2020 Upcoming Art Activities for MacGown Art

Whew, 2019 was a busy year, so busy I did not do much with this blog even! 2020 is shaping up to be no different. My son Joseph MacGown who is in his senior year (or should we say first senior year?) and I have numerous festivals and art walks coming up.

If all goes well and our application is accepted, our first outing of the year will be March 21 in Starkville at the Queer Art Market, which is part of the PRIDE event. We participated the first year, but missed last year due to a conflict. The next Saturday, March 28, we are hoping to be a part of the Hub Fest in downtown Hattiesburg, MS! Then on Saturday April 4 we will be setting up two booths at the Threefoot Festival in Meridian, MS. It is not too late to enter this and registration fees are reasonable (threefootfestival.com). Also in Meridian, I entered two pieces (Arthrobrozoic Naiad and Surreal Tree of Life) to the Meridian Museum of Art's BiState Competition! Wish me luck.

Arthrobryozoic Naiad

Surreal Tree of Life

We will take the second weekend of April off, but will be back at it on April 21 in Starkville with two tents at the Cotton District Arts Festival. We have lots of cool art stuff for sale including originals, prints, tapestries, books, metal prints, postcard, ceramics, and more! You won't want to miss this one!

Then the next weekend on April 28 we will be at the Double Decker Festival in Oxford, MS. We did this one last year and it was fantastic!

Of course our awesome once a month Sunday Funday starts back in May and will run through October. Big changes this year as I stepped down from my two-year term as Director of the Sunday Funday board and artist liaison, though I will still serve in an advisory sense. The new director is Robert Camp, who is a large reason that Sunday Funday is even an event to begin with as it takes place in Starkville's Cotton District, which is primarily owned by the Camp family. We asked Josh Herrington of Dunkington Art to take over the artist liaison spot and he will be amazing. This guy is full of knowledge and enthusiasm. So look for us to be there selling art this year, but look to others for details on participation. I will gladly send inquiries their way!

In other news, we have been in the process of restoring the old pond at our place in Sessums, just outside of Starkville. We built a cool pavilion and pier, which will be ideal areas for hosting art and music events. We are currenting building Joseph a small studio/cabin and in the future plan to build a small gallery to showcase our work and do workshops. Our  studio is located on the property as well, but it's so jam packed with art it is difficult to properly show our art to folks!

A view of the in progress studio/cabin we are building

A view of our studio

Looking across the pond toward pavilion and studio

Pavilion at night

Another shot of studio (left) and pavilion. Check out the beach!

Busy Summer for MacGown Art

Whew, I have not posted on here in a while. But there has been plenty going on. Following the numerous events in April, both Joseph MacGown and I had art on display at the Gumtree Arts Festival in Tupelo on 12 and 13 May and at Sunday Funday on 27 May and 24 June. I had 5 pieces in the "Recent Winners of the Cotton District Juried Arts Show" on display at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Office in June with the show moving to the West Point Arts Council gallery later in June (up through August).

Our next Sunday Funday is this coming Sunday, 22 July 2018, from 1-6 PM near the Parthenon on University Drive in Starkville. This kid friendly event is really growing and we will have four musical acts featuring Bryce Mitchell, Brent Varner, Nick Crews, and Flathead Ford; there will be about 30 art vendors there; some light food vendors; art activities for kids in the Parthenon; and more! Come see us. The first two were hot, but a blast!

Joseph and I completed three large paintings commissioned by Jay Yates, co-owner of the Veranda Restaurant in Starkville. Each piece was about 7 x 3 feet and they are hanging in the veranda section!

I have been busy working on various projects including a recently finished piece called "Parasitism", which is an ink on wood work about 22 x 32 inches.

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

Recent and upcoming MacGown Art Events!!

Meridian Art Walk, 7 October 

I had a great time at the artwalk in Meridian on Saturday, 7 October. We had a nice assortment of artists set up with their wares in front of the Union Station Depot on Front Street. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported us!!!

My tent just after I set it up at the Meridian Art Walk

Meridian Bi-State Art Competition, Meridian Museum of Art 

Following the art walk, I headed over to the Meridian Museum of Art for the reception for the annual Bi-State Art Competition. This was a great show and I was happy to have had two pieces accepted into it. One of mine won an achievement award! Yay. Here are the pieces I had in the show!

Halloween Art Show: Creepy Carnivale, Meridian, MS

On the night of 26 October, Joseph and I joined some other weirdos for the Halloween Art Show: Creepy Carnivale  in downtown Meridian, MS. This was a one night only Halloween themed art event with some truly amazing artwork and assorted other  coolness! The event was from 6–10 PM. Thanks to everyone who came out and bought stuff from us!!

Joe MacGown at the Creepy Carnivale

Joseph MacGown at the Creepy Carnival

Another view of the MacGown Art setut

SAAC Abstract Art Show, Main Street, Starkville, MS

The Starkville Area Arts Council's Abstract show has been running since 11 September, but will only be up until 5 PM on Monday, 6 November. So, basically you have today and Monday left to check out the exhibit. Unfortunately, the venue is not open on weekends or after 5 PM.

Joe MacGown posing with his work 

Joseph MacGown and friends near some of Joseph's work

Insect Show extended at Louisiana Art and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, LA

My five insect illustrations will remain on display for a few more months at the insect themed show at the Louisiana Science and Art Museum! Check them out if you are in the area!

One man show at Itawamba Community College!!

I am having a one man show at Itawamba Community College from 6 November through 5 December! I will give a talk about my art at the closing reception at 4 PM on 5 December. Come out and learn all about my weird art stylizations and enjoy the refreshments! Thanks to Shawn Whittington for inviting me and thanks to Chalet Arts for their continued support!

Here is a preview of some of the things I will bring for the show.

Sunday Funday coming up on 12 November, 2017

Don't miss our  last Sunday Funday on 12 November from 12-6 PM in the Cotton District!! We will again have spectacular live music, cool art, vinyl record sales, popcorn, and more!!!

Poporium Pop-Up Art Show at the Poporium in Starkville, MS, 2 December 2017

From 12 to 6 PM we will be having a super sweet pop-up art show at the Poporium on Main Street in Starkville, MS. Several artists are already  committed to participate and we will have live music by some wonderful Columbus and Starkville musicians!!! So book your  calendars and come by for popcorn, refreshments, live music and great local art!!

MacGown Art at Books & Boards, Columbus Art Walk, Thursday 5:30-7:30

Joseph and I will be set at Books & Boards on Main Street, Columbus this Thursday, September 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM as a part of the Columbus Art Walk! If you happen to be in Columbus, come by and see us and hang around this relatively new cool book store. Also, numerous other downtown businesses will be a part of the Art Walk.

A view of folks having fun at Books & Boards

Last week was fairly busy with the Bulldog Bash Vendor Market in downtown Starkville on Friday and the Sunday Funday in the Cotton District, the latter of which is getting better every time! Here are a couple of pictures from the Bash and Sunday Funday.

Bulldog Bash with Noah, Joseph, Pops, Ella, Lindsay, and me (right) (Photo by Luisa Porter)

Our tent just after setup at the Bash

A view of one of our tents at Sunday Funday

inside of our tent at Sunday Funday