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Hello art fans,
Flowers are blooming, humidity is above 60 percent, and the kids don’t seem to have homework any more. Main Street Arts Fest, Southlake Art in the Square and the Cottonwood Arts Festival are but distant memories. Yes, a Texas-sized summer is just around the corner.
Here at art251 our walls continue to bloom with hot, new works from established artists like Melissa Ayr and new discoveries such as Guy Fumagalli and Billy Mabrey. And, we have half-a-dozen more exciting and colorful, new artists waiting in the wings.
Talking of exciting happenings, we are pleased to report two newsworthy items for our Art-o-mat addicts and for art+food afficionados. First, the artistic brains behind the Art-o-mat, Clark Whittington, will be in town, for our monthly Gallery Walk, May 13, 7-9pm. He’ll be unveiling a second machine in North Dallas on Saturday, May 15. Second, City Hall Restaurant is now officially open. A neighbor of ours in the Arthouse development in Town Center, City Hall brings upscale dining to Keller, at last! Best of all, the foodie space is adorned with a colorful, contemporary array of original art from art251. Read more about these and more below.
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2nd Thursday: Monthly Keller Gallery Walk
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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.
Next Gallery Walk: May 13, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Numerous art communities from Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Sebring, Florida, conduct gallery walks as a way of showcasing their local galleries, artists, and in many cases, their downtown areas.
Well, in 2010 Keller joinied other "arts cities" with its own monthly gallery walk.
The monthly walks take place on the second Thursday of each month from September to June each year. The time: from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Participating galleries and organizations include: the City of Keller – Keller Public Arts Program, Southern Land Company (Arthouse), art251 (that’s us), 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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2010 Show Calendar
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We have some great new artist openings and exhibits planned this year.
For more details on upcoming receptions and shows, Gallery Walks and all other events check out the calendar on the art251 website.
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May Feature: Original art or a new media center?
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We can’t all afford a media room and many don’t need or desire one. Though, most households in the U.S have a family room with a TV. So why not consider adding a few strategically placed art pieces to give your well-used family room a creative makeoever.
Or, if you’re considering an expensive media room, think again. Installing or converting a space to be used exclusively, and rarely, as a media room can cost you upwards of $10,000-$25,000. And, worse still, the equipment you install – HD projector, wide screen, audio speakers, receivers, control panels, cabling – will be obsolete before you finish paying for it.
So, why not abandon the media room idea and fill your home, or a room, or even part of a room, with original art. It’s a lot cheaper than you think, and will last a great deal longer. You’ll even be able to take the art with you when you move.
Best of all, you can use the art to decorate the empty spaces in your home and awaken your senses in the process. While watching a favorite show or movie is a great entertainment, it usually doesn’t last much beyond the length of the show. Art, on the other hand, will continue to give you pleasure for a lifetime; it will actively engage your thoughts and emotions in a way that no TV-watching can ever do. So, give your mind and soul a tune-up – put some art in a prominent place in your home and turn off the TV.
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 art251 is rapidly expanding its global presence, online at least. We’re now on Twitter. Follow our artistically oriented tweets at: http://twitter.com/art251. Of course, if you’re looking for something more substantial (beyond 140 character tweets) you can follow our cool, arts inclined blog at: http://blog.art251.com/. Prefer Facebook? Well, you’ll find us there as well.
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Gallery Walk: Battle of the Art-o-mats |
A battle royale is brewing between Keller and Dallas. Oh, and this is much bigger than the collegiate rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma; and deeper than the cultural rivalry between Ft.Worth and Dallas.
Make no mistake, the situaton unfolding between Keller and Dallas eclipses the legendary rivalries between Road Runner and Wile E Coyote, Mac versus PC, Federer versus Nadal, Boston Red Sox versus New York Yankees, Batman versus The Joker.
I’m talking about the battle of the North Texas Art-o-mat machines.
You see, almost two years ago art251, right here in Keller, installed the very first Art-o-mat in North Texas. Now, the Big D is imitating it smaller, cuter neighbor to the west and playing catch-up by unveiling a rival Art-o-mat in North Dallas. On Saturday, May 15, only the second Art-o-mat machine in North Texas premiers at the new Whole Foods Market on Park Lane.
To honor this event art251 is hosting Mr. Clark Whittington on May 13, 7-9 pm, during our monthly Keller Gallery Walk. Clark is artistic impresario, chief-innovation-officer, head (TPB) supervisor of Artists-in-Cellophane, and the all-round creative spark behind the Art-o-mat. Then on May 15, Clark heads east to officially unveil the “rival” machine in Dallas.
