Closed: Kevin Brant Gallery/Studio

Between light foot traffic, overhead, the economy and other business problems, galleries continue to come and go on the 600 block. Kevin R. Brant's gallery on the corner of Central and 7th St. has closed. Kevin paints game fish in a rich, decorative style. The gallery, in a spacious location, lasted about a year.
I'm sorry to see it go, and wish Kevin the best of luck in the future.

--- Luis

Seen: Into Art: A Trunk Sale @ The Crislip Arcade

This first Trunk Sale @ the Crislip Arcade was the brainchid of Rebekah Eugenia Lazaridis, from Eugenia Woods [Link]. I went by early, before people began coming by. Here's a few pictures:

Sign and balloons on Crislip gate.

 

In the Arcade

There was Live Painting outside

I had the pleasure of running into Jen Chandey doing Live Drawing with help from her able assistant and daughter by Bill Druggan's Gallery. From my early visit, congratulations to Eugenia Woods and all the Crislip gallery owners for putting together a very well-organized first event, hopefully one of many to come.

--- Luis

Visit and Re:Print: Elizabeth Herrmann and Ryan Shelley @ 620

Work by RAS+E

When Master Printer Erika Greenberg-Schneider of Bleu Acier [Link] recommends or praises anyone's work, I listen. What she said to me about Elizabeth Herrmann upon my arrival at 620, was more than enough to spike my attention.

I had first seen their work in a group show at C. Emerson Fine Arts.


___________________

print·ing  (prntng)

n.

1. The art, process, or business of producing printed material by means of inked type and a printing press or by similar means.

2.

a. The act of one that prints.

b. Matter that is printed.

3. All the copies of a publication, such as a book, that are printed at one time.

4. Written characters not connected to one another and resembling those appearing in print.
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RAS (Ryan Shelley) +E(lizabeth Herrmann) are young, innovative artists-designers-educators. What makes them who they are is their constant questioning of prevalent ideology, practice and extant models. In spite of their ages, they have developed an extensive and rapidly evolving philosophy regarding design, art, technology, content, education and much more. They have parted ways with the ubiquitous slavishness to the latest technology & software that is the norm today.  Their approach is broader, conceptually daring, integrating Life with the work, and using whatever technology, new or old, they feel will actualize their ideas. The result is a highly individuated, brave vision, one that is relentlessly pushing itself in a substantive way, without defaulting into the all-too-common, obviously contrived visual drama/hype that dominates the content landscape.

Work by RAS+E

The full tryptich of wihch the middle image is shown above. RAS+E have an energy rarely seen in art, a pilot wave that is reminiscent in strength (and only in its strength) to that of Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto. Their work, like all work that questions its own time is subversive as seen at left. They play with language, its forms, fonts etc in a very liberating way, showing that it, like so many things in our lives is plastic, and not cast in stone. It is ours to take and do as we will to express ourselves.

Work by RAS+E

Work by RAS+E

They're not misspelling anything, but modifyig the words like twins, close siblings, lovers, or cadres of subversives (and I am being redundant: lovers/intimates are subversives), inventing their own dialect, and eventually, perhaps their own language, one of the ultimate forms of intimacy. I took home one of those missiles. It's presently sitting upright on my table, as if ready to launch, until I hang it up, when it will appear to be en route with "RAS+E" on its fins. The war has begun.

They painted a Manifesto on one of the 620 walls. Actually, two of them, in overlays. I love manifestos, they are akin to snapshots of the artists' minds. Here, too RAS+E juggle and mold the language by titling it "Mani-Fester". (Click on image to enlarge). This one is a thinly undisguised Molotov Cocktail.

RAS+E, "Mani-Fester".

RAS+E, "Remorse"

 There were two clusters of framed multiples titled "Re Morse", with its multplicity of meanings. These are only part of the series, Ryan told me. On the left is a photo of one of the clusters. They used silkscreens, which they wrapped around each other's body and printed on their skins, which they then photographed. Here there are two computer languages, one for each gender. One is HTML (on Ryan), the other is CSS [Link] (on Elizabeth).

RAS+E "Re Morse"

Here the languages are themselves meta-phorical, part of this incestuous portrait of these collaborators. Sometimes you have to look twice to figure out who's who and I doubt that's by accident.







It is hard to overstate how inventive, playful, edgy, humanistic and grounded these works are. RAS+E's writings, art and ideas can at times seem overwhelming. Trust them and let them wash over you.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Herrmann and Ryan Shelley and Studio @ 620, for a very strong show, one of the highlights (and illuminated teachable moments) of 2012 in this community. Bravo.

