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Tribe Report October 9, 2007Martin de Vore  "If I Could Make Days Last Forever, If Words Could Make Wishes Come True...."
Event Horizons Well, today is October 9. It is five days until Hastings Day and 16 days until St. Crispin's Day. Today is also John Lennon's birthday. Had he lived, he would be 67 today. It is 13 days until my birthday. No celebration is too big, no gift is too big. Just kidding, of course. BUT...acrylics, gallery format canvas panels, Starbucks cards, fuel, Kroger gift cards and fried shrimp are always welcome and appreciated! Oops! I forgot chocolate malts! (I'll leave that to you Ankah!) Enough preliminaries about the necessities of life though. Let's talk about some art. As many of you are aware, I have been on vacation. That means that I was actually able to be in town on Saturday -- one of two or three Saturdays a year that I am actually off. I began the day by heading over to the Yale Street Arts Market to pay homage to The Overlord Mitch Cohen. Mitch was in fine form, deftly running the market with his usual blend of humor, hard work and encouragement. Many old friends from the art world were there and it was nice to see them: Marie Weichman, Adine Rotman, Mary Wilkinson, Duke Jones, Phyllis Hall and Henri "Erik" Pijcke, just to name a few. I had an especially nice visit with Marie Weichman, since this was the first time I have seen her since her return from China. After about an hour, I made my way down to Gallery M2 to visit with Michael Kubis and Max "Maximilian Maximus" Boyd Harrison as they prepared for Aimi Dunn's solo show that was coming up later that night. Besides Aimi's show, we also discussed the upcoming WW-3 show. From M2, I trekked to Post-Diversionist artist Sorange Castillo's house for a brief respite. After a restful interlude, I journeyed back to the Yale Street Arts Market for a final stroll and was assigned the duty of bringing The Overlord Mitch Cohen a root beer from his food vendor. Mitch actually wanted a root beer float but he made do with his regular root beer as I botched his order and then stealthily drove away to Starbucks. Following my immersion in air-conditioning and the aromatic atmosphere of a variety of coffees brewing, I decided to pay a call on Susan Goettsche and Mr. Congeniality Terrence Boggs over at Elder Street Gallery. Boggs Burgers were on hand and I downed three in rapid sucession as I listened to Terrence discuss the workings of the upcoming Houston Art Crawl. I also used the time to look for upcoming artist calls around Houston, Texas and the region. At some point in the next few days, I will assemble these -- in order of their submission deadlines -- and send them out to those of you that are interested. I concluded my visit with The Boggster just in time to head back to Gallery M2 for Aimi Dunn's show. It was simply fabulous. The art is outstanding. Incredible, actually. The crowd was appreciative and showered Aimi with accolades and huzzahs throughout the evening. This event drew out quite a few folks I hadn't seen in awhile. The packed house included Terry Mahaffey, Norma Comstive, Mike Rosen, Terrence Boggs, Susan Goettsche, Amie Krebbs, Jennifer and Tom and Hailey Leahy, Solomon Kane, Michael-Ann Belin and Capt. Gordy Tillman, Dwight Bullock, Xsemaj, Charity Bass and Lynet McDonald. It was a truly good time. The show is up through October 28. GO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In other travels.... During one of my several visits to Sorange Castillo during the week, we finally got to watch the movie Modigliani together. Again, as with Aimi Dunn previously, I found myself in disagreement with both Sorange and her mother Norma Mendoza over certain aspects of the movie. Maybe I should go ahead and make this unanimous now: Dune Patten, what was your opinion of Modigliani? (I know that you never shy away from sharing your opinion so let me know what you think about it and I will post it here.) Anyway, I like it. I think that at least some of you will too. Last Wednesday, on my first day of vacation, I traveled to Spring for an extended visit with MaryAnn Lucas. I got to see her studio, many many examples of her work and she treated me to a wonderful lunch at Wunsche Bros. Cafe in Old Town Spring. Following that scrumptous October afternoon repast, we drove around the block to visit Yvonne Denbina at Garden of the Dragonfly Gallery. I love that place! The atmosphere there is very creative, tranquil and the place smells good. Yvonne was the perfect host and I saw many pieces of art that impressed me. MaryAnn Lucas has quite a bit in there. I saw art by Fran Padgett and even a few pieces by Metaphoric Surrealist David Weaver of The Heights. If you are in Old Town Spring, I highly recommend that you stop by and check it out. What else.... On Sunday, I had a nice telephone visit with Xsemaj about our art, art marketing, alternative venues and upcoming events. I heard via e-mail from Ray Phillips last week that Rosie's surgery went just fine and that she was temporarily sporting an eyepatch like that character in the Kill Bill movies. As I write this Tribe Report on Tuesday morning (and afternoon), I have two days of my