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Greetings, art lovers!
It’s hard to believe we’re already in February. We had our obligatory ice storm last week, so we can now look forward to the end of winter soon and the arrival of summer. Remember, this is North Texas so we have two seasons, hot and not hot!
February of course brings Valentine’s Day. So, if you love someone, I have two recommendations. First, don’t ever forget Valentine’s Day. Your loved one will always remember that you forgot. Second, why not give the gift of art this year? It’s unique, colorful and special, just like your other half. So, more on Valentine’s gifts below.
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Public Art Show at Keller City Hall
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Unfortunately, we’ve had to postpone our planned February show until March. But we will still be open late this Thursday, February 5 from 6-9pm, and hope you will stop in – and also stop across the street to visit the Public Art Show Opening Reception featuring Dallas Fiber Artists, including our very own Sara Moe.
Dallas Area Fiber Artists is a non-profit organization, which promotes fiber arts and artists through education, workshops, and annual exhibitions. Their members are enthusiastic, creative people who explore and expand all facets of fiber arts.
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2009 Show Calendar
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We have 6 artist shows planned for 2009. Our first for this year – Flora – kicks off with an Opening Reception on Friday, March 6, 6-9pm. We’ll be featuring bold new works by one of our talented new artists Bryan Wetz. Bryan is not only a fine artist, he also is the designer of our art space and a furniture maker. For more details on this show and all other events check out the calendar on the art251 website.
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February Feature:
Is original art a good investment? |
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Yes. Above all, art is an emotional and spiritual investment. It will stimulate your senses and enrich your life and those around you. Art will bring you new ideas and a different way of looking at the world. Furthermore, it will brighten the walls and shelves of your home and bring some much needed color to your office.
Some people buy art as a financial investment, which can, of course, be a risk because its value can go up as well as down.? So, invest in original art primarily for its aesthetic value ? you?ll be rewarded on a daily basis.
So, forget the bad real estate, imploding stocks, the crashing bond market and your mattress. Find true value in art!
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| Featured Artist: Brian Davis |
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Drawing from nature, Brian Davis evokes the anxieties and beauty of wild animals caught in cultivated environments while infusing the wonder of our human experience when encountering these creatures. Davis builds his canvas with mixed media, layering strips of paper to create his animal depictions and painting on the subtle tones. He creates his paintings by manipulating the paint with his hands, no brushes.
What Comes Next by Brian Davis. Mixed media on canvas
Brian Davis grew up in the west Texas town of San Angelo and moved to Dallas when he was 21 years old. As a child he found himself more interested in nature shows than other programing that children of his age watched. At an early age, he realized he was surrounded by wildlife within the city and spent hours outside observing their behavior. He was fascinated by the birds, snakes, ants, lizards, toads, bugs, raccoons, squirrels and opossums in his backyard.
After growing up, moving to Dallas, graduating college with a business degree, and working indoors in office buildings for 11 years, he realized this was not his passion. Brian loves living in Dallas however it seemed void of the wildlife that once sprawled throughout Texas. But, living near White Rock Lake, Brian began noticing the teeming wildlife within what he called the ?Concrete City? of Dallas.
His break from the day to day computer work came when his company moved to Birmingham, AL. He decided he was not going to work in an office any longer and fulfill his need to express himself and create. He began painting for many hours, as he did on occasion to decorate his own walls, until his natural passion for animals started showing itself in his works. He started listening to the natural world around him and he noticed how the wildlife at White Rock Lake interacted with the city encroaching on them. This gave birth to his current series.
In one week he saw and watched 5 coyotes at the lake, so he painted that experience. One day he walked outside his house and the backyard trees were covered with cardinals. The next covered in grackles. On another day, red-tail hawks were in the trees and continue to fly low over his house. He started to notice again the wildlife is all around him; there were owls, rabbits, dragonflies and many more. |
| Valentine’s Day Art |
art251 is your Valentine’s Day gift superstore   We have beautiful roses and colorful flowers, either of which would make a wonderful gift. Now, of course, our roses are hand-forged copper and steel, by James Johnson; our flowers are hand-formed glass made by David Gappa. So, these will last a while longer than the bouquet.
 We have jewelry galore in many different styles and materials, including couture, sterling silver, polymer clay, glass, and river rocks from our talented local artists: Jean Storm, Dyanne Welch, Ginny Henley, Katy Fenley, Ashley Akers, Noelle, Bobbie Nix and Diana Casabar. We also have a fine range of handmade wooden boxes and gourd vessels. So, leave the cheesy Valentine’s Day card at the grocery store, keep the box of chocolates for yourself and invest in a timeless and unique gift from one of our local artists.
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| New Arrivals: Superheros |
In January, art251 welcomed a fistful of superheroes, courtesy of Dallas-based artist Jonathon Kimbrell. We are now under the watchful eyes of Batman, Superman and Silver Surfer. So, Penguin and Lex it’s time to get out of Keller!
The works are in Jonathon’s signature style, eye-popping colors, high contrast, strong lines and pure energy.
Superman by Jonathon Kimbrell. Acrylic on canvas
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| Congratulations: Trish Biddle, Mirtha Aertker |
 Congratulations to artist Trish Biddle for being selected the official artist of the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club. What an honor! The annual show will be televised Monday and Tuesday nights next week (February 9-10). Check out the official site for more details. Inspired by her interests in fashion and Art Deco Trish created the image for the official poster, “Westminster. There’s only one.”
Her oil painting depicts an evening street scene outside Madison Square Garden and features representative breeds from all seven groups. “Uno”, Westminster’s 2008 Best in Show winner, walks front and center, while the Empire State Building, aglow with Westminster’s signature purple and gold colors, sets the stage.
Mirtha Aertker recently won the people’s choice award at the recent Ashes to Art Show in Sonoma, California.
Mirtha Aertker?s art is a fusion of experiences from her travels abroad, and ongoing inspirations. She works primarily with ceramics and Raku firing. However, recently she has indulged in the versatility found in metal welding. Mirtha has a passion for pre-Columbian culture and other South American civilizations. Their designs often trickle into her pieces. She finds assemblage sculpture and mixed media pieces to be the easiest form of expression for her ideas. She uses the flexibility of clay, the strength of steel and luster of glass to create them.
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| “We believe people should cram their lives and homes with as much art as possible.” To check out more of our beliefs, click here. |
| We like feedback of any kind – good, bad and ugly. It helps us improve. So, if you have any comments about this newsletter, or art251 in general, drop us a line. You can email us at info [at] art251 [dot] com or visit our website feedback page. |
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Warm Regards,
Your friends at art251
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