Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Claude Monet, Snow Scene at Argenteuil, 1875

Gustave Caillebotte, Boulevard Haussmann, Snow, 1880-81

Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in winter

Hiroshige, Snow Falling on a Town, ukiyo-e print, 1833

George Bellows, Love of Winter, 1914

Vincent Van Gogh, Landscape in the Snow, 1888

Alfred Stieglitz, Winter 5th Avenue, 1892

Paul Gauguin, Breton Village in Snow, 1888

Since it is clearly not going to snow in Atlanta this year over the holidays (it is currently 70 degrees and raining), I thought it would be nice to bring the 'feeling of winter' to everyone by way of a "round-up" of winter paintings.  

Paintings of snow scenes have long been favorites of mine.  Anytime landscapes come into the gallery, I always seem to have a penchant for the singular one that depicts a snowy winter moment.  Winter landscapes are hard to capture because it often means painting with many different shades of white that have been manipulated 'just so' to portray light, shade, forms and reflections.  That being said, when it is done right, the result is usually breathtaking.   

I do admittedly have some ties to winter and the snow (getting engaged on December 25 and getting married the following December in Aspen, Colorado).  My husband and I are both avid skiers and jump at the chance to get out West or up North to the snow in winter whenever we can.  With the new gallery, this year that may be a bit difficult.  So, in the meantime, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....  

Thank you Jerry

Anne Irwin Fine Art

Jackson Fine Art

The Signature Shop

Davis Waldron

Sandler Hudson Gallery

Today, while reading my daily dose of Counterforces and Other Little Jokes (the blog of local art critic and friend, Jerry Cullum) I felt the immediate need to say 'THANK YOU'.  You can read his post from Sunday, December 14th here.  Times are tough for many (who are we kidding, MOST) small businesses now, due to the recent downturn in our economy, but art galleries are some of those that are hurting the most.  So, I say 'thank you, thank you, Jerry' for mentioning the gallery owners and directors who are still bringing new and vibrant art to the city amidst these hard times.

As a nod to Jerry, I too would like to pay my respects to all of those gallery owners (locally and nationally) who continue to make our world a better place by making art accessible to the public. To this effect, above I have included images and links to some of my favorite small local galleries in the city.  If you have the money to buy art, please show your support by purchasing a painting from a local gallery.  If you cannot make a purchase, all I ask, is that you please visit your local gallery and see the wonderful new exhibitions that the owners and directors have labored over, that may not be as well-attended this year.  I know just as well as anyone else how much they would appreciate it.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ART??!!

The usual (and unusual) suspects in Macy's 82nd annual Thanksgiving Day Parade

Keith Haring's "Figure with Heart" Balloon

Tom Otterness' "Humpty Dumpty": the inaugural balloon for the Blue Sky Gallery series 

Jeff Koons' "Rabbit" for the 2007 parade

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (and due in part to the quiet that has overtaken Emily Amy Gallery on Black Friday) I thought it would be fitting to blog about a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  As most families do, my husband and I woke up early on Thanksgiving morning to prepare our family's feast.  In order to get ourselves in gear for the big day of cooking, conversing, and cleaning ahead, we opted for some coffee and a small dose of the 82nd annual parade.

All of the usual suspects were represented this year, cartoon character balloons, clowns, bands, Broadway performers, and a special treat...ART!  For the third time since 2005, the "Blue Sky Gallery Series" continued with Keith Haring's "Figure with Heart."  Aiming to inject some art into the pop culture phenomenon, the Blue Sky Gallery Series was inaugurated in 2005, when officials invited artist Tom Otterness to create a balloon version of one of his classic humpty dumpty's.  In 2007, the series was revisited, when Jeff Koons created "Rabbit", modeled after his 1986 materpiece of a mylar bunny that was cast in highly-polished stainless steel.  A tradition that many are calling 'Pop Art in the Sky' is, in my opinion, a fantastic addition to the tired line-up of cartoon characters and 30-second performances.  Infusing pop art into this 80+ year tradition adds a little more culture into this widely televised and heavily attended event.  Now, the children (and grown-ups) that are in attendance or watching couch-side are able to learn a little bit about contemporary art without leaving their comfort zone.

