Behind the Facades

Behind Main Street Facades, South Boston VA
 alkyd, 14x11

I don't remember playing with blocks as a child but I enjoyed playing with my kids' blocks and Lincoln Logs.  I have a trunk filled with blocks in my workshop (and keep buying more); I still play.  This scene reminds me of my blocks of all colors, sizes, and shapes.

I've been away from blogging for a while--it was a hot month, a beloved aunt passed away, and I have a few paintings hanging in a group exhibit at MacCallum More Museum and Gardens in Chase City VA.  I have kept up with reading your blogs; I'll now get back to leaving my comments.

Showtime at MacCallum More Museum & Gardens

These photos were taken Wednesday when hanging was almost, but not quite, finished.   My sister-in-law helped me hang the show--she has a great eye and we work well together.  The exhibit opened yesterday--I didn't need a straight shot of Jack Daniels.  I celebrated with an old people's happy hour--a nap.  When I looked at my fifteen paintings hanging on the walls, I thought, "It looks like a group show!"   The wonderful wood pieces are by sculptor Terry McHose. 

I sold several paintings before the show opened and the meet-the-artists reception is next Saturday, the 9th.

The guest books from the last two shows were used as a mailing list (along with the museum's list).  Unfortunately, lots of guests didn't leave their addresses--just their names--and many people have P.O. boxes, so I'm taking a cue from the book, Freakonomics, and its discussion of incentives.  I framed the small watercolor "What Chicken?," and it will be a giveaway--place name & address in a vase; I will mail the work to the winner of the drawing.  I'll let you know how that works.

I included the painting below, "1963," in the exhibit only after she had a purpose.  She was propped against the wall for several months while I wondered why I had spent time on it.  I added a plastic cape--she's being groomed for all the careers open to women in the early 60s.  It will give viewers something to discuss (after they've discussed "He Beat His Mules"  which was retitled "The Spell").

If I Disappear for a While.........

Workshop/Studio--September 2010

If I disappear for a while, I can probably be found in the chaos of my workshop. I'm doing that last ten percent of work on several paintings because I will be exhibiting new works at MacCallum More Museum & Gardens beginning October 1. The exhibit will include works by sculptor Terry O'Hose; meet-the-artists reception will be Saturday October 9, 7 to 9 p.m.

Some pieces are out being matted and framed; some pieces need varnish (that's done on the back porch of the workshop); some pieces will be framed by me when the frames arrive on Tuesday (that's done on the guest house floor).

Also, workers will arrive Monday to paint our tin roof and power wash our house, guest house, and workshop. I'll need to be careful walking in and out of doors.

I was invited to exhibit paintings at the Arnold Library in South Hill VA; older works have hung there since September 1.

On October 2--after the Library exhibit is dismantled and the MacCallum More exhibit is hung--I might have a straight shot of Jack Daniels or Maker's Mark.

I no longer dream of being organized; the last-minute method somehow works for me.

Sold Sold Sold Sold Sold Sold Sold & Sold

The seven paintings above will be going to new homes, and I sold one piece of sculpture--Woman (black soapstone). These are part of the art exhibit at MacCallum More in Chase City VA, which is on display until the end of July.

I always have mixed feelings about selling; I'm happy people like them enough to buy but parting is never easy. Each one represents a chunk of my life.

In the Gardens

Tomorrow I will go to MacCallum More Gardens and open the Museum/Exhibit at 2 p.m. People have visited the Gardens to see my work and were disappointed when the Museum was closed. I don't mind hanging out in such a beautiful place; I'm equipped with camera and sketch pad. The above photo was taken last Sunday.

Lesson learned: Include exhibit hours on the invitation or announcement. (I'm excusing myself from "idiothood" because my last art shows were in the MD/DC area many, many moons ago.)

Friends, Relatives, Location

Despite heavy rains during the day, Friday's art exhibit opening was well attended and successful--thanks to:

Friends. Friends showed up. Friends bought paintings and sculpture. Friends brought arrangements for the tables and roses for me. A beautiful young woman played the violin.

Relatives. My brother and sister-in-law formerly owned a gallery in Pasadena CA; they helped me set up the exhibit. My sister-in-law is also a former restaurant owner who had introduced my paintings by hanging them on her walls; she served great food with flair at the opening.

