Yes, Audrey Hepburn is here! That’s right, the Audrey Hepburn (you know, Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady) is here at art251 in Keller.

And, she has other celebrities with her. We’re not talking about other so-called “pseudo-celebs” that are “famous” because they once appeared on a reality TV and now tweet about health food or climate change. We mean Keller has been invaded by real celebrities with real talent. Oh, wait! There goes Martin Scorsese. And, and, here comes Harrison Ford!

Audrey Hepburn by Jonathon Kimbrell, Silk Screen Print and Acrylic on Canvas.

Keller hasn’t seen this many celebrities since, well, forever! (In fact, we’ve never seen any in Keller). What’s even more remarkable about this once in a lifetime, star-studded event is that many of the celebs visiting art251 actually departed planet earth quite some time ago. Whoa, my eyes are deceiving me, surely… Peter Sellers, Marilyn, James Dean? And, over there I can see Roy Orbison and Big Bill Broonzy jamming with Keith Richard – now of course in the case of Keiff (as his mates call him), the jury is still out as to whether he’s no longer with us or actually still alive, but, regardless, we have him captive here inside art251 as well. Unbelievable.

Please come and see for yourselves! Come quickly, our walls may not be able to contain so much talent and such vast egos (Audrey Hepburn excepted) for much longer!

Cortes Distortion, Oil on Canvas by Michael Longhofer.

If you’re like me then the heat of summer in Texas requires respite, or better still, an antidote. Well, an antidote to the heat we cannot offer but there’s plenty of respite here inside art251.

Recall when you’re on vacation, the weather turns miserable, it’s pouring with rain? You need something to do despite the inclement weather, right? It’s not uncommon for many of us to seek out a museum or an art gallery when the heavens open. Well, you can do the same when the sun is blazing as well. What could top a visit to a gorgeous gallery when the elements are conspiring to damage your hair, your skin, your clothes and your mind.

So, remember there’s no need to wait for it to rain for you to visit your cool, local gallery. We keep the thermostat reasonably low and the art on the walls will take your mind off the sizzling temperature. This summer we are pleased to welcome several new artists to the gallery. James Brandon a photographer based in Ft.Worth adds his stunning HDR photographs; Renee Hanson from Austin displays her new abstract works.

Also, three of our established artists – Melissa Ayr, Michael Longhofer and Marie Maines refresh our walls with some bold new paintings. Melissa Ayr displays a collection of 6 new vibrant abstract canvases that will enliven any wall; Michael Longhofer envelopes us in his ever-evolving style; Marie Maines takes a bold step with her cool pastels with 2 new works in subtle shades of grey. And, we have lots of shimmery new jewelry by Jean Storm, Katy Fenley, Diana Casabar and Noelle.

Artist Caleb Larsen seems to have the right idea. Rather than relying on the subjective wants and needs of galleries and the dubious nature of the secondary art market (and some equally dubious auctioneers) his art sells itself.

His work, entitled “A Tool to Deceive and Slaughter”, is an 8-inch opaque, black acrylic cube. But while the exterior may be simplicity itself, the interior holds a fascinating premise. The cube is connected to the internet. In fact, it’s connected to eBay, where through some hidden hardware and custom programming it constantly auctions itself.

As Caleb Larsen describes,

Combining Robert Morris’ Box With the Sound of Its Own Making with Baudrillard’s writing on the art auction this sculpture exists in eternal transactional flux. It is a physical sculpture that is perptually attempting to auction itself on eBay.

Every ten minutes the black box pings a server on the internet via the ethernet connection to check if it is for sale on the ebay. If its auction has ended or it has sold, it automatically creates a new auction of itself.

If a person buys it on eBay, the current owner is required to send it to the new owner. The new owner must then plug it into ethernet, and the cycle repeats itself.

The purchase agreement on eBay is quite rigorous, including stipulations such as: the buyer must keep the artwork connected to the interent at all times with disconnections allowed only for the transportation; upon purchase the artwork must be reauctioned; failure to follow all terms of the agreement forfeits the status of the artwork as a genuine work of art.