Haring's "Figure with Heart" was introduced this year as a tribute to the artist, who would have turned 50 in 2008.  Working in conjunction with the Keith Haring Foundation, the Macy's Parade Studio re-created a pen and ink on paper of Haring's from 1987, entitled "Untitled (Figure with Heart)".  As only the third float in this 'Pop Art in the Sky' succession, I have to confess, that now more than ever, I will wait in eager anticipation of the next Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  

  

Magritte and his Legacy

Today's Google Logo

Golconda (1953)

The Son of Man (1964)

The Empire of Light II (1950)

To celebrate what would have been Rene Magritte's 110th birthday, today Google's logo mimics three famous Magritte paintings; most directly Golconda (1953), The Son of Man (1964) and likely, a piece from the The Empire of Light series (1950s).  

Magritte became a leading member of the Surrealist movement after leaving his native Belgium for Paris in 1927, where he then spent 3 years.  The illusionistic and dream-like quality of his paintings (and the present Google logo) is characteristic of a more "representational" style of surrealism rather than the "automatic" style seen in the works of the leader of the Surrealist movement, Joan Miro, and the like.  His works were often witty and amusing, playing with ambiguity and visual truth in painting.  Magritte states, "My painting is visible images which conceal nothing; they evoke mystery and, indeed, when one sees one of my pictures, one asks oneself this simple question, 'What does that mean?'.  It does not mean anything, because mystery means nothing either, it is unknowable."

It made my day today to see the "Magritte-ified" Google logo.  It is the little things in life that spark the curiosity of the young and old to discover more about art and its amazing history.  I hope that I was not the only one who searched and read all about Magritte's life and work after my first Google search of the morning.  I stopped to take in a small bit of culture during an otherwise mundane morning and feel that much more cultured for it.  I promise you will too.  

 

So many artists, so little time

Whitney Wood

Shelby Case

Silas Breaux

This past Thursday, my husband and I attended open studio night at SCAD. The amount of great (young) talent in the Atlanta arts scene never ceases to amaze me. Shown above are a few of my favorite finds from the evening.

I am pleased to report that the event was also surprisingly well-attended, for all the gloom and doom currently in the media. For most, art is certainly a "luxury," but as I was reminded, seeing so many students and young professionals there purchasing, for some (like myself) it is still a necessity.

Constantly curating

This past Friday night was the opening of my second exhibition at Emily Amy Gallery, which was a great success!  Since I am the only one currently employed by the gallery, the title of owner/director encompasses many things.  Although many of my odd jobs are not so glamorous, one of my favorite "tasks" in preparing for a show is curating.  

Curating gives me the liberty to really showcase my skills in art placement and artist recruitment.  It also gives me the thrill of hanging the galley with all new work, which makes the gallery so much more exciting to return to on a daily basis.  For this show I chose 5 gallery artists and worked around the theme of how different artist depict nature in a show entitled, Nature Interpreted.  

Coincidentally, as I was reading through Coco+Kelley's blog the other day, I discovered Urban Curators.  Urban Curators is a project "highlighting interesting and unexpected areas in urban environments."  The objective of the collaborative is to "celebrate the beauty of the abandoned, unused, and decaying spaces in the city."

While speaking with Laura this past Friday at the opening, our discussion turned to how blogging made us stop and appreciate all the beauty in the world that we may not have noticed before.  There is truly so much to be thankful for, even during these hard times.

Nature Interpreted

Cara Enteles, Bees do it Best, 12" x 12" Oil on acrylic sheet

This Friday night, I am hosting the second exhibition at the gallery since we opened.  The show, entitled Nature Interpreted, explores the way in which different artists take vastly different approaches to representing nature.  Whether it be oceans, flowers, mountains, birds, bees, or leaves, artists have long been fascinated with nature's depiction.  These five talented artists from across the country have come together to display the way in which they each interpret nature.

Please join me in welcoming them to Atlanta at a reception for the artists, Friday November 7th, from 7-10 pm.  I hope to see you here!

Kind of a big deal

Cecil Touchon, Fusion Series 2611, 6" x 4", Collage

So, thanks to all of your recommendations, this week I purchased Domino: The Book of Decorating to add to my collection of interior design books.  I would highly suggest it.  It is filled with how-to's and great large format color photos of some of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen.

You can imagine my surprise when I was flipping through Chapter 6, The Bedroom, and discovered a collage by one of my gallery artists, Cecil Touchon!!!  On pages 158-161, there is a feature they dub 'The Domino Effect" that highlights real-life rooms of Domino staffers.  Low and behold, in the graphic designer's bedroom, she has a painting by Cecil Touchon...one of Emily Amy Gallery's artists.  Who would've thought?  

