Dreams and Divinities Exhibition, Dallas, TX –recap of reception

First of all, thanks  again to Liba Stambollian for organizing this fantastic finale to the traveling "Dreams and Divinities" exhibition and to Matt Anzak, director of LuminArte Gallery in Dallas, TX for hosting the show.  

(photo by Patrick Muni)

This show, entitled “Dreams and Divinities Equinox,” opened on March 21st in celebration of the Spring Equinox. The fantastic art was a blend of  Visionary Art, Surrealism, and Fantastic Realism. Pieces were inspired by cultural and spiritual references, Sacred Geometry, elements of nature, explorations into the subconscious mind, visions, dreams, and fantasy. 

The list of artists in this show included some super talented and well known folks from around the world including Liba Waring Stambollion, Peter Gric, Andrew Gonzalez, Joe MacGown, Martina Hoffmann, Emma Watkinson, Otto Rapp, Adam Scott Miller, Cody Seekins, Patrick McGrath Muniz, Sandra Yagi, Bruce Rimell, Raul Casillas, Miguel Tio, David Heskin and Aloria Weaver, Chris Dyer, Erich Moffit, Hector Pineda, Carrie Ann Baade, Zeljko Djurovic, Roku Sasaki, Elisabeth Slettnes, Android Jones, Marcus McAllister, Gabriela Garza Padilla, Martin Stensaas and Sunny Strasburg. 

I made the quick trip to Dallas with another Starkville artist, Laurie Burton, and although we were there only a short time, we greatly enjoyed the show and meeting some artists and attendees. We started out Saturday by visiting some other galleries and antique stores in the vicinity of Luminarte Gallery. One of the private galleries we found was owned by French artist Jacques Lamy (www.jacqueslamy.com). This guy was super awesome and had some wonderful pieces of art from abstract to almost surreal. Really enjoyed talking with him and seeing his artwork!! 

Jacques Lamy!

Work by Jacques 

Works by other artist at Lamy's gallery

Just a door or so down we found another beautiful gallery (or two or three). Check this stuff out! A small sampling of stuff in the Design District of Dallas. 

But, back to Dreams and Divinites! We arrived at the reception at 7 PM and met the owner Jamie Labar and director Matt Anzak. Super nice folks! Directly after that we met two other artists with works in the show, Patrick McGrath Muniz and Andrew Gonzalez. These guys are ridiculously amazing artists, both well respected worldwide, and it was wonderful to meet them both in person. And, they were humble genuine guys who just happen to be incredible artists. 

Patrick, Andrew, and me in front of Patrick's painting

Patrick and his wife

I really enjoyed this show. There were some similarities of styles with some of the "visionary" works, but in general, most of the artists were very unique. All of the artists were at the top of their game with technique beyond reproach. I even felt like my works fit in nicely to the blend of styles and genres. This was a good show for me to attend in that I was able to observe the reactions of viewers seeing my work side by side with artists who are known and respected worldwide. The response I received was overwhelmingly positive. I now feel like I definitely fit in with this crowd, even though my art is quite different than any there. It did not hurt me that I already had some pieces in the gallery. As a result, I actually had more pieces present than any other artist, with five total. Matt Anzak seized on this and actually placed my four larger pictures in a prime spot, where they received a lot of attention. Thanks Matt!

Two of my pieces, Ossiforestation and Convergence

Two more of my pieces, As Above, So Below and Zabulation

The piece on the left is mine, "Going Green" is the title

Here are a few pictures from the show! Enjoy! If possible, check this show out in person at Luminarte Gallery on 1727 E. Levee Street, Dallas, TX. It will be up for a couple of months. 

Liba Stabollian's work!

Gorgeous painting by Roku Sasaki

Luis Tamani Amasifuen's painting!

top piece by Michael Divine and bottom by Otto Rapp

3D work by Magi Calhoun

Martina Stensaas (left), Luist Masifuen (middle) and Martina Hoffman (right)

Aloria Weaver (left) and David Heskin (right)

Kathi Schmieder, Andrew Gonzalez, Patrick Muniz, and Kathi's Husband

Sandy Yagi (top) and Erich Moffitt (bottom)

Work by Zeljko Djurovic

Gorgeous works by Raul Casillas Roma. Very detailed and full of color and things.  

