Joe MacGown's Art Blog: May 2014

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Joe MacGown's Surreal and Semi Strange Visions Opening was Awesome

The reception for my show at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center in Starkville, MS went pretty well, especially considering most MSU students had vacated town. And, I had basically been involved with three local shows here in town in the last two weeks, so some folks had seen much of what was in this show. But, I had new stuff. Interesting, the crowd here was quite different than those attending the last few shows. I greatly enjoyed interacting and answering questions to the attendees. And, it was nice to have several guys from my Starkville Striders running club here .and my on and off again lady Audrey Sheridan Thanks!

As I mentioned, this show will be up until July 15th, but only when the center is open. If someone wants to see it, I think we could arrange something. I did not expect to sell any originals here, and I was not surprised. But, I did sell quite a few prints and a few copies of my book. Thanks to all of you who purchased something!

And, yep, Debra Wolf, who recently started a Starkville Area Arts Council blog, wrote a wonderful piece about my Manic Depression piece. Check it out here: http://www.starkvillearts.net/blog/personal-preference-debra-wolf

Here are a few picts from the show.

Dominique, Brent, Audrey Sheridan, and Joseph looking on

Greg Martin and Laurie Burton

Jorge and Juan Villarreal

Audrey Sheridan and the running crew

Jorge & Juan Villarreal, Audrey Sheridan, and Brent Wallace (holy moly, look at those smokin' legs!)

Joseph MacGown

Kevin with his new acquisitions

Laurie Burton and Joe Mulrooney!

Lucas Muniz and Juan

Lucia

The Mullrooneys and Mike Buehler

This Buehler has great taste

Thumbs up

Shirley Ross (right) and her mom in law

Jessica Cheek

Victoria Cheek

Victoria Cheek and Joseph

Thanks again to the Buehler's and Jessica Cheek for giving me the opportunity to have this local exhibition at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center, and to Chalet Arts for all the framing and other awesome stuff they have done for me for this show and others. Without Mark Wood, Lorie Wood, Alan Fortenberry, and the rest of the crew at Chalet Arts, I could not have framed this show, had prints available, and books printed. You guys rock!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Joe MacGown's Surreal and Semi Strange Visions opens tomorrow night at 6 pm, Starkville, MS

Yes, show, tomorrow, my weird art, 6-8 pm reception at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center in Starkville, MS. If you can't make it, it will be up from 15 May through 15 July 2014, but the hours when the center is open are irregular. I recommend you come tomorrow. Plus, tomorrow we will have wine and food. And, oh yeah, I will be there tomorrow! Yay.

I have about 23 framed originals with prices ranging from $250 to $11,000 in this show. I also have archival prints of many works, including some that will not be in this exhibition, for sale with prices ranging from a few dollars to about $55 for larger color prints. I will have a limited number of copies of my new art book available for sale as well (check or cash only). The book is 96 pages, 8.5 X 11 inches, soft cover, and with glossy interior pages. Price: $40. Filled with loads of art! I also have hard back copies of this book available online for $64.51. You can purchase this version of the book and see a preview of the cover and inside of this book athttp://www.blurb.com/b/5265025-subconscious-meandering.

Thanks to Alison Buehler and Jessica Cheek for giving me the opportunity to have this local exhibition at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center, and thanks to Chalet Arts for all the framing and other awesome stuff they have done for me for this show and others. Without Mark Wood, Lorie Wood, Alan Fortenberry, and the rest of the crew at Chalet Arts, I could not display my trippy art for you weirdo art lovers.

Anyway, got the show hung today. Its kind of a weird venue, being in a former house, so you have to work around windows, furniture, etc., but it looks pretty good. Lighting is not optimal, but I think you will be able to see everything without any trouble. Here are a few pictures to give you a preview of what to expect.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Joe MacGown's Surreal and Semi Strange Visions Exhibition, Starkville, MS

