2011

Kirk Hays, Deluge Groin High, oil and spray enamel on signboard, 35" x 36", 2011

Conduit Gallery presented three solo exhibitions in their large gallery.  Guy Mendes, Kirk Hays, and Sandra Ono in the Project Room. Hays' trompe-l'oeil paintings appear to be collage on a wood grain surface, but they are actually paint on board.  Even standing directly in front of them they look like collage, lots of hard work to achieve this allusion.

Paul Manes, (no title listed), oil on canvas, 30" x 28", 2011 

Isabelle du Toit, Cardinal Fledgling, oil on canvas, 12" x 12", 2011

I stopped back by Cris Worley Fine Art to view Charlotte Smith's show which I wrote about and posted on September 10. I stepped into CWFA's "small gallery" and found these two paintings pictured above.  Most galleries hang some small works in their restroom, and I have at least six in both of my bathrooms at home.  It's a great use of space, and I often look at some art in gallery wash rooms longer than the paintings out on the large white walls.

Linda Dee Guy, Re-Orient No. 7, mixed media wall installation, dimensions variable, 2011

Linda Dee Guy solo exhibtion installation view
works shown from left to right:
System No. 4, mixed media drawing on Yupo paper, 42" x 60", 2008
System No. 12, mixed media, 50" x 120", 2010
Translucent Cells, mixed media, 50" x 60", 2011
System No, 1, graphite on Yupo paper, 50" x 35", 2007

a view of Translucent Cells prior to wall installation

Ro2 Art Uptown had a gallery artists group exhibition up for the beginning of September, then installed a solo exhibition starting September 24 with works by Ft Worth artist Linda Dee Guy.  I included the pre-installation pic of Translucent Cells to show how this piece might look if installed in a window.  Guy stated that she had originally planned this piece to hang in a window in an upper floor loft.  This work is truly beautiful with light glowing from behind.  The Dallas Observer has published a fine review of this exhibition.  Ro2 Art's Downtown space has hosted a solo exhibition by another Ft. Worth artist, Christoph Blay.

At least four new galleries opened in Dallas just prior to the start of the Fall art season.  I have yet to visit The Reading Room or Oliver Francis Gallery. I did stop by Smoke and Mirrors Gallery as they were setting up for the first show.

Chuck and George, La Douche, mixed media on panel

Leslie Marshall, Walking Green

Smoke and Mirrors Gallery is a new alternative gallery space that focuses on local outsider art.  Chuck and George are a local couple that paint collaboratively under this nom de plume.  They work individually as Brian Scott and Brian Keith Jones.  I have one of each of their individual works in my collection.

The fourth new gallery, and the final set I will show in this blog post, is only slightly new to the art scene.  Dunn and Brown Contemporary had been in operation in Dallas for about 10 years.  I enjoyed seeing the programming Dunn and Brown exhibited locally as well as at Scope London, Scope Miami, and Art Miami over the years.  Brown left the gallery this summer to offer private art consultation services.  Tally Dunn renamed the gallery Tally Dunn Gallery, made a few changes to the programming, and opened with a gallery artists group exhibition on September 10.  Here are some works by artists that I admire and caught my eye on the day that I visited:

Erick Swenson, Muncie Head, plastic and acrylic paint, 14" x 10.5" x 10", 2001, edition of 7

Joseph Havel, Throwing Stars, bronze with patina, 31" x 30.25" x 1.25", 2010

Joseph Havel, Single Star, bronze with patina, 26" x 16" x12", 2007

Susie Rosmarin, Spectrum #11, acrylic on canvas, 60" x 60", 2009

David Bates, Cleaning Table, oil on canvas, 36" x 28", 2010

Linda Ridgway, Somewhere in the twirled branches, and he is singing, bronze unique,
21" x 24" x 18", 2011

Xiaoze Xie, The Parade, ink on rice paper, 42" x 62.25", 2007

Annette Lawrence, from left to right:
Paper Reel #2
Luminous Paper Sphere
Luminous Paper Sphere #2
each are photocopy with acrylic on paper, 26" x 40", 2011

Trenton Doyle Hancock, The Year, suite of five etchings,
etching, silkscreen, and airbrushed watercolor, each 28.25" x 27.5", 2009

Vernon Fisher, Red Mulberry, acrylic on canvas over panel, 44" x 48", 2011

Nic Nicosia, I See Light,
twenty individual images as unique installation,
archival inkjet prints on somerset watercolor paper,
15" x 24" each, 2009

Dale Chihuly

Helen Altman

Ted Kincaid, from left to right:
Open Sea 811
Open Sea 7291
Open Sea 719
Open Sea 720,
each are digital photograph printed on Hahnemuhle photo paper,
24" x 18", each edition of 10, 2011