vacation left. Tomorrow, Wednesday, I have jury duty in Houston (on my vacation can you believe it!). There are still quite a few of you that I planned (and plan) to see so hopefully I will see you in the next two days. Well, enough about my travels. Let's see what you all have got going on.... Picks Of The Week 3 Artists/3 Worlds The Trinity. The three rings of the elves. Triads. A triptych. The angles in a triangle. Lots of things come in threes. So do artists. In this case, a trinity of artists from Winter Street Studios -- Jerrie Glidden, Richard Varela and John Mercado -- are featured in 3 Artists/3 Worlds, a group exhibition of paintings at Limas Studio Salon through December 31. Works include pastel landscapes, some in a stylized reality; pastel birds of a feather in whimsical poses; and acrylic/mixed media abstract landscapes and compositions. Limas Studio Salon is located at 2410 Sunset Blvd., two blocks east of Kirby. The show will be accessible during normal salon business hours, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Richard Varela at richardlvarela@sbcglobal.net, Jerrie Glidden at jerglidden@earthlink.net or John Mercado at jcmercado@nyc.rr.com. I'm Fence To From his unique Olympian vantage point overseeing the Houston art scene, Gus Kopriva sees many artists come and go. He sees them as they emerge from the primordial ooze of the artistic multitudes to meteorically ascend to lofty international exhibitions. He also sees many artists rise, get impressed with themselves, sit upon their laurels and then plummet to earth like Icarus. And he also sees those consumate professionals who labor long and hard to develop their artistic talents, vision and style and thus wind up being among the best of the best -- like our own Nathaniel Donnett. Nathaniel, a friend of many of us (and one of the Houston art community's genuine nice guys) will be featured at Gus Kopriva's Redbud Gallery in a solo exhibition -- I'm Fence To -- opening on Saturday, October 13 (his Mom's birthday), from 6-9 p.m. Nathaniel says this show is an exploration and journey into (and to express) personal and observational transitions, and travels that are juxtaposed with contemporary and historical context, and dichotomies. Redbud Gallery is located at 303 E. 11th Street in The Heights. Gallery hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. For more information, please call Gus Kopriva at (713) 862-2532 or e-mail him at gakopriva@aol.com. TCA Takes The Stage Wondering what Dan Mitchell Allison and his crew have been up to lately? Well, so have I. Dan must have ESP because he just sent me this info about this coming weekend. Texas Collaborative Arts studio has lots of works in progress. In the almost finished TCA Annex, Daniel Sandoval Contemporary Art is featuring paintings, photographs, prints and collaborations by South African activist Samson Mnisi and New York photographer Cannon Hersey. The opening reception will be Saturday, October 13, from 6-9 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, contact Danny Sandoval at (347) 601-8355. This exhibition will run through October 30. Alex Wilhite at Winter Street Looking for some art? Looking for some art by one of Houston's best artists? Then, you are in luck. On Saturday October 13, from 2-5 p.m, Alex Wilhite, who holds an M.F.A. degree in painting from the Pratt Institute, will be holding an open studio exhibition of his works. Alex will be exhibiting landscape, seascape and skyscape paintings, created by homemade paint from raw art materials at Winter Street Studios. Yes, the paintings are for sale. Alex's studio is located in Suite 9 at Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street. For more information, call (888) 819-6907 or visit his Web site at http://www.alexwilhite.com/ Coming Soon WW-3 The Big One is coming in October. No, not WWII, but WW-3! Yes, WW-3. Woman times three. Gallery M2 will present the work of three of southeastern Texas' most acclaimed female artists -- Linda Peyton Huff, Ruth Grace Megnet and Joyce Durbin Harlow in an exhibition on view throughout the month of October. On display through October 28, WW-3 continues the commitment of Gallery M2 owners Max Boyd Harrison and Michael Kubis to showing work from the finest local, national and international artists in Houston. An experimental artist with a passion for color, nature and symbolism, Meyerland resident Linda Peyton Huff is a familiar face to those who attend major Houston art exhibitions or seek self-impprovement at the Jung Center. Huff's work relates to psychology, mythology, cosmology, history and world events. "After years of studying representational art, I began working intuitively," Huff explains. "It was then that I discovered the power and universality of color. It is this pulsating, illuminating and transforming force that encompasses my world. At the very deepest levels of human experience, color relates to psychology, mysticism, cosmology and history. For me, it is not simply graphic but emotional, spiritual, and psychological. I work in an intuitive way. During the process forms change and color seems to dance across the paper or canvas. The work seems to take on a life of its own. Unexpected images