Amazing work by Carrie Anne Bade

Zeljko Djurovic and Martina Stensaas

Chris Dyer and Bruce Rimmell

Andrew Gonzalez's works 

Marcus McAllister

Visionary self portrait by Adam Scott Miller

A wonderful painting by Patrick McGrath Muniz

Andrew Gonzalez talking with fellow visionary artist Greg Pettit

A beautiful digital/collage work by Andrew Jones

Cody Seekin's interesting painting on the left and of course Roku's work on the right

An intriguing work by Miguel Tio

Work by Bruce Rimmell

Andrew Gonzalez 

Martina Hoffman

Otto Rapp's piece

Another gorgeous piece by Andrew Gonzalez

Chris Dyer did this crazy piece

Dreams and Divinities Equinox Exhibition, 21 March 2015, Dallas, TX

Thanks to Liba Stambollian for organizing this fantastic finale to the traveling "Dreams and Divinities" exhibition and to Matt Anzak, director of LuminArte Gallery in Dallas, TX for hosting the show.  I am super excited to be a part of this show. This will be the fourth exhibition at LuminArte in which I have had art in. And, arguably, this one is the most awesome!

This show, entitled “Dreams and Divinities Equinox,” opens on March 21st in celebration of the Spring Equinox. Visual styles showcased in the project include Visionary Art, Surrealism, and Fantastic Realism, and are inspired by cultural and spiritual references, Sacred Geometry, elements of nature, explorations into the subconscious mind, visions, dreams, and fantasy. 

The list of artists in this show includes some unbelievable talent and includes folks from around the world: Liba Waring Stambollion, Peter Gric, Andrew Gonzalez, Joe MacGown, Martina Hoffmann, Emma Watkinson, Otto Rapp, Adam Scott Miller, Cody Seekins, Patrick McGrath Muniz, Sandra Yagi, Bruce Rimell, Raul Casillas, Miguel Tio, David Heskin and Aloria Weaver, Chris Dyer, Erich Moffit, Hector Pineda, Carrie Ann Baade, Zeljko Djurovic, Roku Sasaki, Elisabeth Slettnes, Android Jones, Marcus McAllister, Gabriela Garza Padilla, Martin Stensaas and Sunny Strasburg. The opening reception begins at 7:00PM on Saturday, 21 March 2015 with artists in attendance; and both the reception and exhibition are free and open to the public.

As for myself, I will have two works in this show, "Convergence" and "Ossiforestation".  

Ossiforestation, by Joe MacGown

Convergence, by Joe MacGown

More about the show here: http://www.dreamsanddivinities.com/2015/03/dallas-dreams-divinities-equinox-show/

Art stuff happening in Sessums, MS

Lots going on lately. Probably too much, but I guess that's how it goes! This fine Thursday afternoon I am inside my studio working on a new piece of art. Why am I here on a Thursday afternoon instead of at work? Snow. Yep. Once in a while we get a bit of snow here in Mississippi, and when we do, it basically shuts everything down. Fine with me. One of the cool things about the snow is you can see all kinds of animal tracks. My yard is pretty wild and attracts a good bit of wildlife. I have deer, coyotes, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, armadillos, foxes, some small rodents, lots of birds including ducks (on the pond), snakes, turtles, and various lizards and salamanders (not so much in the winter), and even an occasional bobcat. Just walking about this morn I saw the tracks of several of the mammals, so that was pretty cool! Here are a few pictures of my yard from this morn.

Back to the art. This latest piece I am working on is on wood and decent sized, about 3 X 4 feet. This time, I primed it with a flatter type of primer, instead of the glossier stuff I have been using. Over the last few days this week, I have been applying some colored ink with brushes, fingers, and paper towel to lay down some underlying color. Yesterday I started drawing with my Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph pens to draw some stuff on the crazy colors that I have going. It seems that as I get older, I am finding myself drawn to simpler shapes and figures, even if I create great amounts of detail within and around these figures. Also, I have noticed that certain creatures/faces/beings tend to reoccur. I am not sure why this is, but why fight it. I have this one face in particular that keeps popping up that is a simple round face with large eyes, no hair, and I would say it is more on the male side. Weird. Maybe I just suck at art and this is the only face I can draw! Or maybe my subconscious is trying to tell a long story over time with this "guy" as the main character? Well, I really don't know. Ha.

part of the new picture

large view of the new one

detail of my weird headed dude

the weird headed dude is connected to a very simple body

here is a detail from my painting "Memories From a Childhood Dream." Sort of resembles the face above. 

