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Tribe Report'Martin de Vore'  It was the best of tribes, it was the worst of tribes..... Print Feb. 17 With such a Dickensian opening, I'll bet you all are expecting high drama -- the sort that results from the interactions between artists and their peers (or their public) at art events such as Sippora Gallery's "Love" show, Gallery 19's "Red Show," M2 Gallery's "Mixed Nuts" show and "Overlord Mitch's Wednesday Night Bacchanalian Frenzy" at Onion Creek. Well, to be sure, there was drama but there was also comedy. No brawls though. Oh well...maybe next time. In a minute, I shall share my thoughts on these events, but first there are a few items of a more somber nature to share.... Goodbyes I thought about putting this into newspaper form, but after reading it I thought that our friend Amy Meyers of Sippora Gallery did it quite well, so I will just quote Amy's e-mail here: I just wanted you to know one of my artists Brigitta Frisch passed away last night from her long battle with cancer... Brigitta enjoyed a lasting and rewarding career as a Houston based artist. Her artistic talent was recognized, while a secondary school student, when she won awards for her drawings. Educated as a Fashion Designer in trade school and at the Institute for Economic Advancement in Vienna, Austria, later studied Drawing and Watercolor at the Vienna Community College. After moving to Texas in the late seventies she continued her education at the Houston Watercolor Art Society studying under Marge Brichler, and the Glassell School of Art studying under Phillip Renteria and Charles Schorre. She was awarded several scholarships for her drawings and watercolors, and her works were exhibited in the Glassell Student Exhibition. Brigitta's works were exhibited in local galleries, art shows, and in galleries in her native country. They included commissioned art works, and they are in private collections on both sides of the Atlantic. Her pastel "Escape" was awarded a honorable mention by the Houston Art League. She has been successful in developing a unique personal style, a talent expressed as abstract symbolism rendered in pastels and mixed media in earlier years, and in more recent years, expressed as realism rendered in colored pencil. Brigitta and her art work appeared in various magazines and newspaper articles including the Houston Chronicle feature "Women Creates World From Palette Colors", and she will be among a selected group of artists included in a new book titled "Global Village Art: How New Materials, Techniques, and Technologies are Changing the Art World." Education, intensive research and study of different art forms and styles and the lasting experiences as an artist assisted her parallel career as a recognized art instructor in the area. Brigitta's creativity, energy, and talent has inspired many students at all ages in private and public education programs, including programs at City Art Works (formerly Creative Alternatives), the Katy Independent School District, the University of Houston and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Brigitta was a member of the Color Pencil Society of America and the Houston Art Educator Association, and a board member of the City Art Works. In the late eighties Brigitta founded Art Images, a visual arts enterprise specializing in imaginative fine art. My prayers go out to her family... Amy And our prayers go to you Amy and all of Brigitta's friends and family as well. Brigitta's passing was not the only passing that impacted a member of our extended tribe this week. Winter Street artist Solomon Kane (also known to his many friends and colleagues as Jeff Reese) also experienced loss this week when his friend and neighbor died suddenly. Our prayers are with you and your family, too, Jeff. One Minute Martinizing These sad events are yet another reminder to me of the uncertainty of life these days. Those of you who I am particularly close to have heard this before so I don't mind if you scroll down to the incoming news section. But to those of you who haven't received this dose of One Minute Martinizing before, here is my simple message: "If you care about someone, admire someone, respect someone, love someone, are in love with someone -- let them know that while they are still alive to hear you say it." Period. No buts. It won't matter to them once they are in the grave but believe me -- from personal experience -- it will matter a great deal to you. It's very easy to think of a million reasons not to tell someone how you feel about them. It could be embarrassing; it could be