The group show, "Femme" at the Russell Collection Sept. 8 in Austin was really well attended. Four women artists, myself, Jill Pankey, Vicki McMurray, (both very accomplished painters) and Kathrene Watts Martinez who had spectacular photographs of horses. Over 200 people attended. There were multiple sales for all the artists but most came before the actual opening. The opening was pretty exciting for me but the owner pointed out that it is difficult to sell art when it is so crowded because people can't see the work. People will come back however. My friend Gale Wiley did a cool video of the show. If you'd like to see it click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEqw_9m3DtM
By the time it was made I had talked to so many people that I had almost lost my voice. I don't sound like I have too much of a Texas "twang", however, so that is good. Then the next weekend my husband Frank and I went to Dallas for a group show at Thornwood Gallery. I've shown with Thornwood in Houston for about 8 years and this was the grand opening of their new gallery in Dallas. It is in the design district which has had a lot of galleries move into old warehouses that have been updated to make very cool showrooms. That day was also a gallery walk and there was good attendance at that show as well. One side of the gallery walls are of old brick and the paintings and sculpture look great against that background. See photo above.
I was sick for the last two weeks so have been slow painting for my next show which is Nov. 9 at Thornwood Gallery in Houston. Make me anxious but I have done a few pieces and finally got started on the new Black and White series that I've been talking about. As you know I've been collecting black and white designs in anticipation for this series. The idea first began in 2005 when we took a trip to Washington DC. I took a lot of photos of the streets as we were crossing. I have since lost the files because my computer crashed but those images have stuck in my memory. Also, as I have mentioned, in every publication I pick up lately black and white designs jump out at me. Another influence has been the quilts of Gee's Bend that I saw a couple of years ago and MOMA Houston. Such graphic images. So with all these things gelling I finally set out this week. Since I fancy myself to be a colorist, my idea was not to use stark black and white only but to have color coming from beneath, add a few smaller blocks of other colors and to use simple graphic designs. I am pretty pleased with the first piece which is a diptych, two pieces at 24"x24"x 2.5"d and now I'm excited to see what more I can develop with this idea.