My piece entitled "Memories From a Childhood Dream". Maybe this title explains why I keep including this character? Maybe this really was a childhood dream?

Recent and Upcoming Shows

In addition to the various group shows I have been involved with locally with the Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC), I have had art in two different shows at Luminarte Gallery in Dallas, TX. The first exhibition, "No Body, No Evidence. Right?" opened late January, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a piece entitled "Zabulation" in that show.

"Zabulation"

The latest show, an abstract show of sorts, was called "Mnemosyne" and opened this past Saturday night (21 February 2015). I have two pieces in this show, "As Above, So Below" and "Convergence." These two exhibitions actually overlapped, so all three pieces are on exhibit there now. This is very cool as the LuminArte Gallery was voted the best gallery in Dallas this past year (and other years). Also, many of the pieces in both of these shows were created by artists who regularly exhibit internationally! Nice.

"As Above, So Below," colored ink and pen on wood, 24 X 24 inches, 2015

"Convergence," watercolor, colored pencil, and pen on illustration board, 2014

But wait! Theres more! I will have art in yet another show at LuminArte Gallery next month as part of the finale of the traveling "Dreams and Divinities" exhibition. This show opens on 21 March 2015 and will feature some fantastic international artists such as Patrick McGrath Muniz, Andrew Gonzalaz, Liba Stambollian, and numerous other amazing artists. To be included with likes of these folks is pretty sweet! Thanks to Matt Anzak, the art director at LuminArte for including me in these shows, and to Liba for inviting me to be a part of this last one.

In addition to these super trippy awesome international group shows, I will have two upcoming local shows here in Mississippi. The dates on these are not finalized, but basically I will be installing the first around mid March at Aust Gallery at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, MS. My buddy Terry Cherry, a great artist and instructor at the school there, invited me over for this. I exhibited there several years ago and greatly enjoyed it. The students seemed to appreciate my somewhat strange art, and even the older folks were intrigued.

The other local show will be going up late March in the Colvard Union Gallery on the Mississippi State University campus. This will be a group show with one or two other artists. Details to come, but it should be fun.

MacGown Art Talk at the Meridian Museum of Art

Headed to the Meridian Museum of Art Saturday morn to give a talk/demo deal about how I do my weird art. Brenda Brown invited me, and we had a decent cast of mostly older artists show up. First I showed them some representative examples of my art, then I pulled numerous smaller pieces of works in progress.

I also showed the art folks the collaborative piece I am working on with Ben Tolman, Ryan Thornburg and others. They all enjoyed seeing this and wanted to try something similar, albeit, on a small and simpler scale.

part of the collaboration I am working on

So, yep, here is some of the gang as they listened, asked questions, then spent some time drawing.

Pretty good time with the folks there at the museum, even sold a few of my books to some of them! Following the talk at the museum, I then visited the studio of Denise Dengler, one of the attendees. Brenda Brown, who had invited me down, had set this up as well, and she also came along. Denise and her husband's place in Lauderdale was a wonderful setup on 65 acres of wooded ravines adjoining a lake. In addition to her her husband's beautiful home, she had a two story studio and two additional small building where visiting artists can stay. Cool! Denise showed us lots of her colorful artwork and great facilities.

Me and Denise exiting her "Gypsy" trailer

"No Body, No Evidence, Right?" Exhibition at Luminarte in Dallas, TX

Yo ho ho! Just got some art delivered to the LuminArte Gallery in Dallas, Texas for the upcoming exhibition called "No Body, No Evidence, Right?"  The show opens on 24 January and runs through 14 March 2015. The opening reception will be at 7 PM on the 24th of January. The show is largely Abstract in subject matter and should stimulate the viewers' imaginations! 