This is kind of a big deal.

A Sadness in Stealing

Vermeer, "The Concert", 1658-1660 (among the 13 paintings stolen in the heist)

Rembrandt, "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee,"1633 (among the 13 paintings stolen in the hiest)

The empty frames that remain in the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum

A woman glancing at one of the now-empty frames in the museum

Last night my husband and I settled in for an evening of programming on Ovation TV, a network whose tag line is "make life creative."  The network is devoted to championing the visual arts, theater, opera, music and dance.  After briefly catching some of their new series, SOLD!, which is an insider's guide to high stakes art auctions, we began watching "Stolen," an independent documentary film from 2006.  

The film chronicles the history of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, focusing on the 1990 burglary, during which the museum suffered the largest art heist in American History. On the night of March 18th, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered the museum and roamed the galleries, stealing thirteen works of art including pieces by Degas, Rembrandt, Manet, and Vermeer's masterpiece, "The Concert."  In total, the works are estimated to be valued at $300 million.  Not a single work has been recovered to date and the $5 million reward leading to the return of the artworks is, as of yet, unclaimed.  

This, in itself, is a tragedy.  But, what I found most intriguing about the documentary, was how devastated art historians, critics, collectors, and museum directors were (and still are) about the disappearance of the paintings.  The overarching theme was that of extreme sadness over the loss of the paintings and the opportunity that had been thus stripped from the American public. Wherever the paintings are now, they have not been seen by the public in 18 years.  Those interviewed were so emotional over the loss that most were brought to tears and were pleading to the thieves to please return the paintings so that the public could once again enjoy the European masterpieces.

Similarly, although not nearly as intensely,  I often am saddened when a painting that I love leaves the gallery.  Since most paintings take months to sell, a certain attachment often develops, and although I am always pleased to sell a painting, there is a tinge of disappointment over its loss.  Not only is the painting no longer on view to the ever-growing, gallery-going public; I too will likely never see it again.  

So remember, the next time you visit a gallery or a museum, the paintings that you are fortunate enough to see, at that time on that day, may or may not be there the next time you visit, so cherish them (just as Isabella Stewart Gardner did her collection).

 

A Little Touch of (First) Class

So yesterday I went to my mailbox and was greeted by the regular: bills, bills, and more bills.  Then, something caught my eye.  A postcard!  It was not just any regular postcard either.  It was a postcard from one of my gallery artists, Zuzka Vaclavik, greeting me from Tuscany.  If the image on the front wasn't enough to stir up some nostalgia, on the reverse she had painted a little surprise for me.  It certainly made my day and I am still carrying it around with me.

Postcards have always been an integral part of my life.  Throughout my childhood, every time we traveled my dad would pick up an abundance of postcards.  Then, when I got to college, every week (without fail) a new postcard arrived in my mailbox reminding me of our adventures together over the past 18 years.  I always looked forward heading to the mailbox to find that one treasure amidst the stack of junk mail and bills.  

Coincidentally, as a gallery owner, I send out postcards to hundreds of people every month.  See some examples of invitations above.  These postcards announce shows and invite all of the collectors to join the gallery in welcoming the artists to the city and to view their new collection.  I have been saving postcards that my husband and I have received for years.  They are always a great inspiration.  Apparently the art community in Beacon, NY thinks so as well.  A fellow blogger has begun the "Beacon Art Postcard Archive" which is a catalogue of postcards from all of the local artists, galleries, and studios in the Beacon, NY area over the past five years.  What a great idea.  I would definitely travel to see that collection and maybe pop by the Dia there as well.  Sounds like a trip to NY is in my future.

My Favorite Place

This morning I read an article in the New York Times about Dia:Beacon, the contemporary art museum located in Beacon, New York.  The article discusses how the trip to the museum and the museum itself provide a much-needed calm in this turbulent time.  The space sounds more than impressive and the walkway to the museum sounds as though its not too bad either (offering views of the Hudson and historic bridges that cross over train tracks).  The collection, which is predominantly Minimalist, Conceptual and Post-Minimalist art is likely well worth the trip too.

