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!

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. 

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.

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. 

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

Surreal Strangeness in Starkville: Art Exhibition by Laurie Burton, Joseph MacGown, and Joe MacGown

We had a pretty good crowd last night at our Surreal show here in Starkville with probably close to 50 folks showing up to view our art and talk about art and other things. This was probably close to the perfect sized crowd given the smallish space. We even had a few things out on the porch of Laurie's place. And the weather could not have been better!! Yep. Thanks a bunch to Laurie Burton for allowing Joseph and I to exhibit some of our art alongside of hers. I think the combination worked out really well.

Laurie Burton

All three of us sold some stuff, so, it was successful in that regard too. Sold several copies of my art book, which was nice. Regional artist Frank McGuigan (check out his stuff on his Facebook art page at: https://www.facebook.com/FrankMcguiganArtist) seemed especially taken with Joseph's work, and he and some others purchased several small prints, including some that he had adhered to wood and brushed over with acrylic gloss medium. I saw some people carting out a couple of Laurie's smaller paintings as well.

Stuff on the porch

Both Laurie and I had some more expensive pieces ($400-$1500), but none of these sold. We did not really expect to sell them at this small venue anyway, and they were mostly here for folks to look at and contemplate. In all actuality, it is super hard to sell original art in Starkville that is priced above $150. Prints do fine, of course. I suppose times are tough. Even the rich folks around here don't seem to buy much art, at least locally. I know several wealthy jokers who have told me they would like some of my art, but they could not afford it right now. When I say rich, I mean you know, millionaires or close to it, living in 5000 sq ft homes and blah blah. They want it, but they want you to give it to them! But, those same people don't give their services out for free! Funny. We all had good reaction to our art, so that was great.

Brent Wallace and Joseph MacGown

John Formby 

Helen O"Neill 

Joseph MacGown, guitar boy

Joseph, Max Roethig, and Sandra Schachat

Joseph and people looking and stuff

Max

The Ramseys 

Sandra

April Wallace and her daughter Wren

Its always surprising to see who comes to shows in our area, and especially, who doesn't. With the university here and its nationally known art department, a strong high school art program, and a thriving and lucrative local Starkville Arts Association group, you would think that whenever there was an art show of any type, most of those folks would show up to soak up any and all art. But, sadly, this is not the case. I think we had one MSU art student show up (thanks Thomas McBroom!), no high school art students (and I am telling you, they would have fucking loved this show!!), one MSU art faculty member (Greg Martin, a fairly new guy from Los Angeles who we see at every single art and music related venue in the area!), and maybe 3 or 4 folks from the local arts association, despite the fact that the president elect (Laurie Burton), hosted this event in her gallery/home. Amazing. And yet, we still had at least 50 folks come by.

Sandra Schachat and Greg Martin

Anyway, the show was pretty awesome! Had fun chatting with some goobs. If you missed this, it will still be up for the Starkville Artists tour next Saturday afternoon from 4-7 pm. I believe you can buy tickets to this event for $10 each. A ticket will allow you to view the studios of 5 local artists, including Laurie Burton. Since Joseph and I have works here, we will be part of the studio tour by default. But, hey, if you don't want to pay 10 bucks, you can come visit my studio any time you want to, and yes, for FREE!

And, if next Saturday does not work for you, I will be having a one person show with an opening reception on Thursday, May 15th from 6 to 8 pm at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center off of Newlight Road here in Starkville, MS (http://www.msmodernhomestead.com/). I will have some duplication of art, but also will have other stuff. This will not be the same show.