The artist was also smart enough to gain a slice of the secondary market, by requiring each buyer to return to the artist 15 percent of the appreciated value from each sale. Christie’s and Sotheby’s eat your hearts out.

Besides trying to put auctioneers out of work, the artist has broader intentions in mind, particularly when viewed alongside his larger body of work. The piece goes to the heart of the “how” and the “why” of the art market. By placing the artwork in a constant state of transactional fluidity – it’s never permanently in the hands of its new owner – it forces us to question the nature of art in relation to its market and the nature of collecting. The work can never without question be owned and collected since it is always possible that someone else will come along, enter the auction and win. Though, the first “owner” of the piece states that this was part of the appeal. Terence Spies, a California collector attests,

I had a really strong reaction right after I won the auction. I have this thing, and I really want to keep it, but the reason I want to keep it is that it might leave… The process of the piece really gets to some of the reasons why you might be collecting art in the first place.

Now of course, owning anything is transient. The Egyptian pharaohs tried taking their possessions into the “afterlife” but even to this day are being constantly thwarted by tomb-raiders and archeologists. Perhaps to some the chase, the process of collecting, is the goal, rather than owning the art itself. As I believe Caleb Larsen intended, he’s really given me something to ponder. How different, really, is it to own this self-selling art versus wandering through the world’s museums and galleries to “own” a Picasso or Warhol or Monet for 5 minutes? Ironically, our works live on, and it is we who are transient. So I think Caleb Larsen’s title for the work should be taken tongue in cheek, for it is we who are deceiving ourselves.

Go Trish! Local artist Trish Biddle was recently commissioned to be the official artist by the Westminster Kennel Club. Inspired by her interests in fashion and Art Deco, Trish created the image for the official 2010 Westminster Kennel Club poster, “Westminster. There’s only one.”  This is now the second year running that Trish has been commissioned to be the official artist.

Her oil painting depicts an evening street scene outside Madison Square Garden in New York and features representative breeds from all seven groups. The Empire State Building, aglow with Westminster’s signature purple and gold colors, sets the stage. Trish Biddle’s penchant for high fashion is evident, as stylish dog lovers stroll past a Westminster-themed Saks Fifth Avenue window, another New York City icon.

Trish Biddle’s impressive resume continues to grow. In 2009 she was named official artist of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing Club. In 2008, she was named official artist of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby 134th Run for the Roses.

You can see more of Trish Biddle’s “Glamorous Women in Fabulous Places” original works and many of her limited edition, signed prints at art251.

If you’re like me, you may have recently found yourself doing a couple of strange things: one in private, the other in public. In private: you raided your closet (or your attic or basement), the place where you store all your old treasures, you found the nondescript, but heavy box, and there, after dusting off the top, you uncovered your (in)famous collection of old 12 inch LPs. Yes, LPs, long-playing phonograph records; vinyl that is, black gold! In public: you found yourself doing something rather similar. You visited a family run music store (yes, some still do exist), and browsed the aisles, as fewer and fewer people seem to do nowadays. And, there, close to the path lined with jewel-boxed CDs, ear-buds, DVD collections and Play Station games, you found them – rows and rows of LPs in their colorful art encrusted sleeves.

So, what brought me to this point? Well, I think a confluence of events. First, my teenage daughter craving “authentic” music, exploring the pre-historic caves of the pre-iPod, pre-MP3, pre-CD music scene. How refreshing it is to have the younger generation re-discovering “our” music. Second, my desire to reminisce over the grand old days of classic rock, classic disco, classic soul, classic… well, just classic music. Also, my desire to revisit the beautiful art and the rich words that once enveloped the dark vinyl of 33s, like a treasured wrapper around your favorite bar of chocolate. Sadly, the instant gratification delivered by the iPod, and to some extent the CD, crushed the art that one graced the covers of this music.