taken wrong; it could upset them; it could upset others...whatever. Yes, Those cases could happen (and, oh yes, they have all happened to me!). But is your fear of such possibilities really more important than letting someone important to you know that they matter? That they count in this big nasty world? That they bring something good to someone else's life? Think about it. Try it. You'll be surprised by how easy it will get and how much better you will feel for sharing that with that person who is important in your life. Do it while you still have time. Diatribe over. Back to our tribal hunting grounds.... Incoming Communiques... I received quite a bit of e-mail during the past week. Since the Tribe Report was not posted by Monday or Tuesday, some of you wondered if I was well, if I was out of town or if I had been abducted by aliens. The answers to those queries are yes, no and yes -- but only in a matter of speaking. Some of you asked whether I had a nice Valentine's Day. Thanks for asking. Yes I did. I had a very nice one. Now, enough about me. Here are some tribal communiques. The Artery From Lacey Crawford: "Please do include the Artery whenever you can. Mark Larsen is a brilliant individual who is the proprietor of the Artery, beginning with art sessions about 15 years ago and now providing such a great forum for various events. There is a gorgeous little "art garden" surrounding the space that Mark has spent years developing. The art garden alone is worth the trip. Wednesday art sessions have three models, one per hour beginning at 7 p.m. It is a $12 cost to each artist for the evening, and each model is paid $25 for their hour of work. It is a magical experience for those who need to draw from life, and what artist doesn't? It kick-starts my art and puts things in perspective, literally and metaphysically. He plays beautiful music, the smell of incense permeates the space, there is cheap wine for a buck, but I usually byo-whatever." At the Artery, this Sunday night, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., Daniel Quinn, author of Ishmael, Story of B, and Tales of Adam will offer a question and answer session with an audience comprised partly of local study groups for whom his work is their focus. Priority for questioners goes to the study groups. The Artery will be documenting this event, questioners and guests will be asked to sign a release. If all goes well, portions of the footage might find a wider audience through a variety of media possibilities. Thanks for the alert, Lacey. I should mention here that Lacey also wondered if I would consider being a model. Wow. Thanks Lace! I am flattered. However, I think if I were to model, it could start riots. On the other hand, if you were to model, there would probably be long lines of artists eager to render you into a masterpiece. Especially if they happened to be at the Ancient Language show at Sippora when you were wrapped in mummy linen. Zarate Lives! Just got this (edited down a bit version) from Julie Zarate: I wanted to just touch base with you guys and let you know that I've updated my Web site www.six06.com and you can view what I'm currently "up to" on my journal: http://outlaw-jesus.livejournal.com And, for the next two days, I am selling my paper mache masks and wooden trinket boxes on eBay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsix06QQhtZ-1 I currently have work on display at Spanish Flowers on North Main, but will be taking them down in the next week or so to ready the space for the next Heights First Saturday participant. Most of the ones there had never been on display and most are actually very very new. Once I have received all the work, I'll be putting together a page with the originals I'll have available. I hope everyone is doing well. Some of you I haven't seen or spoken with in a while, some of you I saw this week! at any rate, you're all in my thoughts and I hope you all have a wonderful week :) - Julie Zarate Happy Birthday! There were several tribal birthdays during the past week: Marie Weichman, Alexis Andrei, Charity Snider, Tim Dean Snider and Looking Into History Back Now....for what happened during the last week -- Sippora Gallery's "Love" show, Gallery 19's "Red Show," M2 Gallery's "Mixed Nuts" show and "Overlord Mitch's Wednesday Night Bacchanalian Frenzy" at Onion Creek. Love My art week began with love. Specifically, the "Love" show at Sippora Gallery, known to some of us in attendance that evening as Amy's Love Shack. Well, where to start? How about the art? A good call I think because the art was extremely nice. My personal favorites included: Flying Dragon, How Turning Away Can Say I Love You, How A Sexy Woman Says I Love You, and How A Dress Says I Love You -- all by Simone Woodage. Simone looked pretty damn good herself in that green dress and in those black heels -- kind of like an Irish goddess who folded space to 2006. Candice Goodwin's pieces Column and Love Connection caught my attention as did a nice tryptich called Unearthed by Pam Knox. I loved Lonnie Duff's The Day Cupid Ran Out of Arrows, and also enjoyed Lonnie's One Headlight and Heart Shaped Olives. Ray Phillips work A4 caught my eye as did several paintings by Van McFarland -- Blue Heart II, Six Women, Woman on Sofa, The Girl From Ipanema and She is All Read. Like I said, there was much excellent art on view. Upcoming Sippora shows include "Mother Earth" featuring the work of John Mercado, Salli Babbitt, Crystal Owens, Azar Halabi-Fisher, and Christopher Turnbow with the opening taking place on Friday, March 10. The show Ends March 31. Amy says that Mother Earth is a modern and abstract twist on everyday earthy and organic subject matter such as landscapes, sunsets, and bonsai. On Saturday, April 8, "ZOLAR: Interpretation of Dreams and Visions" opens featuring the work of: Tim D. Snider, Missy Gentile, David Dubois, Regina Sherman, and Sat Kartar S.K. Khalsa. Sippora Gallery is located at 234 West Gray, between Montrose and Downtown Houston. For more information, call Amy at (713) 520-1085 or visit the Web site at www.sippora.com Tribe members that I actually got to chat with at the "Love" show included Amy, Maranda, Ocean, Charity, Mitch, Max, John, Sandy, Michelle, Masoud, and Sergio. Following the show, Ocean (and Maranda) invited several us back to Maranda's Montrose Hall of Valhalla. Making the trek across the bridge to Asgard were Mitch, Michelle, Masoud, Sandy, John and I. We got to look at the Valkyrie Maranda's artwork and Ocean served a variety of refreshments. Maranda had a friend over who was a meteorologist (a minion of Thor, no doubt) and we swapped stories about climate and venomous arthropods. A nice end to that Friday evening for me. The others headed off to Gallery 19 for the "Red Show." I waited until Saturday. The Red Show Well, there was a lot of red art on display at Gallery 19 for the "Red Show." Truly. All hues. I felt like I was in the Soviet Union or in the Overlook Hotel. I love the way that art in Gallery 19 is so different. I suspected Xsemaj would rise to the occasion and I wasn't disappointed. His work is always guaranteed to make you stop and look it over for awhile. Jill Griffith had a series of small paintings of her mouth -- lips, teeth, uvula, tongue, etc. Add that to her full body length nudes she had in the Controversy show in October and a collector could start assembling a Jillicious collection at home. Gallery 19 is located at 327 W. 19th Street in The Heights, in between Yale and Ashland. For more information, call (713) 426-2414 or visit the Gallery 19 Web site at www.gallery19.org Mixed Nuts They certainly were. Nearly 100 pieces of art were on display reflecting myriad themes, media and subjects. However, I am not going to comment on individual art in the Mixed Nuts show for the best of reasons -- I was the juror. That means...I liked it...I picked it. So, if I listed what I liked, it would be just about everything. The exhibit runs through Feb. 26 so GO SEE IT!!!!!!!!! I will comment on the other trappings of the evening though. To start with, the show was packed from about 6:30 through midnight. That sort of surprised me since the show was up against the Kinky Friedman fundraiser. Many tribesters were on hand including Max, Michael, Michael-Ann, Gordy, Mark, Michelle, Masoud, Mitch, Eric (Bird), Phillip, Mandy, Dwight, Carolyn, Charity, Tim, Maranda, Ocean, Sergio, and that international celebrity -- Mr. Peanut. Yep. He was there. Did I mention there was also a fashion show to cap off the evening? There was and it was a most entertaining show too. The models were perky and the clothing was stylish and on. As with all M2 events, the refreshments were great, ranging from the famous M2 punch to a variety of libations and grog served up by Captain Gordy Tillman who was tending bar -- dressed up in the height of Caribbean pirate fashion, complete with plumed hat and leather boots. There were even limos arriving and dropping off folks. Want to see for yourself? There are LOTS of photos taken by Gordy and Michael-Ann. To see Gordy's photos, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordyt/sets/72057594063225991/ or visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael-ann/sets/72057594063193120/ to see Michael-Ann's photos from the Mixed Nuts show. I did get to meet several artists in person whose work I selected for the show. Matt Cooper was one of these. I selected two of Matt's pieces for this show and I would say keep an eye on his work. I spent a pleasant 20 minutes or so discussing art with Matt, his girlfriend (whose name I didn't write down, so apologize to her for me, would you Matt) and his grandfather. A very nice conversation about not selling out as an artist and painting what you want to, what you feel and what you are passionate about as opposed to cranking out stuff just for money. For more information on the Mixed Nuts show (or any other upcoming show), call (713) 861-6070 or visit the M2 Web site at www.m2-houston.com M2 is located at 325 W. 19th in The Heights. Overlord Mitch's Wednesday Night Bacchanalian Frenzy This was the first Wednesday night get together at Onion Creek we have had in some time. My favorite part of the evening was seeing everyone pay homage to Overlord Mitch with the old Roman clinched-fist salute. Mitch really enjoys that so I highly recommend that whenever you encounter Mitch in public, salute him like that. In addition to Overlord Mitch and myself, other tribe members in attendance included: Carolyn (Mitch's overlord), Michael-Ann, Gordy, Marie, Max, Duke, Dori, Erica, Chris, Elaine, Maranda, Ocean, John, Myra and Cindy. After the official festivities were over at Onion Creek, a smaller group headed over to Michelle Macy's house to continue the evening's festivities. Lost Rivers Achtung! Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 17:00 to 19:00 hrs, Sharon Kopriva's "Lost Rivers" exhibition will be on display at Zeitkunst Gallerie in Halle, Germany. Gus says, "You are invited to attend an art exhibition by Sharon Kopriva aus Houston, Texas & Hope, Idaho. "Lost Rivers" runs through March 24, 2006. Zeitkunst Gallerie is located at Kleine Marktstrasse 4 in Halle. Winter Street You know what? Winter Street is cool. There are a lot of excellent artists there and it's a great place to hang out and visit when they have open houses. And let's not forget the art! For example, you might want to check out the Chong-OK Matthews Exhibition in the Gallery that runs through February 22. On February 25, the Periwinkle Foundation presents the Texas Children's Cancer Center's "Making A Mark" fundraiser -- a worthy cause and one worth supporting! As many of you are aware, Winter Street is home to a lot of artists from our tribes that we all know including (but definitely not limited to) John Mercado, Jerrie Glidden, Richard Varela, Solomon Kane, Amy Ferrari, Alex Wilhite, Nicola Parente, Van McFarland, Dan Fischer, Alix Dunn and many many more. Winter Street Studios is located at 2101 Winter Street in Houston. For more information, call (713) 862-0082 or visit their Web site at www.winterstreetstudios.com Empty Bowls Empty Bowls is off and running. The event will be held March 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both the Lawndale Art Center and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. A call to craftsmen/artists for cereal-sized bowls is now being made. The drop-off of bowls is continuing but see Marie Weichman's Web site at www.mwstudiogallery.com. for more details -- use the Empty Bowls link there for even more info. Here's an advisory from Marie: "By the way ... the site does mention an art auction of non-bowls items, but we are keeping it small, about 20 selected artists in the community. I really really hope no artist takes offense to this. I'd love to see what some of you create in a bowl. They don't need to be functional either ... think painted paper folded origami style into a bowl!! We've had quilted bowls, fuzzy bowls, perforated bowls, wood, clay, glass -- everything. The donated bowls are sold with soup in exchange for a $20 donation and the entire event benefits the Houston Food Bank. Remember, they have been desperately drained after providing for the Katrina and Rita victims." Coda Remember, I am not the Witch of Endor so if you have a show or event coming up that you want me to mention you have to send it to me. So, e-mail me at: mldevore@houston.rr.com That's it for now. Until then, keep creating art, viewing art, buying art and supporting your fellow artists of all tribes. Martin L. de Vore is an artist and journalist living in Humble, TX. Mr. de Vore is a member of the Artists At Large and Post-Diversionist tribes and enjoys taking trips to Tomball on Valentine's Day in search of things that have been lost. |
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