Dust off your 1970’s platform shoes…

Keller resident, best-selling author, Allison Bottke releases her new novel “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and art251 is hosting the official book release party, disco music and fun on:

June 27, 6-8pm — Allison will be with us at art251 throughout the evening to sign copies, and reminisce about the Bee Gees…

About the book

In You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, the first book in the Va-Va-Va Boom series, Susan Anderson owns and operates a hip hair salon on the Las Vegas strip, decorated with her collection of disco memorabilia accumulated decades ago when she was one of the beautiful people on New York?s disco scene. Now happily married, Susan is known for her business savvy, her fabulous vintage ensembles, her faith, her big heart?and the impromptu disco dance numbers salon staff and clients join in when the spirit moves. If life is a dance, Susan?s mastered all the moves. But an exciting business opportunity, her husband?s impending retirement, and her fiftieth birthday rock her world, shaking Susan?s foundation and revealing regrets and painful memories she thought she?d dealt with. Will Susan be able to face her past, reinvent her marriage, launch a new dream . . . and keep on dancing? Don?t miss the first book in this entertaining trilogy.

About Allison

Allison Bottke spent 17 years as a professional fund-raiser before her personal journey prompted her to create the best-selling God Allows U-Turns anthologies.

Now a popular speaker and author of hip-lit fiction as well as nonfiction, Allison was one of the first plus-size models with the Wilhelmina agency. With over 24 published non-fiction and fiction books, she has created a place where fun, fashion, food, family, and faith merge to empower and inspire boomer women all around the world?

BoomerBabesRock.com

Mr. Clark Whittington, artistic impresario, grand poo-bah, chief-innovation-officer, head (TPB) supervisor of Artists-in-Cellophane, and the all-round creative spark behind the Art-o-mat will be “deconstructing” his invention at the Dallas Society of Visual Communication (DSVC) on May 6.

Clark will be discussing Art-o-mat to an audience of (ex-)fellow graphic designers at the CityPlace Convention Center in downtown Dallas. The event starts at 6pm.

In case you don’t know what an Art-o-mat is read on. Art-o-mat is a machine. It’s actually a retired and lovingly restored cigarette machine that’s been converted to vend art. In 1997, Clark Whittington used a recently-banned cigarette machine to create the first Art-o-mat. He used the machine to showcase his own black & white photographs which he sold for $1 each. The concept proved so popular with the host of the first machine and other artists that the project soon took on a life of its own. Art-o-mat, the organization, has now grown to around 90 Art-o-mat machines featuring over 400 contributing artists from 10 different countries. If you’re still not satified, check out Clark’s recent video interview with FLYP digital magazine, right here.

And, best of all we have a beautiful blue Art-o-mat machine right here at art251, in Keller. Remember, it only costs $5 to purchase an original work of art from the Art-o-mat. So, as Clark would say, “Don?t go ?round artless!”

The Dallas Art Dealers Association, otherwise known as DADA, is hosting its annual Spring Gallery Walk on April 18, 2009 from 2-8pm. The event covers 30 of Dallas’ most innovative contemporary art galleries, including: Craighead Green, Artizen, Cameron, HCG, Afterimage, The MAC, and Bath House Cultural Center.

Download the complete 2009 DADA Gallery Guide, here.

Now, remember we’re talking about Dallas, so many of galleries are geographically dispersed – except the ones on Dragon Street. Therefore, you’ll need a car or bicycle or jetpack for your gallery “walk”.

art251 isn’t a member of DADA yet. We’re still working on it. So, if you live west of Dallas, or don’t care much for acronyms, come and really walk around Keller Town Center and visit your very local art space. You’ll be surprised to discover “big city” art on show right under your nose, in the suburbs.

Yes, we’re on the road again. This time we’re taking a selection of our great art to Colleyville, our neighboring community to the south-east for a weekend “Taste and See” event. We’re showcasing works — mostly smaller pieces — by Trish Biddle, Chad Beene, Ann Hardy, Aditi Samarth, James Johnson, Scott Young, Michael Longhofer, Fil Booth, Marnie Vollenhals, Donna Antosh and yours truly.

We’re not just looking at this two day event as a way to generate sales, but to promote art251 to the wider community. After all, we’re the only commercial art gallery in the area, and we believe it’s important for all our neighbors to know.

If you’re near Colleyville, we’d love to see you. The event is at: Good Shepherd Parish Hall, 1000 Tinker Road, Colleyville and runs on Saturday, November 15, 4-9pm and Sunday, November 16, 10am-2pm.

The first of our monthly art251 art seminars is set for later today, November 11. The Heritage Homeowners Association (HOA) in Keller has graciously opened the doors of its clubhouse to your friendly art251 owners for some serious debunking.

This evening’s topic is entitled “Mythbusters — Art Buying 101″, where we’ll be tackling some common myths and misconceptions about art and buying art, such as “Art is expensive”, and “Buying Requires a Vast Knowledge of Art”.