And, now I find that artists, including our very own Nix Johnson, are making art, and wearable art at that, from these very same LPs. Nix’s bracelets and cuffs are made from reclaimed and recycled vinyl records. So, while I’m not quite ready to see my classic Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Motown LPs turned to accessories, I certainly like Nix’s creative and eco-friendly mission. Come take a spin at art251 to see more of Nix Johnson’s colorful vinyl creations.

Our very own Sean Fitzgerald, photographer extraordinaire, picked up a handful of awards recently courtesy of the Trinity River Corridor Project. The City of Dallas sponsored a photography contest for images from the Trinity River. His four entries won the Professional division for landscapes (1st), wildlife (1st and second), and architecture (1st).

An exhibit of some of Sean’s stunning images is on display at art251 – Man And Nature runs until the end of November 2009. All the more exciting for us, because the Trinity River Audubon Center – home to many of Sean’s beautiful wildlife pictures – is also home to art251 Trinity River.

The Trinity River Corridor Project is the most complex and the largest urban development effort ever undertaken by the city of Dallas. It aims to transform a flood protection solution into an opportunity for community revitalization, economic development and the creation of a world-class greenway.

On Saturday January 17 I found myself in MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City, face-to-face with Christina’s World. Andrew Wyeth, the artist, passed away just the day before in his sleep. He was 91.

Christina’s World is perhaps Andrew Wyeth’s best known work. It’s subject, Christina Olson, paralyzed from the waist down is seen dragging herself across an open field in Maine, too “dignified” to use a wheelchair. A crumbling, once proud, farmhouse sits atop a ridge against a grey sky. The painting is dark and sad.

Famous, or infamous, for his realist paintings of rural America Wyeth managed to polarize art critics and the general public, much to the same extent as his contemporary and complete opposite, another AW, Andy Warhol. Many critics shunned his work, convinced that Wyeth gave realism a bad name, and yet his many exhibitions would constantly sell out. I suppose his populism is one reason critics shunned his work; their message would otherwise be lost should they – heavens above – agree with members of the public. Though, one critic hedged his bets when surveyed about the most over-rated and most under-rated artists of recent times, by nominating Wyeth for both categories.

Interestingly enough, MOMA still only showed Wyeth’s birthdate (and not his date of departure from this world) on the wall tag next to his work. Could, rumors of Wyeth’s passing have been greatly exaggerated; misinterpreted from one of his many previous publicity stunts?

I finally have my new digital camera; a great replacement for the one that imploded not too long ago. So, now I can concentrate my attention and my lens on the exceptional artworks within our beautiful blue space.

art251 has been open for around 6 weeks. In that short time we’ve had lots of customers comment on our whimsical flying machines. They’re made by Jay Garrison. He constructs all of his works from recycled household objects. What better way to make use of all that spare “stuff” that clogs your attic or basement. In fact, Jay will take commissions and make a personal craft just for you, from your very own household extras.

We have 3 of these delightful winged contraptions dangling from our ceiling. They’d look great in a family, play or children’s room or your friendly pediatrician’s office.

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.

One of our east walls features “photo-impressionistic” art from Michael Longhofer, and several more pieces by Chad Beene (works from Bible Series).

Michael Longhofer

Michael paints a broad range of subjects including contemporary cityscapes, of which we have several in art251. His style of painting is realism. Michael uses perspective, depth and color to create the illusion of light, which adds significant atmosphere to his works. He is also experimenting with composing his subjects in ready-made frames such as windows and doors. Michael also builds exquisite wooden boxes, some of which we have in the space.

art251 welcomes Drew Liedtke. Our turquoise walls love his art.

Drew Liedtke

Drew’s paintings —  yes, they are paintings — are eerily monochromatic. He loves to paint portraits. Drew uses oils and draws much of his subject matter from old black and white photographs.

We love Trish Biddle’s work. Part of our space is dedicated to several of Trish’s originals, both large and small, including “What Are the Odds”, Official Art of the 2008 Kentucky Derby.