--- Luis


PS. Erika was right.

Leslie Neumann @ Nuance Preview Oct. 9th Tuesday.

Leslie Neumann, a painter who has been reviewed here before and whose works are in encaustic, a technique she uses expertly to achieve an unusual luminosity, is having a show at Nuance Gallery in St. Pete. This preview will take place from 5:30-8:30 Tuesday Oct 9th, at 2924 Central Avenue St. Pete in conjunction with the Grand Central District Celebration.

The regular opening takes place Saturday, October 13th, 5:30-8 PM. The show runs through Nov 3rd.

Is the future of art at....Costco?

Costco is reportedly doing well selling fine art prints on its website. So well that many are sold out. It is not a new art business model by any means. Sears did this through their catalog aeons ago, during the age of paper. Is this reaching a previously un-or-lightly tapped sector of the art market, claiming part of the gallery clientele, or both? The department store consumerist model might work better today than before. As you can see below, these are loud and colorful decorative prints and if one goes through the site, some border on outright kitsch. They have had lesser prints from some well-known artists, and it is those that have sold out.

[From the Costco page...]

Cousins

Debbie Brown

Framed Print: $56

Ships Within 3 Business Days

Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations

Includes Money Back Guarantee

Concord California...

Richard W Linford

Framed Print: $1,051

Ships Within 3 Business Days

Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations

Includes Money Back Guarantee

Concord California...

Richard W Linford

Framed Print: $1,051

Ships Within 3 Business Days

Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations

Includes Money Back Guarantee

Concord California...

Richard W Linford

Framed Print: $1,051

Ships Within 3 Business Days

Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations

Includes Money Back Guarantee

Joyful Transformations: Donna Isaac @ Artful Living

We live in a particularly apocalyptic age. Apparently there is an attraction to being present when the Big Top folds and levitating when the Rapture begins. The Mayan calendar and others say that time or the world ends on December 21st of this year. Innumerable books, TV shows and websites have sprung up to hype doomsday. The Mayan Apocalypse is the new Nuclear Armageddon.

A few artists have approached the countdown to The End of Time. The work goes from serious doomsday gloom to satire and humor. Others have looked at other hypothetical apocalypses. For example, Richard Allenby-Pratt's Dubai: Abandoned, circa 2017, a photographic series  about a fictional scenario where a cheap, viable alternative to gasoline is developed, putting the owners of the oil fields out of business, the area becoming an abandoned ruin. See here [Link].

 

Work by Donna Isaac

Artist Donna Isaac's vision of the apocalypse is a positive one. She sees this not only as an end, but as a new beginning, a potential rebirth for mankind. Her background is one of healing and expanding human potentials. On both sides of this text is one example of Isaac's work, a shrine-like shell on a pedestal housing quartz (?) crystals lit by LEDs that change color, gilded with flowers.

Donna Isaac, "Mind Talk"

 The work in fact welcomes the date and suggests that what happens depends on how we look at it. On the left is "Mind Talk", a mixed media work made from maleuluca bark, ribbons, fabric nd a growing plant. With each artwork there is a New Age-y affirmation style accompanying narrative. For "Mind Talk" it reads: " What we focus on, what we put our energy on grows. Where are we choosing to focus our minds and words? We choose consciously or unconsciously. Let's choose wisely."

In "Mind Talk", we see what looks like a pod holding a living plant. Green ribbons dangle below it, like roots reaching for fertile ground.

Donna Isaac, "True Heart"

 "True Heart" is another enclosure with a glowing seed-like heart in its center. The exterior is covered in lace and the inside in soft-looking cloth, visible through a yonic gate.
These are very meditative works, this one would benefit greatly from subdued ambient lighting.

Donna Isaac, "Light Being"

 Ms. Isaac's "Light Being" is about the ultimate stage of spiritual evolution and the idea that this turning over of an era or age could usher a spiritual rebirth for humanity. This sculpture hangs from the ceiling like a corn husk, with a human arm breaking out of it, like a chick breaking out of its eggshell. Like all the others, it is an image of hope.

Donna Isaacs

 Congratulations to the artist, Donna Isaacs and Rob Davidson and Mandy for an interesting show.

--- Luis

PS.  They are now carrying art supplies at Artful Living, and are having a sale.

Bay Area Art Supply Grand Opening Sale

20% to 70% OFF!