I haven’t done much research to learn whether many other art galleries do this type of community outreach. I suspect a few do and many don’t. So, while we’re not necessarily blazing a new trail, we’re doing our small part to bring art in all its glory to (more of) the suburbs.

Our seminar series spans five presentations, each one hour long. We’re not high on formality, and we do like audience participation. So this should be fun. Oh, and did I mention we bring lots of great art with us and we do it for free! So, if you’re not part of the Heritage HOA, and would like us to venture to your community give us a call at 817.898.1444 or contact us online by clicking 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.

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.

We’ll be open late for Ft.Worth Gallery Night on Saturday September 6, from 6-9pm serving free refreshments.

We’re the only commercial art space in Northern Tarrant county participating in this event. All the other galleries and museums are located in Ft.Worth and Arlington. So, we’d be delighted to see fellow Keller residents join us to celebrate Gallery Night in Keller!

The non-profit space, Young Artists of Texas (YAT) is also participating and holding an artists reception at Keller City Hall, which is a stone’s throw away from art251. So, if you’re on the steps of City Hall, look towards the fountain and beyond it you’ll see our distinctive art251 sign.

Below, our Gallery Night ad in Ft.Worth Weekly, August 27 and September 3 issues.

We’ll be open late for Ft.Worth Gallery Night on Saturday September 6, from 6-9pm serving free refreshments.

We’re the only commercial art space in Northern Tarrant county participating in this event. All the other galleries and museums are located in Ft.Worth and Arlington. So, we’d be delighted to see fellow Keller residents, and others from the surrounding area, join us to celebrate Ft.Worth Gallery Night in Keller (or should it be Keller Gallery Night in Ft.Worth?)

Come see some great original works on canvas, print, in metal, glass, wood, pottery and jewelry from a group of 30 exceptional North Texas artists including Seppo Aarnos, Melissa Ayr, Chad Beene, Kelly Berry, Trish Biddle, Dana Blanchard, Filomena Booth, Melinda Brown, Diana Chase, Marla Cook, Brian Davis, Sean Fitzgerald, Jay Garrison, Faith Jessup, James Johnson, Connie Jordan, Drew Liedtke, Michael Longhofer, Lori Love, Sara Moe, Bobbie Nix, Kim Norris, Aditi Samarth, Jean Storm, Marnie Vollenhals and Dyanne Welch.

And, of course, art251 is the only place in North Texas with an Art-o-mat, an art vending machine!

Lovers of art in the Ft.Worth and Dallas area get to have extra fun on September 6. It’s the semi-annual Gallery Night (Spring and Fall) event, sponsored by FWADA (Ft.Worth Art Dealers Association). And, if you’re an art fan in northern Tarrant County you’ll get to have even more fun than normal.

Most of the FWADA gallery members will be opening their doors a little longer on Gallery Night, giving culture vultures an extended opportunity to feed their senses and souls (and snack on some serious wine and cheese). Now, as the FWADA name implies, many of the participating venues are in the Ft.Worth area. Atleast 29 venues are taking part this year. Of these, 18 are fully fledged members of FWADA, and include the Amon Carter Museum, Edmund Craig Gallery and William Campbell Contemporary. Another 10 venues are so-called “friends of FWADA” (not full members I assume, but hopefuls), including Artful Hand and Uncommon Angles. If you’re a good mathematician you’ll see that this leaves one other venue.

Yes, it’s us! art251 will be participating on Fall Gallery Night. We didn’t receive an invitation. So, we decided to crash the party – it would just be too disappointing to be left out.

You may recall that art251 is not (yet) a member of FWADA or any other gallery association (please see my previous article on the matter). For that matter, we don’t even classify as “friend of FWADA”. So, just think of us an “acquaintance of FWADA”. Or better still, think of art251 as a bright, fun, accessible place to come see some bold, new art! Or, think of us a great new art venue in northern Tarrant County. Or, think of art251 as the only place in North Texas to purchase art from an Art-o-mat. Or, think of us as the only place to see great original works from a group of 30 exceptional N.Texas artists including Marnie Vollenhals, Melissa Ayr, Dyanne Welch, Trish Biddle, Aditi Samarth, Sean Fitzgerald, Marla Cook, Jean Storm, Connie Jordan, Chad Beene, Brian Davis, Michael Longhofer, Jay Garrison, Bobbie Nix, Faith Jessup, Kelly Berry, Seppo Aarnos, Melinda Brown, Filomena Booth, Kim Norris, Dana Blanchard, Diana Chase, James Johnson, Drew Liedtke, Lori Love and Sara Moe.

So, we hope to see you on Fall Gallery Night. Gate-crashers welcome! We’ll be open from 10am-9pm, and oh, did I mention the great art and the serious refreshments? Look for our upcoming advertisement in the Fall Gallery Night supplement of the Ft.Worth Weekly.