Detail from my piece entitled "Zabulation"

One of the pieces that I sent was "Zabulation," which I did back in 2009. This is a crazy watercolor and ink painting/drawing on illustration board that took a long time to finish. Partly due to my excessive need for detail, and the size of the piece being 21 X 29 inches, but also because of the numerous layers of watercolor washes that I used to build tone. I like this picture a lot. Kind of dark I guess, at least to some people, but full of random detail that basically came about on its own with just a bit of guidance from me. 

"Zabulation" by Joe A. MacGown

This exhibition includes a wide variety of  internationally recognized artists including Ron Burkhardt, Irene Neal, Puneeta Mittal, Robin Antar, Paul Lorenz, Keiko Gonzalez, Gina Rossi, John and Elli Milan, Durand Seay, Shawn Man Roland, Carmelo Midili, Bonnie Teitelbaum, Diane Sanborn, Joe MacGown, Cristina de Castroand, and  Steve Smith, as well as  Texas artists Elizabeth Schowachert, Michael Broussard, Antoaneta Hillman, Leanne Venier, Trent Mann, Judith Seay and Awadh Baryoum.  

This will mark the second showing of my work in the LuminArte gallery. My Californian art buddy Steve Smith will also be exhibiting his finely crafted art here for the second time! Steve and I have similar ways of producing artwork in that we both let the art flow without conscious thought. Steve calls his way of doing art "automatic drawing" and I call my method "subconscious meandering," but really, its the same idea. I am seeing more and more of this type of art. I believe its a response to the chaotic times we now live in. Steve has a great blog about the upcoming show on his blog site. 

One of Steve Smith's "automatic" drawings!

This exhibition will flow into an upcoming figurative show entitled "Mnemosyne" in which I will also have some art in. So, thats some awesome news! 

"Barns," an exhibition of barns and rural related subjects - opening reception 5:30 PM 22 January 2015

The "Barns" show is up! Come see it! Come to the reception on 22 January at 5:30 PM! 

The Starkville Area Arts Council is hosting an exhibition of works by Golden Triangle artists at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership on 200 Main Street in downtown Starkville, MS. This show will run from 6 January 2015 through 9 March 2015 with an opening reception on Thursday, 22 January from 5:30-7:00 PM. Refreshments will be served at the reception. 

The theme for this show is "Barns," with subject matter related to barns or other rural settings such as old houses, old outhouses, farm animals, items that might be found in a a barn, etc. Photographs, paintings, and limited edition prints will be available for viewing and sale with most pieces being $250 or less. Additionally, a 4 X 4 ft painted panel from the Mississippi Barn Quilt project will be on display as well as smaller painted preliminary designs of others.

During the reception, talented local teen Sophia Seltzer-Hill will play bluegrass tunes on her mandolin and/or fiddle!

Artists contributing to the show 

Mike Box
Charles Bryson
Laurie Burton
Betty Jane Chatham
Walter Diehl
Fay H. Fisher
Briar Jones
Kat Lawrence
Joe MacGown
Kathy Holland Westbrook

Here are a few pictures I took of the works in the show.

Finished up a new picture, "Above and Below"

"Above and Below," detail of lower portion

Been working on this off and on for a couple of months. Started by priming some birch plywood with white latex primer, then added layers of colored ink. As I applied ink I moved the board around letting colors intermingle and dabbing some areas with crumpled paper towel to create some patterns. Let it dry, then some more until I had several layers. Then I basically drew a couple of almost circles and started applying detail with my Rapidograph pen.  This part takes a long time because I use a thin tip and because you can barely touch the surface of the board, otherwise the pen will get clogged from the paint. Caress the surface. Micron and other similar pens don't work well on this. They smear and the ink just does not adhere well to the colored ink surface. 

"Above and Below," detail of upper half

After getting some basic shapes going, I added some more colored ink with a brush to fill in some areas, then more pen. Back and forth like that. Decided to leave the background purposely vague. 

Here is the finished version.

"Above and Below," by Joe A. MacGown

Here is what it looks like upside down.

"Above and Below," upside down.