1100 1st Avenue North

Saint Petersburg Florida 33705

[From Carolyn Kossar, Director HCC Dale Mabry Art Gallery]

 

Juan T. Vazquez Martin

Cuban Abstract Painting

Opening Reception: Tuesday, Oct 9, 5:30-8:00pm, Art Gallery

Power Point Lecture: Abstraction in Cuba, 1939-2012, 6:30pm, Mainstage Theatre

New:  **Live in the gallery, painting demo by Vazquez Martin to classical piano music played by HCC Music Dept alumni Scott Lazich,

Monday, Oct 8, 11:00am-2:00pm

 

The Ybor Gallery presents an exhibition celebrating Hispanic Heritage by artist Juan Vazquez Martin from Havana, Cuba. The exhibit will run Oct 9-Nov 8.  

Vazquez Martin was born in Caibarien, Las Villas, Cuba in 1941. He lives and works in Havana. A founding member of the Writers and Artists Union of Cuba (UNEAC), he served as President and Vice President of the Painting section from1989-1998 in recognition of ‘his valor in defending contemporary painting in Cuba.’

*  Juan will present his Power Point lecture Abstraction in Cuba, 1939-2012 at 6:30pm with a translator. He has been acquainted with and taught many experimental artists in Cuba, Spain and Europe. His own work has been influenced by the New York abstract expressionist movement of the 50s. We encourage you to bring your classes. This presentation will be particularly interesting and informative for classes in Humanities, Latin American studies, Art, History, Music, Sociology, Writing, EAP, Spanish and International studies. Q & A will follow.

* Sounds for Painting--Since coming to Tampa this week, we brainstormed with Juan and music student Scott Lazich on how to collaborate and involve the two disciplines. They will perform together in the gallery Monday, Oct 8, from 11:00am-2:00pm.

Gallery hours are Mon and Weds-Fri 10am to 4pm and Tues noon to 7pm. To arrange for a class visit, please contact Carolyn Kossar, 253.7674, ckossar@hccfl.edu.

Seen: LunacyFX @ Crislip Arcade

I was at Dysfunctional Grace when I noticed this girl's hairpiece. It was a white octopus pinned to her hair. Unique and beautiful. The maker was there, Ricardo Luna. See more at [Link].

--- Luis

Christian Thomas, "Shed Chicken"

Christian Thomas, one of the most prolific legal Street Art muralists in St. Pete, sent me this picture of a chicken he recently painted legally on a shed in a local farm. Inaccessible to the public, you get to view it here. Note the colors, stylization and natural look of the chicken. I like that Street Art is finding its way out of the city and into the country, with motifs to match that environment. Art is -- and should be -- everywhere.


--- Luis

PS. Photo Courtesy of Christian Thomas








PS. I encourage street artists to send me pictures of their work at the email in this address or anonymously as a comment. 

This Wallflower Perks Weekend, Oct 4th - 7th.

Gallery221@HCC presents 

Out of the Woods – Sculpture by Charles Parkhill
Thursday, October 4 – November 1, 2012

TAMPA, FL - Hillsborough Community College’s Gallery 221@HCC on the Dale Mabry campus opens Out of the Woods – Sculpture by Charles Parkhill on Thursday October 4, 2012.  A reception with the artist will take place October 11, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, including a question and answer session with Parkhill around 6:00 pm. Free admision. All at 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd. Gallery is on 2nd floor of the library.

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Fanaddict: Vince Kral's first Solo Show @ BOX on 5th -

Enter the mind of artist Vince Kral via his first solo exhibition, dubbed FanAddict,  at BOX on 5th (1801 E. 5^th Avenue, Ybor City). Step through the door and be whisked to galaxies far, far away. Wear a costume (Halloween) and be among the 1st 20, and get a t-shirt. Of course, Bluebird comes out of the Bus and will have books on the big table for sale, including some of Vince's.

The opening reception takes place Friday, Oct. 5 from 7:30 to 10 p.m Free admission.
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 Trunk Sale @ The Crislip Arcade -  Eugenia Woods and the Crislip Arcade artists will be having
 a Art Trunk Sale on Friday, Oct 5th, from 6-9 PM. There will be music and more. This promises to be a great evening. All in the middle of the 600 block on Central Ave., St Pete.















________________________________________________________

Prof Levy

  Civil War Era Photographer's Art: USF History Professor Philip Levy @ FMoPA -  In conjunction with the ongoing exhibit on Civil War Photography (reviewed here), USF History professor Philip Levy will discuss the transition from daguerreotypes to ambrotypes to tin types and the advent of commercial photography. Sunday, Oct. 7th, at 12:30 PM. $10 admission for non-members. 400 Ashley, Tampa.
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Photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson @ Tampa Museum of Art - The photographer who invented The Decisive Moment, master of the Leica, who spawned legions of followers who work in the genre, many to this day, is being shown at TMA. This is a comprehensive show from a classic and highly influential photographer, with 300+ prints of his work. All at Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. $10 admission.