I will be having an exhibition of some of my weird art at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center in Starkville, MS from 15 May through 15 July 2014. There will be an opening reception from 6-8 PM on Thursday, 15 May 2014. Works are primarily for display, but are also for sale. Originals ranges from $450 to $11,000. Yep, $11,000. Hell, I probably won't sell one for that price here in a small town, but based on the hours alone that I have in some of these, this is a bargain. Throw in the fact that I have exhibited side by side with some amazing international artists in various countries, and well, these might even be a good investment! These are one of a kind pieces of original artwork that no one else will ever be do. I have a unique style that I have been developing for over 40 years. I can safely say that nobody else in this part of the world is doing anything remotely similar. I will also have archival prints of many works, including some that will not be in this exhibition, and a few soft cover copies of my new art book available for sale (check or cash only). The book is 96 pages, 8.5 X 11 inches, and with glossy interior pages. Price: $40. Filled with loads of art! I also have hard back copies of this book available online for $64.51. You can purchase this version of the book and see a preview of the cover and inside of this book at http://www.blurb.com/b/5265025-subconscious-meandering.

Convergence

Directions to the Homesteading Center from Starkville: Go West on Hwy 12 past Wal-mart. Fork right at the Shell Station onto New Lite Rd or Old Hwy 12. Go 1.4 miles and turn right on Ridgewood Rd. At first fork go left onto Lake Valley Rd. At second fork go right. Homestead is 2nd drive on right across from Lake Valley Gun Works.

Basically, I create chaotic assemblages of strange mutated creatures, crowded surreal landscapes, and mandala-like designs that reflect my thoughts and observations of life on this planet. Using imaginative imagery and random patterns, I produce detailed drawings and mixed media paintings by simply allowing ideas to “flow out of my head” using a method I describe as “Subconscious Meandering.” My background in entomology and natural history, coupled with my love of science fiction and cynicism of all things human, provide ample fodder for my surreal visions, which range from dark and foreboding to light and whimsical.

Ambition

Henry's Fantastic Undersea World

Organic Cosmic Lock

Cancer

Thanks a bunch to the Buellers for asking me to have this show at their place, and to to Jessica Cheek for helping me put this together.

Totem Pagan Goddess

Thursday, May 8, 2014

"Mississippi," an art exhibition featuring local artists from the Golden Triangle region of north central Mississippi

The Starkville Area Arts Council currently has a group exhibition entitled "Mississippi" up at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Welcome Center at 200 Main Street in Starkville, MS. The reception was this evening from 5:30 PM to about 7 PM, and the show will remain in place for at least another month.

Artwork by me on left and upper right, by Vicki Burnett in center. Not sure who did the piece on the bottom right. Greg Martin, MSU art professor and painter extraordinaire looks on knowingly.

The idea of this show was to feature "Mississippi" in some way. Various artists chose different subjects and media to showcase the state such as local landscapes, historic buildings, plants and animals common in our area and other similar things. With artwork from talented folks such as Dylan Karges, Vicki Burnett, Betty Jane Chatham, Mike Box, Charles Bryson, and others, there is a nice spectrum of art to see.

The reception was nice, good food, wine, and it was wonderful to chat with art loving folks. The artwork was pleasing as well, although certainly not mind bending (nor was this show meant to be). I would like to have seen more locals present at the show who were not members of the arts council. Somehow, we need to find a way to bring in other people in the community to view these shows. If the only people attending are basically the artists and those who put on the show, then something needs to be done differently, in my opinion. A large negative is that our local arts association does not have its own gallery. The space here at the Welcome Center is nice, but not very expansive and with the many windows, the lighting is marginal at best. Also, if you don't sell something at the reception, which most shows here don't even have, then you are not likely to sell anything, because there is no one present to pay for art. Finding some type of permanent space has to be a priority for the arts group here before we can really be taken seriously as an art community. How can this happen? I don't know, but it has to happen. It could be the result of the generosity of a wealthy person or group of wealthy area patrons, or perhaps using SAAC funds to lease a property. Perhaps under the leader of the new president things will move in this direction.

One thing we do have here in town is a large number of very talented people. They can all use your support. Buying artwork is very helpful, and it is encouraging to artists to know that people in their community like their art and will even buy it. Even though this is a small show, it is well worth seeing. If you are in Starkville, go by and check out the art, most of which is for sale. I would say that absolutely everything in this show would look great in any home in this region!