MacGown Art in the Golden Triangle, thanks to our supporters!!

My trippy art boy Joseph MacGown and I stay busy with our art. We both create art every day, pushing, exploring, creating, playing. Of course, as a result we have art building up! So, we are finding ways to display and to sell our original art and reproductions. I have to say, our local area has become more and more receptive to art! Even to our weird art. Not everyone of course, but our experiences have been mostly positive! So, thanks Starkville and Golden Triangle! 

Luisa Porter and Joe MacGown at 929 Coffee Pop Up Show

MacGown Art at the Prairie Arts Festival in West Point

MacGown Art at Earth Day at Ricks

Art party at the MacGown's place in Sessums

MacGown Art, talk and show at the Gumtree Gallery in Tupelo

MacGown Art at Sunday Funday in the Cotton District

MacGowns hanging Joseph MacGown's art at the Columbus Art Gallery

Starkville does have a huge and serious problem in that we do not have a city art gallery, and boy, this really bothers me. Fortunately, ALL of the surrounding towns and colleges in our area do have galleries where we can exhibit. So thanks West Point, Columbus, Tupelo, MSU, Itawamba Community College, Mississippi University for Women, East Mississippi Community College, and others! But gosh dang it Starkville Arts Council – get a gallery. Luckily in Starkville,  a bunch of local businesses have come through to fill this void and have opened their doors to local artists putting art in there. These business owners are fantastic! At the top of the list is Chalet Arts who does more to promote and aid local artists than anyone else! Also a big shout out to the Camp family who are at the center of supporting arts in the Cotton District!  Here are some of the top local businesses who are supporting the arts (not in any particular order): The Pop Porium (allows pop up shows and lets us hang art permanently), the Starkville Book Mart and Cafe (pop up shows, local artists and authors have their work there - Joseph and I have postcards there),  929 Coffee (pop up show, and recently the under 40 show), Scooters Records (Joseph MacGown has art hanging on the walls and prints for sale), Commodore Bob's (all the art on the walls is mine), the Serendipity Hippie (local artists have work there), Moe's Barbeque (local art on the wall), Bin 612 (local art on walls), City Bagel (local art), Rick's Cafe (pop up shows, weekly live painting and sales events, etc.), Two Brothers Smoked Meats (have bought art and were big supporters of Sunday Funday), and the Veranda (owner Jay Yates is a huge supporter of the arts). 

MacGown Postcards at the Book Mart

MacGown Art at the Pop Porium

MacGown art at Commodore Bobs

MacGown Art at Rick's Cafe

Joseph MacGown's art at 929 Coffee

Joseph MacGown's art at Scooter's Records

MacGown Art at the Cotton District Festival

MacGown Art at the Bulldog Bash (downtown Starkville)

MacGown Art at the Depot Gallery on MSU Campus (a few years ago)

Recent and Upcoming Art Activities

There have been so many cool art happenings during the last month that I have not even had time to mention them here! It's great to be a part of so many artistic events, and thanks to everyone who has purchased my art!! Special thanks to Chalet Arts for the wonderful framing and printing they have done for me!! 

A picture of me and a recently finished "Blue Angel", which I sold almost right away! Thanks 

Sunday Funday

Our final Sunday Funday of the year was on November 12. We wrapped up about dark, but not before enjoying great tunes and selling some art! Thanks so much to everyone who came out and supported us in one way or another!

 A picture of the MacGown Art tent just after set up

The MacGown Art tent with Joseph MacGown in corner and Bonnie Brumley just behind him

Pop-Up Art Show at the Pop Porium 

On December 2,  from 12 to 6 pm, we had Pop Up art show at the Pop Porium, a cool popcorn shop on Main Street. In addition to various art vendors, we had live music the entire afternoon performed by some great local talent!! Thanks to Rosa Dalomba, owner of the Pop Porium, for letting us take over her shop!! And thanks to Chalet Arts for the printing and framing that they have done for us!!

Laurs and Blair

Laurs and Ella

MacGown Art corner

Bert Montgomery peddling his books

One man show at Itawamba Community College 

I had a one man show at the Itawamba Community College Art Gallery in Fulton, MS from November 6 through December 6, with a closing reception and gallery talk on December 6. I enjoy talking with art students a lot and hopefully I remind them that it's ok to be unique! Thanks to Shawn Whittington for inviting me over for this exhibition. 

Some of the art students lounging about as I talked about art

Folks checking out my weird art

Dreams and Divinities Show in Colombia 

The international Dreams and Divinities art group had an interesting mural and poster event in Rio Dond Diego, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia from 9 to 16 December, 2017. My art was among the work of other fantastic artists from around the world. Thanks to organizer Liba Waring Stambollion for including my work in the event! 

Event Poster! 

Upcoming Solo show at Hinds Community College 

I have an upcoming solo exhibition at the Marie Hull Gallery at Hinds Community College  from January 8 to February 15, 2018. As with the Itawamba show, I will give a gallery talk to students and whoever else wants to hear it during the closing reception! 

Most of the art I am taking is ready to go!! 