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The Bradenton Blues @ The Village of The Arts - Blue-themed art, Blues music, Village of the Arts, food and free admission. The galleries and restaurants there put on a festival this Friday, Oct 5th 6:00-9:30 pm, and Saturday, Oct 7th, 11 am - 4 pm. 1015 W. Ave. W. Bradenton.



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BOGO Fest @ The Morean Arts Center - The MAC is having a 2-for-1 (for an equal or lesser ticket) deal on ticket prices to the MAC, Glass Studio/Hot Shop, and Chilhuly Collection. Only valid Monday through Friday. All at the MAC, 719 Central Avenue, St. Pete.






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Tour of Importance of Being Photographed, by Curator Jane Simon @ USF's CAM - A rare opportunity to get an insight into the curator's thinking on this show. At the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, 3821 Holly Drive noon to 1 pm. Thursday, Oct 4th. Free, but parking is $5.

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Jacques Bautista @ 620 - Studio 620 is changing shows more frequently than many hipsters do their blue jeans. Large format paintings, sculpture and video by Jacques Bautista. A closing reception will take place on Oct 13th. Free admission. 620 1st ave South, St. Petersburg.


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 El Grito de Yara @ Nuance Tampa - The last show of the Artists of the Oriente/East Cuba Cultural exchange. Thirty new paintings are being shown about Cuban independence from Spain. If prior shows are any indication, this should be good. Saturday, Opens with a reception on Sat. Oct 6th, at 6 PM. 804 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa.
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 s. 

Happy First Birthday to Rosey William's and Kaitlin Crockett's Ramblin' Rose!

Rosey Williams in front of Ramblin' Rose.

It's hard to believe a year has gone by since Rosey Williams and Kaitlin Crockett opened up her vintage store on the 600 block. Her store is a success story during difficult times. She is carrying more clothing, serving more customers and doing well. On its own, this is a considerable accomplishment, but these two has done it with taste, elegance, class and most of all their own individuated style.





They have done much more, engaging in community building via hosting various arts centered events in their space, featuring many of the best artists and musicians in the area. Rosie also came up with the First Saturday Indie Market, a great idea and welcome addition to bring much needed foot traffic to the 600 block. It has had its teething pains, but overall has been a success.




All of this in one year. Happy Birthday to Rambling Rose, Rosey Williams, Kaitlin Crockett and her crew. Thank you for what you bring to the community.

--- Luis

Ps. I went to their b-day party -- way too early -- but here are some pictures...

Ramblin Rose Store Front

The DJ at play

By the back door.

 

Art in the back room.

Vintage Bling

I hope this gives an idea of what the party was like early on, and Ramblin Rose's distinct sense of style.




 

Art Brutes @ Hoffman Porges Gallery

Hoffman Porges Gallery

First, a Happy Birthday to Jill and the General for their first year of owning and running Tampa's premier private gallery space, Hoffman Porges Gallery.

 I'll  leave the title to this show alone, but it is about the work of Greg Latch and Ray Paul. Latch is a Tupelo, Missippi native who started painting at a young age. He recalls watching his grandfather paint landscapes and painting with him. He was also drawn to paint comic books as well. After becoming frustrated with the starving artist lifestyle he became a nurse in 1989, and traveled. He has been a member of the YAA for years and had a studio in their space. Before that he was at Artists Unlimited for 13 yrs. He considers himself a folk artist, Surrealist Cubist and "...a combination of everything else".

Jean Du Buffet "Monument with Standing Beast"

Greg Latch and I stood at the railing on the catwalk of the gallery looking out over the lower level, with tables of food and drink surrounded by people milling and talking, taking it all in, the way they form arrangements, cluster, pause before paintings, geometries and colors crystallizing and dissolving, knowing we are part of that. He mentioned Du Buffet, and in the blink of an eye I am transported to Chicago, to the Du Buffet titled "Monument with Standing Beast", across from City Hall. I recall endless moments spent standing in it in the snow. Another form rising and falling like blobs in a lava lamp on opening night as rain fell steadily outside.