and color combinations emerge. It's a way to leave a mark, a symbol, to share with others, to say I've been here." Visit Huff's Web site at http://www.lpeytonhuff.com/huff.htm for a detailed look at her art and background. Acclaimed Heights artist and resident Joyce Harlow considers herself an outsider intuitive artist. She did not know it was art she created at the age of four when she explored the junkyard on her grandfather's farm in Kentucky, bringing back rusty and broken discards to her imaginary playhouse where she created her own imaginary world. At that time and place, art as a career was discouraged so Harlow became a teacher of young children and earned a masters in education degree. Through her students, she vicariously experienced art and kept the breath alive. Visiting museums and experiencing indigenous cultures in London, Wales, Cairo, Paris, Peru and Bavaria also influenced her love of art. When time and space allowed, she studied in Texas at the Glassell School of Art, Jung Center and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. Finding herself at odds with someone else's vision, she eventually retreated to her own solitary exploration of junk assemblage. Returning to her roots, she combined clay with found objects of wood and iron and rediscovered her naive and authentic voice. Harlow has had solo exhibitions at Artists at Work in Texas, Megnet Gallery in Beaumont and Mossrock Gallery in The Woodlands. She has also been part of group exhibitions at the Glassell School of Art, Jung Center, ArtCar Museum, Gallery 101, Winter Street Gallery, Arts Alliance League of Clear Lake and Ggallery in Houston. Joyce won Honorable Mention for Body of Work at the juried Exhibition at The Arts Alliance League of Clear Lake. Visit her Web site at http://www.joyceharlow.com to learn more about Joyce Harlow and her work. Beaumont resident and Lamar University adjunct instructor Ruth Grace Megnet is originally from Switzerland. For 15 years she was stationed in England, Italy and Greece, working on behalf of the poor and suffering but for the last six years, she has been operating the Megnet Gallery in Old Town Beaumont, Texas. Megnet's first love is painting, and also teaching it to small children in her Art @ the Gallery program. Megnet loves the spontaneity and the energy of those very young artists. Megnet's work at Gallery M2 is part of her GeSchichten series, which was was inspired by the wisdom and poetry of Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. By her work she hopes to evoke a reflective "looking" that results in peace and joy. She is very aware of the fact that life is short; we might as well enjoy it, and celebrate it with kindness and laughter. Megnet's work is shown internationally. At present one of her series is on display in Klosters, Switzerland. For more information about the art of Ruth Grace Megnet or her current and upcoming projects, visit her Web site at http://www.gracemegnet.com. Gallery M2 is located at 325 W. 19th Street in The Heights in Houston. For more information about the WW-3 show or other events, contact Gallery M2 at (713) 861-6070 or e-mail m2-houston@sbcglobal.net. Martin Notes
Tribal Drums The rhythm of the drums this week is even slower than that of my art output for the month.... From John Mercado: I'm having a solo show at Darke Gallery (Houston). A reception will be on Saturday, November 3, from 5-8 p.m. Valet parking will be avaliable. For more information, visit the Web site http://www.darkegallery.com . I feel I'm starting to make some progress here in NYC. Keep your fingers crossed, my work is being reviewed by a gallery in Santa Fe. Also, look for article in Paper City about the Houston show. From Bridgett Vallery: Hey gang, please join me on Friday, October 19, at 6 p.m. for an intimate artist reception. The location is the Te’ House of Tea (1927 Fairview Street, Houston, TX 77019, Phone: 713-522-8868). At this contemporary neighborhood tea house, photography artist Christie Hellrung and I will exhibit our favorite artwork. Exotic teas and refreshments will be served. Free Admission. You can e-mail me at bridgettwash@excite.com for more details. From Marie Weichman: Saturday night, October 13, from 7-9:30 p.m. is the opening reception for my installation LIFE IS IN THE DETAILS. It's a mixed-media project with sound (hopefully!) at the Commerce Street Artists Warehouse in their Big Gallery. The show runs through November 1, so if you can't make the party on the 13th, you can come by and check it out later. For more information or to see Marie's work, check out the following Web sites: http://www.mwstudiogallery.com or http://www.flickr.com/photos/roaddog or http://www.myspace.com/weichmantwin . Do you have something you'd like to send along? If so, get out those digital drums and e-mail me at: mldevore@gmail.com. Currently On View.... Aimi Dunn, Queen Of Portraits Known for their extraordinary exhibitions featuring work from the finest local, national and international artists, Gallery M2 owners Max "Maximilian Maximus" Boyd Harrison and Michael Kubis continue their commitment to artistic integrity and quality, often going against the vox populi to present the finest art available. Such is