Joseph H. MacGown Solo Show at the Rosenzweig Center, Columbus, MS in January 

My son Joseph H. MacGown was invited to have a one man exhibition at the wonderful and spacious Rosenzweig Arts Center (RAC) located on Main Street in Columbus, MS for the entire month of January, 2018!! An opening reception will be held at 5:30 PM on January 4th! I don't recall anyone as young as him having a solo show there before, so this is a great opportunity for him. It's also a perfect opportunity to viewers to see lots of his original work. In addition to his originals,  he will have numerous reproductions available for sale! Thanks to Lynn Brown, RAC director, for making this possible!  

Some of Joseph's prints 

Joseph MacGown painting

Upcoming Art events in the Starkville area

We had a great time at the Prairie Arts Festival this past Saturday selling and showing our weird art. In general, the Prairie Arts Festival has become less of an art festival and more of a craft/clothing/food vendor event, but there are still a few artists participating. Although, we did note that many of the artists have added t-shirts to their sales, which I suppose basically signifies the end as far as this being an art festival that attracts art buyers. For sure that was the case this year, with what appeared to be a smaller crowd that was not into buying art. We did sell a few prints though, and in general we again shared our weird art with the predominantly ultra conservative West Point folks. Believe me, we had some awkward conversations! On a positive note, the weather was great, and I won first place in the drawing/mixed media division of the juried show!

First place in drawing/mixed media with "Chance Meeting"

Our tent setup early in the morn. Joseph in the back trying to wake up. 

We again have lots going on this week in Starkville beginning with the opening reception for the Starkville Area Arts Council's Abstract Show this Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at 200 Main Street. Both Joseph and I have three pieces each in this show, and several other local artists will also have their works on display. Food and wine will be available during the reception. The show will be up for a couple of months if you can't make the opening. 

The Bulldog Bash Vendors Market will be held this Friday afternoon from 2 to 6 on Main Street! Joseph and I will have a tent of our triptacular art on the street out in front of the Book Mart! Come see us and the other vendors (almost 40 vendors), then hang around for the free concert starting at 7 PM. Read more about Bulldog Bash on their website. 

The next Sunday Funday is this weekend from 12 to 6 PM. As usual, we will be set up with the other vendors along Grand Ru du Fromage in the Cotton District with live music and lots of fun times. Our other Fundays were on the fourth Sunday of the month, but this one and the next two are being held on home football weekends for big games. So, come see us and the others and hang out Sunday afternoon! 

If you happen to be in Meridian, stop by the Meridian Museum of Art and check out the BiState Competition that is currently on display there. I had two pictures accepted into the show, "Board of Alderman" and my triptych "Pentamerous Archetypes." This show is up until October 7, when the winners will be announced during a late afternoon reception! 

Board of Alderman, ink on wood (3 x 4 feet), 

Pentamerous Archetypes, outside closed, ink on wood 

Pentamerous Archetypes, open view of the inside, ink on wood (about 24 x 40 inches)

Sunday Funday August 27, 2017 in the Cotton District, Starkville, MS

Come join us for the next Sunday Funday tomorrow, 27 August 2017 from noon to 6 PM along Rue du Grand Fromage in the historic Cotton District of Starkville, MS. About 20 tents with local artists will be present, Scooter's Records will again be selling sweet vinyls, and we will have live music all afternoon showcasing some of our amazing local talent. Of course, our buds at Two Brother's Smoked Meats will open their doors with a limited menu and beer sales! 

Joe and Joseph MacGown

So come on out and spend a relaxing afternoon in the Cotton District looking at art and listening to music! Joseph and I will again have a tent full of art with a blend of affordable prints and originals! As always, we will have some new things to check out. Thanks again to Chalet Arts for their support, to The Greater Good Collective for the event, and to the Camp family for cooperation with the event, and to the local businesses involved such as Two Brother's Smoked Meats. 

Dog, by Joe A. MacGown

Eclipse Watcher by Joe A. MacGown

Artwork by Joseph H. MacGown

Artwork by Joseph H. MacGown

Recent arty happenings at Sunday Funday

Some of The Greater Good Collective Ringleaders, left to right: Lindsay Runnels, Bonnie Brumley, Blair Edwards,  Joseph MacGown, and Joe MacGown (posing for a story in the Columbus Dispatch)

Last Sunday, May 28th, marked the inaugural Sunday Funday arts and music  day in the Cotton District of Starkville, MS. The event was sponsored by the newly formed organization called The Greater Good Collective, whose mission is to foster community oriented events, especially art related. The day started out rainy, and we had to move the start time from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, but then it was beautiful. Joseph and I set up our tent, and the entire road of Rue du Grande Fromage was filled with artists, artisans, musicians, dogs, kids, and grownups! Two Brother's Smoked Meats opened up to serve select food and beverages, 929 Coffee had a nitro coffee and tea cart, and the Poporium had selections of gourmet popcorn. One end of the road featured live music and the other had records being played by Keatzi Gunmoney at Scooter's Records! All in all, it was a great and successful first Sunday Funday. The next one will be on June 25! Here are a bunch of photos I got from the event.

Thanks a bunch to the Camps of the Cotton District for allowing us  to set up there, to Two Brothers Smoked Meats, to Chalet Arts, and to all the great volunteers!