I’ll let you decide which of the 2 Art-o-mat machines is the classiest. By the way, ours has been on the Rachael Ray Show.
 Art-o-mat, art251, Keller
 Art-o-mat, Whole Foods Market, Dallas
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. |
| New Arrivals: Guy Fumagalli, bold graphics, rich textures |
Guy Fumagalli’s artistic style orbits around the simple element of family photography and moves on a journey toward the complexity of museum quality paintings. He attempts to make images that people have never seen before and won’t soon forget. Combining computer graphics, photography and handskills he develops a base idea of the image that he wished to paint. Acrylic, housepaint, oil pens and mixed media collide to create colorful, graphic expressions of everyday life. Colors become emotions and textured graphics interpret sounds. The once simple photos are transformed into vibrant expressive paintings that offer an intense interpretation of the everyday experience. As well as richly textured portraits he also creates intense abstracts.
Guy Fumagalli has a background in illustration, graphic design and computer animation. More recently, he has designed and published a number of video games for Playstation and arcade machines. He is a graduate of the Dallas Art Institute.
Starting in April we will have a broad portfolio of Guy’s panels on display.
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| Art + Food @Arthouse |
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Residents of Keller take note. It’s almost summer and he suburbs awaken from their (winter) slumber! Adventure awaits!
You make your home in the 7th best place to live in the United States, as ranked by CNN Money Magazine. You welcomed your first commercial art gallery – art251 – in September 2008. Now, you are home to a superb new restaurant. City Hall officially opened its doors on March 22, 2010. It’s located in the Arthouse development in Keller Town Center and is only a 2 minute stroll from art251.
So, what’s so special about City Hall? Two things. First, the restaurant has first class ambiance and service and an original chef-driven menu led by nationally recognized Chef Otto Borsich. Second, the restaurant is adorned with original art from art251. The walls feature abstracts by Dana Blanchard, Fil Booth and Michael Longhofer.
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City Hall is an upscale contemporary American fare restaurant. It’s the first restaurant in Arthouse, a mixed-use community that features multifamily apartments and an eclectic mixture of retail tenants, including art251. The restaurant has a sophisticated urban feel complete with an open kitchen, rich woods, leather booths and contemporary lighting. The space also has a friendly bar and a private dining room, and thoroughly attentive service.
And, then there’s the menu. Real food in the ‘burbs: Maple Brined Pork Tenderloin Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake; Cedar Scented Grilled Salmon, Herbal Orzo; Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Leek & Potato Risotto style, Orange Reduction; Lobster Ravioli with a Light Fennel-Vanilla Cream Sauce. Fresh, original, artfully prepared, mouthwatering – just like art251’s art.
Yes, you read all of this correctly, you’re in the suburbs, surrounded by the culinary wastelands of the mega-chain, processed “food” franchises, and now you have access to lobster, scallops, risotto, and art all in the same evening, and all in your neighborhood!
City Hall images courtesy of City Hall Restaurant. Featured paintings: Teratogenesis by Dana Blanchard, Urban Energy, Hunting Art Prize 2009 finalist, Michael Longhofer.
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| Art leasing made simple |
Did you know that you can lease art from art251? art251 offers a program to make owning art more attractive and affordable: art251 lease / purchase. We lease to businesses and individuals within the Dallas / Ft.Worth area. We work with our clients to determine which approach best suits their needs. Some clients may prefer to lease art for a low monthly fee, which gives the option to have art replaced and refreshed on a regular basis. Other customers may prefer a lease-to-purchase approach which gives them the ability to purchase work outright but spread the payments over a 12 or 24 month, or in some cases a 36 month, period.
Lease rates are based on the retail price of the artwork. Generally, the monthly rate is 2-3 percent based on the length of the term.
Depending on a client’s individual or business tax status, renting and/or leasing art from art251 may offer attractive tax reducing strategies. Want to find out more? Give us a call at 817.898.1444.
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| "We believe in authentic and local." To check out more of our beliefs, click here. |
| We like feedback of any kind – thumbs up, down and or in between. 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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Our once a year Winter Sale begins December 11 and continues throughout January. We’re offering up to 25 percent off many works on our gallery walls and website. We recommend you come in get to get more details on our discounts. We don’t negotiate on sales, so December/January is an ideal time to pick up that special artwork that you’ve had your eye on for yourself or as a unique gift of art. And,
