I’m lucky to be surrounded by great art, every day — it comes with the job! I think all the art inside art251 is beautiful to look at; sometimes the beauty is in the subject, or the composition, or the colors, or the narrative. Some of our art makes me feel and even think, and of course it may or may not make someone else feel completely different or even nothing at all.

On September 24, I attended the opening reception for Rita Barnard’s solo show at North Lake College in Irving. Entitled “Ball of Confusion”, Rita’s show contains select pieces of her thought-provoking mixed media. Rita is one of the few local artists who we’ve seen whose work shows concern for some of this country’s recent tragedies: the Iraq war, hurricane Katrina, the Enron financial scandal. Her art can’t help but make you think and feel.

Perhaps her greatest work is the immense “Tribute to the Fallen”. It is 44 feet long, and is made up of 22 panels, each 2 feet wide by 4 feet high. Each panel holds 209 toy soldiers. Each little plastic figure, carefully placed on a panel, represents one of the lives lost in the Iraq war. Each is an individual — we can read his or her name and place of birth and learn how each lost his or her life.

Regardless of which side of the debate you are on, I would urge you to go and view this work for yourself — you cannot help but be moved. This and other works by Rita Barnard are on display in the Gallery at North Lake College in Irving until October 15. For directions, click here.

Clark Whittington, National Bureau Chief for Artists in Cellophane, and brains behind the cult Art-o-mat, art vending machine, will be at art251 this weekend.

Friday, Sept.26 from noon-6pm:

For customers and artists, Clark will be talking about the program while we dish out some prizes, soda and snacks.

Saturday, Sept.27 from 10am-6pm (or later based on demand):

From 1-2pm and 4-5pm, for artists and anyone else interested in creating art for art-o-mat, Clark will give a talk about participating artists, how to submit your work, type of art that sells, specifications for your artwork. And, of course, your local hosts will be providing more soda and snacks.

art251 is one of only 5 locations in the whole of Texas to have an art-o-mat. The others are in Amarillo, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, so Keller ranks pretty well on the geo-artistic-cultural map!

Art-o-mat machines are retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend art. There are 82 active machines in various locations throughout the country. There are around 400 contributing artists from 10 different countries currently involved in the Art-o-mat project, which has been going since 1997.

Clark is always on the lookout for fresh work, so if you’re an artist, this is a great way to get your talents noticed. Art-o-mat artists range from new to well-established, and the art covers a broad range of original work including wearable glass pendants, flipbooks, barcode art, earrings made from computer parts, miniature bronze sculptures, oils on blocks, fabric art, photographs mounted on wood, bottle-cap paintings, and mobiles.

art251 is hosting a “Sip and Sew” event with Sara Moe on Thursday, Sept. 25th from 7-9pm.

Sara will be demonstrating needle felting, a creative new trend in fiber art. Come see how she uses needle felting and sewing machines to create her uniquely beautiful artwork. Sara will also show and discuss many of the different materials and media that she uses to create her art. One item of caution: sewing machines and wine may prove to be an “interesting combination” so, sew smoothly and sip slowly.

Sara Moe is an exceptional fiber artist, quilting instructor and fabric designer. She specializes in creating wearable art and quilting with an emphasis on colorful art quilts. Based in Keller, Texas, Sara has a growing national following. She recently completed a month long solo show at Keller City Hall, featuring 64 of her unique art quilts and mixed media pieces.

We’ll be fingerprinting art251 customers on September 19th and 20th. No, this is not a new Homeland Security program or an underhanded (pun intended) way for us to profile our target consumers.

Carolyn D, one of our talented Texas-based jewelry artists will be taking fingerprints, and thumbprints, for your own special custom jewelry made in fine silver. These treasures make the perfect lifelong gift for mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends and love-ones. Our artist takes impressions of your precious digits and then crafts them into pendants, earrings, charms and rings, and in a variety of shapes such as oval, heart, circle and square.

So, get those fingers out, thumbs up, pinkies to attention, and visit art251. Don’t miss this chance to build your own personalized, unique keepsake.

Carolyn D will be at art251 on September 19 from 2-6pm and September 20 from noon-8pm.

Despite the ominous ruminations in our financial markets, the busts and bailouts, the plummeting stocks and failing insurers, all is not lost. Not lost that is, if your name is Damien Hirst. On September 15, Mr.Hirst and Sotheby’s, the global auction house, put 223 of his recent works on the block. The first day’s session raked in just over a staggering $127 million.

