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Hello Art Fans,
Greetings from the frozen tundra of North Texas. We’ve just experienced our first blast of truly frigid arctic air this season; schools have been closed for a week, kids are building snowmen, and neighbors are sensibly staying inside.
Now, it may be a "white-out" blizzard outside, but all the bright new art inside art251 is warming the walls and our spirits with vibrant color, especially new "Pop Art" from our old friend Jonathon Kimbrell and beautiful fluid paintings from new artist Todd Ford — read more below.
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2nd Thursday: Keller Gallery Walk Continues on February 10th
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Gallery Walk
Definition: Art, fresh air, artists, refreshments, entertainment, art, finger foods, art, friends, music, demonstrations, art, and yes, more art.
On February 10, 2011 Keller continues its successful monthly series of Gallery Walks. This month the featured artist is Vernon ("V") Wells, nationally recognized sports artist. His works will be on display at Keller Town Hall throughout February.
V Wells’ paintings can be found in homes of rookies and Hall of Famers, media guide covers, posters and lithographs.
The Gallery Walks take place on the second Thursday of each month from September to May of the following year. The time is from 7pm to 9pm.
Participating galleries and organizations include: the City of Keller – Keller Public Arts Program, art251 (that’s us), Southern Land Company (Arthouse), Art Party Boutique and Gallery, Monart School of Art, Young Artists of Texas (YAT), and Olive Street Art.
Look for dates, times and more information soon!
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Jewelry Contest Coming Soon
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Calling all jewelry artists! art251 is looking for talented local jewelry artists. Whether you’re established or just starting out we’d like to invite you to participate in our exciting jewelry contest. The contest winner will receive a prize and an invitation to display in our gallery.
We’ll be releasing more details soon about the contest. In the meantime you can call us at: 817.898.1444 for more details.
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February Feature: The "Artist Statement" – Unforgettable or Unnecessary?
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If you’re an artist thinking, “who needs an artist statement… the art just speaks for itself”, please think again. We require one for each of our artists. During our initial business planning for art251, the results from our market survey confirmed that customers and collectors alike want the story and the facts behind the art and the artist.
An artist statement is a great way for an artist to define the connection between artist and art, and an essential tool for building a connection between artist and audience, potential customers and existing collectors. It may not necessarily help a viewer understand more about the art or its meaning. What it will do, however, is open a small, but important window for others to peek into the artist’s world view. Through it a viewer may learn an artist’s intent, or motivations for being an artist, or achievements, or frustrations, or influences and role models.
So, here are a few tips to help our artists create a narrative masterpiece to complement their visual one. As you write a statement, imagine your favorite work, and then imagine explaining it to your non-artist friends and/or your mother, or better still, your mother-in-law.
- Be honest and open
- Speak in your own voice
- Keep to the facts
- Keep it simple, but don’t dumb it down too much
- Avoid hyperbole and academic-speak
- Keep it reasonably brief — if you have to write a manifesto, give us a summary
- Answer the “why”, then the “how”
- Talk about the positives AND the negatives
- Re-write it every couple of months to keep it fresh
Please avoid phrases like, “I find this work menacing/playful because of the way the disjunctive perturbation of the negative space makes resonant a participation in the critical dialogue of the 90s.” [Courtesy of the Instant Art Critique Phrase Generator]. It’s all English, but I have no idea what it means.
Generally, you’ll not go wrong if you keep to the facts and stay away from instructions to your readers on what to think and feel — leave that to your art. If you’re still having trouble, we’ll help you.
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Remember when you were a child, your mother and grandmother would undoubtedly remind you on many occasions that a good dose of heartwarming soup is the perfect antidote to the winter blues. So, with that in mind, we have a "tasty" range of soups on our art menu this winter, courtesy of artist Jonathon Kimbrell (after Andy Warhol).
art251 is delighted to welcome back artist Jonathon Kimbrell with a fine selection of new Pop Art canvases that celebrate popular culture and the influence of music and movies on his art. Featured works include portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Roy Orbison, Liz Taylor, Peter Sellers, Elvis, Keith Richards, and many more.
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| New Arrivals: Fluid Photo-realism, Todd Ford |
Recently art251 welcomed artist Todd Ford. His work could be defined as fluid photorealism. Where one of the pillars of true photorealism is to create a painting as close to a photograph as possible, Todd prefers a more maleable interpretation. He is more interested in the “feeling” of an object rather than its natural hard lines. While his works may appear simple, the subtle lighting and fluid curves evoke a complex depth and emotional richness.
Here he describes his work,
“I paint in a style that is similar to, but certainly not true photorealism. I am much more interested in creating work that is a synthesis of my own vision and sensibilities without the strict confinements of photorealism. I want to show a familiar object in an unfamiliar way, as something that has importance. I want the viewer to be engaged. That is my goal with every painting I create.”
Todd Ford is currently a full time art teacher at a high school in Denton, Texas, where he also serves as the Art Department Chair. He has been teaching since 1996 following graduation from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He has a B.A. in Art Education, with a minor in studio art.
Ironically, since taking up a career teaching art, Todd found little time to concentrate on his own work. Then, in 2005 he decided that he wished to paint again with the passion and commitment that he once had while still in college. So, he didn’t try to make time to paint, he made time to paint. And, he hasn’t stopped since.
Todd Ford is a resident of Krum, Texas.
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| Featured Artist – Flo Barry |
Flo Barry’s emphasis on color and design guides her in making strong statements and controlled compositions. Daily observations of people and nature are the main sources of inspiration in her designs. She keeps sketch books with ideas from which to create her many compositions. Working in various media over the years, Flo has been challenged to create new works of art using paint, fibers, wood and recycled materials.
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Flo Barry, a Texan for 50 years, has exhibited throughout the United States, has received numerous awards in her career and her work is found in many corporate and private collections. Her show at the National Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. received much acclaim. She is a graduate of the highly recognized Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, Ohio and holds degrees in art and education from Case Western Reserve University. Flo has taught art in a number of school systems and given many lectures and workshops with emphasis on design. She is a member of Fiber Artists of Texas, Texas Visual Arts Association and Friends of Fiber International.
After graduating from Case Western Reserve University and the highly recognized Cleveland Institute of Art, with degrees in art and education, she began working as a teacher. This experience provided an introduction to the many phases of art that she has pursued.
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| "We believe having great art is like having great friends." 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 and neighbors at art251
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