Covid, Art, and Change

 Wowzers! What a year. I retired from my job as a scientific illustrator/research technician on July 1, I got remarried on October 10 to Jennifer, a wonderfully creative lady, and we have made lots of progress on building an art retreat at our property located in Sessums, Mississippi. 

Joe and Jennifer MacGown

Yep, I have long wanted to create an art retreat of some type where people can come look at art, create art, participate in art and music events, to enjoy and learn about nature, and even to start an artist in residence program. The idea sounds a bit crazy, but I believe it is feasible. 

the front of our art house

living room area with art on wall and art border

kitchen/dining

We plan on turning the existing house into a place for resident artists to stay while visiting and using other rooms as inexpensive sleeping options for various guests who may be at an event or something. We will be building a small cabin near the pond to live in, which gives us this amazing option! If all goes well, we are hoping to be ready by the fall of 2021. We already have a functioning studio, are about 80% complete on a cool art cabin/studio, have started building a gallery/workshop, and have a cool pavilion on the pond, which would be perfect for musicians to play on! 

pavilion on a snowy  day

art cabin

gallery/workshop started

rafters

studio

One goal is to have an artist in residence come stay for one to three weeks, with perhaps 3-4 artists per year. I would like each artist to leave their footprint on the property in same way such as creating a sculpture, painting a mural (or helping), doing a painting, or some other expression of what they do. Also, I am hoping to have artists conduct workshops in the gallery/workshop building that I recently started building. 

a fun view of studio and pavilion from pond

painting in the canoe! 

I am looking forward to completing these projects so we can get started on hosting art events as well as showcasing our own art! 

current work

love my inks

some of Joseph's whimsical ceramic pieces

Happy new year! 

MacGown Art has been popping this summer!

2019 has been so busy, I have not had much time to blog about the numerous exhibitions, artwalks, festivals and other activities I have been involved with. Starkville and the region in general is booming with artistic opportunities. What a great time to be an artist! My studio and property is gradually becoming more art friendly, and within a year I plan on having more art and music related events out there! Also, I recently revamped my website, so check it out if you have time at https://www.joemacgown.com/. Here are some highlights from the last couple of months!

INTERNATIONAL SHOWS: For me personally, it is always great to have my art included in cool exhibitions, and this year has been wonderful again in this regard! The Eurasion Art Union has been fantastic about organizing superb shows in spectacular venues. I was fortunate to have had art included in three fancy smancy group exhibitions featuring visionary and surreal artists from around the world this year including shows in Moscow, Russia; Belgrade, Serbia; and St. Petersburg, Russia! Thanks to organizer Oleg Korelov for inviting me.

Moscow House of Artists, Moscow, Russia

Exhibition in St. Petersburg, Russia 

Exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia

My amazing French art friend Bernard Dumaine, who is a master at collaborative works, had a spectacular show at the Phaneros Gallery in Healdsburg, CA that featured his own art and numerous collaborations he has done with others including me. The piece of ours included in the show is called "Honeymoon." Check out Phaneros Gallery if you are out that way!

Honeymoon, collaboration between Joe MacGown and Bernard Dumaine

REGIONAL SHOWS: Following the Meridian Museum of Art Bi-State Exhibition that ended in early April, I have had art in several other regional group shows including the Cotton District Arts Festival (CDAF) Juried show in April at the Visionary Arts Center in Starkville, MS; an extended version of the CDAF show held from April 15 to May 10 at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Gallery in Starkville, MS; and the Mississippi Presenter's Network "2019 Mississippi Touring Arts Show" at various venues including the O'Keefe Arts Center in Ocean Springs, the Powerhouse Arts Center in Oxford, the Visual Arts Center in Starkville, and the Bass Cultural Arts Center in Greenville. Below are images of the three pieces I had in the CDAF show, all of which are ink on wood pieces sized 24 x 48 inches. 

Disparate Progeny, ink on wood, 24 x 48  inches, by Joe MacGown

https://www.joemacgown.com/product-page/cassian-warrior-of-light

Arthrobryozoic Naiad, ink on wood, 48 x 24 inches, by Joe MacGown

MINERVA ART GALLERY: A small local gallery called Minerva opened up in April. The gallery is located at 203 Maxwell Street in the Cotton District of Starkville, MS. Minerva is owned by Tammy Carlisle, and I help out with the art in various ways including inviting artists, promoting events, maintaining the website and social media, and in other manners. Both Joseph and I have numerous pieces in the gallery, and we are building a nice selection of art by other local artists and several international artist friends including Peter Gric, Otto Rapp, Chris Dyer, A. Andrew Gonzalez, and KD Matheson! In addition to the art in the gallery itself, Minerva has hosted several pop up type shows where several of us had tents and other displays outside on 20 April, 18 May, 8 June, and 22 June. Our  next event is an evening market on 26 July from 6 to 8 pm. Come check it out!  

Minerva logo and sign, designed by Joe A. MacGown

Here is a view of one of the walls of art in Minerva!

ART FESTIVALS: Each year, Joseph and I try to participate in several regional art festivals and this year has been no exception. Our first festival of the year was the Three Foot Festival in Meridian, MS where our booth won best of show! The following week we had planned on being at the Cotton District Arts Festival, but unfortunately that event was canceled due to severe weather. However, two we weeks later we attended the Double Decker Festival in Oxford, MS and had a really good time!! Two weeks later we were at the Gumtree Festival in Tupelo, MS, which was moved inside of the Bankcorp South Arena due to potential bad weather. Overall, our experience there was less than spectacular, especially due to our booth placement, which was essentially hidden behind a stage. While we were glad they had an indoor alternative for the festival the booth placement and several other issues left a sour taste and it's unlikely that we will be returning anytime soon. We have at least there more upcoming festivals this year with the next one being the MissiHippi Fest at the Foxfire Ranch in Waterford, MS on 24 August; then the Prairie Arts Festival in West Point on August 31, and  finally the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs on November 2-3.