When pondering where in Atlanta you can find a calming recluse from the hustle and bustle of our city, I immediately thought of my favorite place (other than my gallery, of course), Jackson Fine Art.  Although the trip to Jackson Fine Art is not nearly as picturesque as the train trip from New York City to Beacon, at least you turn off the 6-laned portion of Peachtree Street onto Shadowlawn, which is a lazy old street in Buckhead that still consists of old bungalows lined up one after another that now house galleries, boutiques, cake shops and florists.  And even though Jackson may not be as impressive as Dia:Beacon, it is certainly a safe haven and a head-clearer for any urbanite.   

Emily Amy Gallery Grand Opening Gala

Last Friday night (September 5th) Emily Amy Gallery held its inaugural exhibition and Grand Opening Gala.  Over 200 guests and artists mingled and admired works by all 23 gallery artists, while enjoying cocktails and hor d'oeuvres compliments of Five Seasons Brewing.  The exhibition, Abstraction: An Exploration of Abstract Art, runs through October 12th.  

Below, I have included some of the images from the party.  It was a great night.  If you did not get a chance to stop by last Friday, please feel free to do so.  We are open Tuesday through Friday 10-6 and Saturday 11-5.  I look forward to seeing you very soon!  You can also visit us by clicking here.

Style Tips

Yesterday I received a copy of Pottery Barn (the Fall Forecast edition) and I found myself flipping through it without even thinking.  Same old think on this page, same on this one too, I thought again and again as I saw the same items that stared back at me from catalogues of years past.  Then, something new.  "Style Tips" they call them.  Every 5-10 pages they have "Style Tips," which are sentence-long helpful hints about decorating.  Surprisingly, most of them are actually pretty helpful.  For example:

With one industrial element in a room, everything else--even traditional pieces--look contemporary.

And another:

Frames can "follow" architectural details like moldings or stairs for an eye-catching effect.

So, this got me thinking.  Maybe it is important to point out the obvious sometimes, because people do like being reminded of things.  I began thinking it might be nice to offer up some style tips of my own when it comes to art.  So, here it goes:

• Buy what you love, because you will have it forever.
• Your art doesn't have to match your couch; you can always recover!
• If you always decorate with traditional furnishings, try something contemporary on the wall. You will be pleasantly surprised with the result.
• Frame your art to best present the painting, photograph or print - not to match your decor.
• Emerging artists are not necessarily less talented than established artist, and they usually cost less too!
• Go with your gut when you are choosing art.  Let it elicit an emotional response in you, and when it does, you will know it is right.
• Works on paper are always a great option when a little money needs to go a long way.
• Don't listen to the "rules," if you want to collect several pieces by the same artist, go ahead--it's your collection.
• Start small: if you can't afford large paintings, then buy small ones.  They often have the same effect.
• Buy local - Whether it is a local artist or a local gallery, you will likely feel more of a connection with the piece and you will be supporting your local talent!
  

Hopefully, with these few tips, you will feel more equipped to step foot into the world of art collecting.  Good luck and happy art buying!

Another Item for your To-Do List

Whenever I wake up in the morning and find myself without a hectic schedule of meetings , phone calls and to-do lists, one of my favorite pastimes is sitting on the floor of the local bookstore (that is also hopefully equipped with a coffee shop) with a stack of art magazines.  There are hundreds to choose from and I can't ever get enough.  My standbys are usually Artnews, Art Forum, Art and Antiques, Art on Paper, Southwest Art (for a little something traditional) and any edition I can find of New American Paintings.

If there is a ever a time when you question whether or not good art is being made any longer, you can always reach for the most current edition of New American Paintings and find something that is likely noteworthy and also something that you may like.  As stated on their website, 

"New American Paintings began in 1993 as an experiment in art publishing.  With over 5000 artists reviewed annually, it has become America's largest and most important series of art competitions."

Each catalogue is a juried exhibition in print that represents a different region of the country. Just to give you an idea, here is a sampling of some of the artists from various editions of the catalogue that have been published over the last two years:

• Atlanta's own, Erin McIntosh, Book #64, 2006 Southern Edition
  
• Rachel Bone, Book #69, 2007 Mid-Atlantic Edition
  
• Sallie Wolfe, Book #69, 2007 Mid-Atlantic Edition
  

So the next time you find yourself without a list of to-dos, stop by your local bookstore and pick up a copy of New American Paintings.  I promise you will not be disappointed.