the case when Gallery M2 presents Through Many Eyes: A Study in Extrospective Portraiture. The exhibition, which runs through Oct. 28, features a new series of work by renowned Houston artist Aimi Dunn. Recognized by many of her Houston painting colleagues as the "Queen of Portraits," Aimi Dunn's work dazzles the viewer with its innovative use of texture, color, composition and contrast. In the past, Dunn's work has been shown at Gallery M2, Earth Gallery, Gallery 19, Eastman Gallery, Yale Street Arts Market, Houston Art Crawl, Elder Street Gallery, City of Houston's City Hall Annex and at various charity fundraising events throughout the Houston area.. Through Many Eyes: A Study in Extrospective Portraiture focuses on the people who Dunn says have inspired her, such as her fellow Post-Diversionist artist Martin de Vore. Yes, me. In April of 2007, she hosted a photo shoot inviting people to her studio to have their portraits taken. The guests' true personalities emerged in the relaxed atmosphere and were expertly captured by photographer Kat Schwartz. Using the photos for reference, Dunn painted her series freehanded, utilizing acrylic paint on linen canvas. She feels her portrait of de Vore is a masterpiece. (You think I am going to disagree with that? No way!) Dunn explains,"This new body of work is a departure from my past series of richly textured evocative paintings of characters from my own imagination, "TEXTure." Inspired by my metamorphosis into wife and mother, those portraits reflected a need for private moments of introspection using the model's image to convey my own inner world." She continues, "In the past, an artist's subject matter was limited to what wealthy patrons commissioned of them. These paintings were usually flattering portraits where the artist was expected to showcase the subject's high status. However interesting and beautiful these paintings may be, I have always found the more intimate studies of an artist's own friends and family to be especially "real" and intriguing. What is truly important in this world are the people in our lives and the relationships we forge. Although today's society encourages materialism as well as isolationism, through the act of painting I am united with friends, family and neighbors, and then further connected with the community through the display of my work." For more information about Aimi Dunn, her work, commissions or upcoming appearances, e-mail her at Aimi.Dunn@gmail.com or visit her Web site at http://www.dunnart.net. Gallery M2 is located at 325 W. 19th Street in The Heights in Houston. For more information about the Through Many Eyes: A Study in Extrospective Portraiture show or other events, contact Gallery M2 at (713) 861-6070 or e-mail m2-houston@sbcglobal.net. Booker-Lowe Gallery presents Uncrated IV: From Deserts and Shores The Booker-Lowe Gallery folks have done it again. From now through October 30, Uncrated IV: From Deserts and Shores: New Works from Recent Visits with Australian Aboriginal Artists is on view. Come see Australian Aboriginal art . . . the contemporary art with centuries of tradition behind it! Aboriginal art is one of the "hottest" art movements in the international arena, with masterpieces fetching record-setting auction prices this summer. The good news is that Aboriginal art is still considered one of the best investment values in the art market because superb examples are available from a few hundred dollars to under $10,000. Come see why at Uncrated IV, our annual show of works by leading and emerging artists, hand-picked during our 2007 trip to 22 remote Aboriginal communities! Then, On November 1, Booker-Lowe Gallery welcomes Queensland's internationally acclaimed Lockhart River Art Gang back to Houston with a collection of new paintings. AND, for all you ceramic lovers out there, the gallery has received a shipment of five stunning porcelain vessels from Pippin Drysdale. The gallery, located at 4623 Feagan Street (two blocks north of Memorial Drive, one block east of North Shepherd), is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and by appointment for the duration of the show. For additional information, please call (713) 858-9305, e-mail bookerlowegallery@houston.rr.com or visit the Web site at http://www.bookerlowegallery.com. Distant Horizons Wayne's World A cottage industry unto himself, Wayne Gilbert will be a busy man in the months ahead. For more information about Wayne's projects, causes, plans, shows, or world itinerary, check out the Ggallery Web site at: http://www.ggalleryhouston.com for upcoming events. In the meantime, here's these items from Wayne himself:
Tribal Drums To The 30th Power These messages are definitely worth multiple hearings....
Coda Remember, I am not The Wise Woman of Tarley and I gave my dowsing rod to Sorange Castillo so if you have a show or event coming up that you want me to mention, you have to let me know about it! Send your information to me at: mldevore@gmail.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 once again living in Humble. Martin is a member of the Artists At Large and Post-Diversionist tribes and his vacation is ending in the next few days. |
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