Greg Latch, "Time Machine"

Latch told me he'd thought about time machines, about going elsewhere in time. Paul, a few feet away, smiled a knowing smile. "Where and when would you go"? I asked Greg. Looking down, almost sheepishly, he said: "Paris, 1920's, Montparnasse". Straight out of Woody Allen's worst movie, he says. I know, and just a few days ago I asked someone else the same question and received the same answer. Latch has a painting titled "Time Machine" in the show. In three wood panels, it has levels, modern cars and an older one from the 1920's among roads that crisscross, coiled forms and repeating ones. Time folding and unfolding.




Greg Latch's work is a fine example of horror vacui art. Note every square inch of surface area is used, filled in with details and if you look closer, there's more detail to be had. Their density is one of their signature qualities, no matter what their size. Greg has studied Joseph Campbell's books on mythology. His painting depicted at left, "Hercules the Pinhead (Demi-God)" is informed by Campbell. It is so crammed with figures, lines, colors, and more that pull back ten feet and parts deconstruct into patterns.










This painting of a tree, titled, "Tree Series 1", like most of Latch's works is mixed media. Energized, almost prismatic, with a wide canopy and strong, sure-footed roots. In its shadow, flowers bloom.
From a mythological viewpoint, this could be the World Tree. 







As a child, Ray Paul painted horses in Cincinnti, his hometown. One visit to Florida and he wanted to come back. A second-grade teacher saw his potential and encouraged him. College brought him to Florida where he earned a BA in biology. Later, he returned to Cincinnati and received an MFA in painting before coming back to live in Tampa. He and Latch have been friends since 1995.

Ray Paul, "Fibrous 1"

Paul's paintings start out with drips of paint a la Pollock, broad expanses of color that later are overlaid carefully with layers of contrasting color forms. The saturation of the colors is electric. Paul describes his style, in part, as Abstract Expressionism, surrealism, pop art, psychedelic music and more.. In his case, highly individuated and recontextualized via the biology education. Some, like Fibrous 1", look like tissue on a slide under a microscope.

If you look carefully around the edges, Ray Paul is beginning to include some small figure outlines.

Ray Paul, "Safron"

Ray Paul has painted many electric guitars in a series he calls electrophyles. Like the rest of his work, they exude life energy with their vibrant colors and apparently freeform designs done in this case with acrylic, latex and enamel. He has several electrophyles in this show.

Ray Paul, "Hula"

Laced with tropical colors, "Hula" has a sense of motion about it. Note the bright, but carefully modulated colors in the piece. One can seize on a particular color and see repetitions and rhythms.












Part of the sales from this show go to the Amanda Lee Fund at Moffit Cancer Center, where Paul is currently undergoing treatment for High Grade Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma.

Congratulations to artists Ray Paul and Greg Latch, Shiver & Shiver Productions, Jill and the General for a good show.

--- Luis

Charles Parkhill @ Gallery 221, HCC Dale Mabry

[From Kathy Gibson, Gallery 221 Director @ HCC Dale Mabry]

Gallery221@HCC presents 

Out of the Woods – Sculpture by Charles Parkhill
Thursday, October 4 – November 1, 2012

TAMPA, FL - Hillsborough Community College’s Gallery 221@HCC on the Dale Mabry campus opens Out of the Woods – Sculpture by Charles Parkhill on Thursday October 4, 2012.  A reception with the artist will take place October 11, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, including a question and answer session with Parkhill around 6:00 pm.

Out of the Woods features new large and medium-scale work created for the exhibit.  Parkhill has recently shown work in the Florida Biennial V, Museum of Florida Art in Deland, and had a solo show in 2009 at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center.  Parkhill’s work is included in several permanent collections, in addition to the Polk Museum of Art, the Poynter Institute, and is currently on view at the Leepa-Rattner Museum, as part of A Modern Legacy: Contemporary Art from the Gulf Coast Museum Collection.

On sculpture, Parkhill states: "Traditionally, sculpture is made by removing material from a block of wood or stone, or by modeling clay or wax. My method of working usually starts by adding material such as wood or metal. It is a building process much like an architect constructs a house. Once I have some sort of form established, I may add more or remove some material. It depends where the particular piece leads me." 

On materials: "I choose wood salvaged from older buildings that are under renovation as my primary working medium. In selecting the wood from which to construct a work, I prefer salvaged material because it has a patina of its own making. The color, grain, old paint, dents, scratches, and nail holes give the surface a character and history that is incorporated into the look and feel of the work."

Charles Parkhill has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida. He has twice been awarded a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship, and an Emerging Artist Grant from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.

For additional information on the artist, visit www.charlesparkhill.com.