Location. My exhibit shares a Museum with an extensive Native American artifacts collection, and with a tribute to the Thyne Institute, which began educating African Americans in this county in 1878. The Museum is part of the five-acre organically-maintained MacCallum More Gardens which was begun in 1929 by Lucy Morton Hudgins, wife of Edward Wren Hudgins, former Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. Their son, William Henry Hudgins, expanded the gardens until his death in 1986. Sculptures, stone walls, friezes, ponds with frogs and goldfish, innumerable plants and trees, birds and butterflies, places to sit and meditate--all in Chase City VA! It's a wonderful way to spend a day. The photo below is one of the Gardens' many beautiful sculptures--it was taken just after a light shower and before the dogwoods bloomed; I love the moss. The Museum, exhibit and gift shop are open Mon. thru Fri. 10 to 5 and Sat. 10 to 1. The Gardens are open every day 10 to 5.

My Thumb is Numb

My right forefinger
and the tip of my thumb--
upon awakening--
were both numb.

From pushing tacks
into the wall--
title/medium/price--
the cards say it all.

Not much money
for six years' work.
It kept me sane
when life was berserk.

It's raining outside;
the opening's tonight.
Will guests show up?
Some people might.

Lots to be done
and I'm wasting time.
My thumb's still numb
so I'm writing a rhyme.

Show Time

After three full days of back-breaking work--by my sister-in-law, my brother, and me--the exhibit at MacCallum More Museum and Gardens is ready for tomorrow's opening. Title cards on the wall, glass cleaned, business cards printed, artist statement finished, pedestals in place, sculpture polished and guest book ready. Whew!

Getting Beyond Vanity

Because of the upcoming exhibit a reporter came by today. I spent the morning clearing off the bookcase and dining room table; then I propped up some of my new work. I put Larry Jr., my IROBOT vacuum cleaner, to work on the floor and went upstairs to get ready. It was a nice interview with photos. Before I changed clothes and went into the workshop I thought--as long as I was spiffed up--I would set the camera on timer and take some photos. Here's the depressing part--I don't look any better than when I'm wearing my Good Will denim shirts! I believe MFK Fisher said we have to get beyond vanity; sometimes there is no choice.

I enjoy painting self-portraits showing age; seeing it in photographs is a different story.

Pedestal Prostration

Next week's exhibit will include "selected sculptures." People ask why I switched from sculpture to painting; I thought it was a natural progression. Now I know the real answer--pedestals. These six pedestals were built of masonite 35 years ago; they stack like Russian dolls, and I remember picking up the stack and putting it into my Plymouth Fury Station Wagon. Then it was off to shows. Now each one seems to weigh about a ton. It took three days to get them from the workshop onto the porch for painting--Monday to clear the way to the pedestals and move them away from the wall; Tuesday's attempt to lift the top one off the stack (forget that); and Wednesday--I lay the stack on its side, pulled the smallest one out first and carried them one-by-one to the porch. They've been washed. Kneeling into position behind the pedestal before the camera's timer went off was not an easy feat--I needed eight shots.

Today I painted them; everything hurts--tomorrow I buy a hand cart.

Update on Missing Spaceship

According to my sister-in-law, the spaceship is back in its rightful place--she drove to Danville today and saw it. There are three possible explanations for its disappearance: (a) There was an invisible shield around it on Tuesday when I drove to Danville, (b) I was so busy eating potato chips I missed it, or (c) It was in the shop for service. Two of my friends--one owns a local antique shop, the other is our UPS delivery person-- agreed that they had not seen the spaceship for several months! I will make the drive again and take my camera.

Postscript: Friday, May 29. Here's a photo of the real thing--it's larger than I had thought.

Missing Spaceship

For ten years I have been driving West on Rt. 58 to Danville--a beautiful 50-mile trip. There are several tall pines that amaze me--when I pass the front yard with the aluminum spaceship, I look for the pines. I thought the painting of the pines was appropriate for an invitation to a local art exhibit. The title is Rt. 58 West (just past the spaceship). Today I drove to Danville with my camera; thought I should have a photo of the approximately six-feet-in-diameter orb. The spaceship is missing! I worried that the trees might disappear; I thought the spaceship was forever. My friends and I are saddened--it was a Southside Virginia Rt. 58 landmark.