Joe and Joseph MacGown at the Double Decker Festival in Oxford, MS

CHALET ARTS: One of my greatest supporters of all time is Mark Wood, owner of Chalet Arts in Starkville, MS. Without Mark's continued support over the years, I would not be able to do what I do today. People often ask me where we make our beautiful archival postcards and prints and where we get our framing done, and I enthusiastically direct them to Chalet Arts. In addition to their great work, Mark goes the extra mile in supporting local art events. He even let me set up my art and the work of various other local artists on display in his store! Go check out the small gallery area and consider buying a piece of local art! Also, remember Chalet Arts when you need amazing prints and custom matting and framing! Awesome people!

Opening reception for art show at Chalet Arts 

Awesome art by local artists for sale at Chalet Arts

STARKVILLE SUNDAY FUNDAY: This is our third year for Starkville Sunday Funday, which is picking up great support and continues to grow. Currently, I am serving my second term as chair of the group, with Blair Edwards, Joseph MacGown, Robert Camp, John Bateman, Rosa Dalomba, and Caleb Hutson filling out the board. The event takes place from 1 to 6 pm the last Sunday of each month from May through October. The first two of 2019 on May 26 and June 30 were by far the best ever as measured by attendance, vendors, and art sales. Our next one is coming up on July 28 and it should be spectacular as well. Come see for yourself! Art, food, beer, live music, live painting, kids' art activities and more! Volunteers are welcome!

Sunday Funday in Starkville!! 

ART WALKS: So far, in addition to various pop up shows, we have done a handful of other artwalk type deals this year such as the Meridian Art Walk on June 1. Coming up soon on July 18 from 5 to 7 pm we will be setting up for Third Thursday in downtown Meridian, MS! We will be set up this coming Sunday afternoon (July 21) from 2 to 6 pm in the outside pavilion area of Mugshots in Tupelo, MS with Tupelo artist Belle Naugher for the Tupelo Sunday Funday! Swing by and see us if you are in the area!

The MacGown Art booth at the Meridian Art Walk

COMMUNITY MURAL: In May, I collaborated with Joseph H. MacGown on continuing a mural that he had started the year before on a retaining wall on Lampkin Street in Starkville, MS. This was part of the local art council's mission to start providing community art. The other sections of the wall were completed by Allison Julian and Gerard Woods, an elementary arts class, and a local high school group. We essentially finished up the wall. Go see it! FUN colors. 

Part of a mural by Joe and Joseph MacGown

mural by Joe and Joseph MacGown

Part of a mural by Joe and Joseph MacGown (Joe standing to the left)

Part of a mural by Joe and Joseph MacGown (Joseph painting)

INTERVIEWS WITH JOE: I had two wonderful interviews done this year about me and my art! The first was a video interview in April with Lori Neuenfeldt, Mississippi State University Art Galleries Director, for a program called "From the Gallery." It turned out pretty good and if you want to know a bit more about me, I invite you to view this 13 minute video below. 

I had another cool interview done by Efrat Cybulkiewicz, director and founder of a fun international art organization based in Italy called ArtMoire. The interview is available online at https://www.artmoire.art/joe-a-macgown.

So, yes, it's been a busy year art-wise thus far, and I have not even touched on the cool artwork we have been creating! Here is a snapshot of a large 48 x 48 inch piece I am currently working on!

WIP: Mayan Explosion, 48 x 48 inches, ink on wood, by Joe MacGown

MacGown Art Activities have not slowed down!

The last 3 months were about as busy as the previous 3 months!! We finished up our Sunday Funday events for the year with our last one on October 28 being the best thus far. We even got a road closure that one, had more vendors, more music, wonderful kids' art activities, inflatable jump houses, and overall had better sales than previous ones. Being chair of this once a month event has proven to be time consuming, but rewarding. We could not have pulled this off without great support from sponsors, grants, volunteers, vendors, the media, and attendees! Thanks to everyone. 

In between Sunday Fundays, we participated in several other artwalks, pop up shows and festivals such as the Meridian Art Walk (first Saturdays), the Columbus Artwalk, The Starkville Artwalk, Scooter's Records Pop Up Show, the Prairie Arts Festival (West Point, MS), the Peter Anderson Festival (Ocean Springs), the Mary Day Exhibition (Oxford, MS), the AIPP Abstract Show (Starkville, MS), the DC Sticker Expo 4.0 (Washington DC), the Scrambled Art Bowl (Oxford, MS), Oktoberfest Fundraiser for Columbus Arts (Columbus, MS), and more!! 

Next up is the Starkville Area Arts Council Holiday Showcase with an opening reception on Thursday, 15 November 2018 from 5:30-7 PM. I will have three pictures in that one including "Phoenix", "Purple Flowers", and "Mayan Rebirth". Come check out the cool art and have some fun snacks and wine!! 

This Saturday, November 17, I will be conducting a workshop on botanical illustration and sketching at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Birmingham, AL. If this goes well, I plan on doing some similar things on my property in Sessums if there is interest! 

On Friday, November 30, from 6 to 9 pm, we have some MacGown Art for sale at a fun pop up show at the Elegance Dance Hall space on Front Street in Meridian, MS. 

The next day, December 1, we will be set up at the Pop Poporium from 11 to 5 for our second annual Christmas Pop Up Show. You won't want to miss this one, as we will have several new vendors selling their artistic creations! 

Following the Pop Porium Show, I will likely take a brief break from these types of events, but if you want some art from me, just let me know. 

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)