Head auctioneer calling for bids. Image courtesy of New York Times.

The head of Sotheby’s contemporary art auctions put it this way,

“Damien Hirst is a global artist that [sic] can defy local economies”.

Interestingly enough Mr.Hirst decided to skirt the dealers and galleries, such as Gagosian in New York and White Cube in London, that had represented him up to now and go directly to the public auctions. Good luck to him. During the auction preview around 20,000 flocked in to view his signature works including: dead sharks in formaldehyde, glass cabinets filled with diamonds and cigarette butts, and his more recent series of colored dots and swirls.

Would that we could all defy our local economies during these financially turbulent times.

In the meantime, if you’re searching for an escape from the woes of Wall Street or Main Street and looking for art that’s rather more approachable than Damien Hirst’s pickled sharks come drift away in our calm and beautiful blue space — art251.

Sacre Bleu! A retrospective exhibition of Jeff Koons’ sculpture opened on September 10, in the famed Chateau de Versailles! Yes, you are reading this correctly, the superstar of American contemporary art — and long-time commentator on cultural banality — is showing in the very cultural heart of France. The exhibit will continue until December 14, 2008. I see another culture war brewing.

Having seen both Versailles and some of Mr.Koons work I cannot help but be impressed by the braveness of the curators, who no doubt had to put up with obligatory demonstrations from those demanding “cultural purity”. As for Louis XIV, he may very well be spinning in his grave, or perhaps not! After all, the “Sun King” did have a passion for bold, distinctive and monumental works. Bienvenue, Monsieur Koons.

Jeff Koons Comes Home. Image courtesy of Ed Alcock New York Times.

We kicked off our grand opening month of September with our own Ft.Worth Gallery Night (without the Ft.Worth part because we’re in Keller) on September 6. We had a great evening, found some new art loving friends, sold a few pieces and finally closed our doors at 10:30pm. For the day, we had about 80-90 people stop in our space.

So, what next? Well, first we sleep, then we clean up, and then rearrange some of our art. Then it’s time to move on to our next series of events. Here’s a quick peek at the month to come:

Sept. 13, Saturday all day until 6pm
Fine art and fine refreshments. Introducing art251 the first contemporary art space in Keller. Join us for a day of fun, take in some great art, meet some of our exceptional artists, and sip and snack on our outdoor patio.

Sept. 19-20, Friday (2-6pm)-Saturday (10am-noon, 2-6pm)
Timeless Treasures by Carolyn D. Join jewelry artist Carolyn D to create your own personalized, custom fingerprint jewelry in silver and gold.

Sept. 20, Saturday 6-9pm
In support of the 9th Annual Run in the Dark, which kicks off at 7pm outside Keller City Hall, we’ll be keeping the doors open late for “Art Not in the Dark”. Weary runners, speed walkers and watchers are all welcome — art makes a great respite from exercise, and the world in general. Proceeds from Run in the Dark go to a very deserving cause, our children, through Community Storehouse.

Sept. 25, Thursday 7-9pm
Sip and Sew with Sara Moe fiber artist. Keller resident, Sara Moe will be demonstrating needle felting, a creative new trend in fiber art. Come see how she uses a needle felting machine and her sewing machine to create her artwork. Sara will also show and discuss many of the different materials and media that she uses to create her art.

Sept. 26-27, Friday-Saturday
Art-o-mat ribbon cutting. Meet our beautiful blue Art-o-mat (art vending machine) and the Art-o-mat program creator Clark Whittington (National Bureau Chief for Artists-in-Cellophane). Clark will be giving a video overview of the Art-o-mat program for both customers and artists.

As I always recommend, please check our website for precise times and more specifics regarding any of our events.

In a previous blog article I pontificated about the outsourcing of artists (and gallerists). Then it occurred to me that the art world could (notice I didn’t say should) probably outsource art critics in one fell swoop. A simple computer program could do the trick. The the Instant Art Critique Generator as it is known can generate a few well chosen sentences that you can use to describe a piece of art. Use it if your stuck for words, or if you wish to impress a fellow art critic, and if you desire to keep your meaning totally impenetrable!

Give the Instant Art Critique Phrase Generator another try, right here. This wonderful piece of work is courtesy of Eric Hayes from teamh.com via Pixmaven.