More BitterSweet Chatter + Post-Installation Interview Pic
As executive director of the LRTX project, it’s sometimes a time sensitive challenge to step outside and do something else. Occasionally, I’ll participate on a panel discussion, a jury, or donate some of my own work to a worthy cause. And every once in a while I will guest curate a space or cause an independent art show to arise out of an old warehouse or some other non-traditional space. (think Nancy, George and Bess; Primer; Art for Peace and Justice etc) One such case happens this Thursday evening, April 24 from 6pm-9pm, at the Magnolia Theatre (www.westvil.com for directions).
The bar upstairs in the Magnolia has a lovely art space with locally grown artists showing their work through the efforts of independent curators Scott and Nicole Horn. In fact, showing other people’s work at the Magnolia was how I got my start – before my gallery, before Pigeon-Stone Project. I passed the baton to the Horns ages ago and they’ve done a great job selecting cool work for exhibits. The Horns got hitched over the weekend and they asked me to guest curate an exhibit using the work of an artist of my choosing. After careful deliberation and considering all artists I have worked with over the years, the artist I chose is Benjamin Hancock.
Ben’s work is paint on stained wooden panels, but with an intricate process of digital and traditional lurking beneath. His high contrast panels depict incredibly nostalgic scenes that resonate with children of the 80’s. Dirt bikes, jungle gyms, Atari joysticks, and fallen leaves permeate his work, leaving viewers with childhood memories of such objects breathless with memories. He has free form figures that seem to sometimes be suspended in midair, trapped in a present tense that’s exhilarating – but with a cost. When these kids fall out of the tree or crash the dirt bike, it will be painful. In other words, they’re totally awesome.
Come to the reception Thursday or anytime the theatre is open until May 28. Feel free to ask Ben about his process and be sure to check out the work online if you’re not able to attend. It’s good stuff. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 @ 05:03 PM gallery events
Fred
Adorable! Sweet Grace Vroom and her pal produced this. Lovely. Bill and Jill must be so proud. I'm a proud mama and he's not my kid!
Friday, April 18, 2008 @ 10:07 AM
bittersweet
Benjamin Hancock : BitterSweet. Magnolia Bar Gallery. Reception - April 24, 6:00-9:00pm. 3699 McKinney@Lemmon in the West Village. Lo and behold, I'm guest curator because dear, lovely, fabulous friends Scott and Nicole will be on their honeymoon. After passing the baton to those kids ages ago, they've brought me back! Please come if you can. Ben's work is amazing.
Thursday, April 17, 2008 @ 08:53 PM gallery events
DADA Gallery Walk + Panel Discussions this weekend
DallasArtDealers dot org
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Saturday, April 19
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC), 3120 McKinney
Ave. in Uptown Dallas.
Panel One: 10:30 a.m.-noon
How to Look at Art: Art 101
Benito Huerta of The Gallery at UTA-on works on paper
Margaret Robinette of City of Plano Public Art Committee-on sculpture
Phillip Collins-independent art curator-on paintings, moderator
Ben Breard-of Afterimage Gallery-on photography
Panel Two: 12:30-2 p.m.
Art Chat and Chew
Visit with leaders in the visual art community
Ben Breard, Owner, AfterImage Gallery
Phillip Collins, Independent curator
Benito Huerta, Director, The Gallery at UTA
Eddy Rawlinson, Director, H. Paxton Moore Fine Art Gallery El Centro College
Margaret Robinette, City of Plano Public Art Committee
Debora Hunter, Associate Professor of Photography, SMU
Vicki Meek, Manager, South Dallas Cultural Center
Karen Garrett, Instructor of Fashion Design, Art Institute of Dallas
Jose Vargas, Gallery Coordinator, Ice House Cultural Center
Judith Garrett Segura, Independent Curator
Sarah Jane Semrad, Executive Director, La Reunion TX
Cost:
$10 for Art 101, in advance online, or $15 at the door.
$20 for Art Chat and Chew, includes lunch, in advance online, or $30 at the door.
Space is limited. First come, first served.
Register at http://www.dallasartdealers.org or by leaving message at 214-943-1099.
Proceeds benefit the Edith Baker Art Scholarship Fund
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 @ 07:00 AM gallery events
links galore
mmkay. Let's get down to business. Welcome Art and Soul folks. Isn't Shelly awesome? Here's some of the collages I mention in the interview:
March 2007 work.
August 2007 work.
Amazing how revealing this stuff is. There's more, I just haven't photographed them and posted them yet. Sheer laziness. Plus, part of my portfolio isn't working properly. Eh, these things happen.
Moving on. The last few days have been a glorious whirlwind of meetings, emails, and generally fabulous fun. Paul's birthday was Saturday and part of my present to him was to not open my computer for the whole day. And I didn't! Instead we hung out with the kids and later in the afternoon I sent him off to the junk yard to go exploring old cars while the kids and I made him a cake. Then it was off to see Greendale! It was my first time since it opened early April. If you can possibly go, please go. It's the coolest thing I've seen in a long time and I don't even care for Neil Young (shocking). Not even so much for the content, but for the sheet bizarreness of a theatrical presentation of a rock album with a plot. The band totally rocked the house and I especially loved how the music is a character in the piece. They'll be going to NY in July. Awesome.
Life is really good right now. Lots of beautiful things are present. Hope it's well with you and yours. Peace, everybody.
Monday, April 14, 2008 @ 09:59 PM press
quote
Life is the dancer and you are the dance - Eckhart Tolle.
Whatever you think of Oprah and Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth is a really good read - or listen in my case. I got the book on cd.
Thursday, April 10, 2008 @ 08:58 AM
greendale. paul.
I'm really proud of Paul and his participation in Greendale. I haven't been yet, believe it or not, but I'll be there Saturday night for sure! (Hey, it's his birthday too - email him a happy bday people!) Book tickets now through the Undermain Theatre site as weekend dates sell out quick. Reviews, previews, and commentary are all over the internet. The good bits are on the UMT site. Show runs through May 3.
That Paul and I have been together a long time. 11 some odd years. Far out. Through it all, we just keep on navigating, I guess. He's a good guy and an amazing father to two super rad kids. Nice to be next to in life. Happy early birthday baby.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008 @ 11:41 PM my family
andrea and fred
photo above is andrea and fred at the NGB show. fun.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008 @ 10:39 PM gallery events
current affairs
Ah, the bitter sweetness of life. It’s a profound taste these days. Of lost loves, old conversations, the joy and completeness of RIGHT NOW. Stumbling through the internet is dangerous when in the bitter sweet tension of life is present. I’m a swirl of sadness, love, joy, relief, and nostalgia in one simple place at my dining room table on a random Tuesday night.
Moving on. Nancy, George, and Bess was fun. Great fun. But dealing with the odd complexity of not doing ‘what I’m up to’ (i.e. LRTX) warbled me in a way I can’t rightly describe. I’m glad it’s over. Happy it went well. And sitting in such a beautiful, content place of two glorious days meeting with people whom I never thought would see me, much lass actually entertain the visions in the collective LRTX head.
I’m wading in gratitude for now – sugar ants and all. For not going down a path that surely would have been far more painful and difficult than looking back. Humbled. Strong. Grateful. On a different note, I’ll link to some press in the next couple of days. Cool stuff. Can’t wait to share.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 @ 10:21 PM my family
Current State
I'll update later. Just a little tired, that is all. Peace.
