October has been a great month!

Can't believe it is already the end of the month! It has been an incredibly good one, I will say that. We have a fabulous exhibit in the gallery this month and therefore many visitors. Last Friday, we had an artist reception that was well attended by friends of the artists and the gallery.

Yvonne and James spoke to the guests, in a sort of gallery talk format and several guests asked us to to that again for the next exhibit. That kind of request supports my theory that most people "like" or "enjoy" art but want to know more about what they are viewing. Both artists kept everyone spellbound during their presentations and then offered to answer questions. Most of the questions were related to an individual work and that provided an even deeper understanding of the piece.

In addition to the lively guests, and the very talented artists, we all enjoyed our "celebrity bartender for the evening". Dennis kept his own little salon going around the makeshift bar. He had a great story for just about everyone. If you would like to be considered for the position of "celebrity bartender for the evening" just drop us a comment. The pay isn't all that great but you'll never work a better crowd. Ask Terry, he had a tip jar labeled Starving Realtor and he did alright!

October 2nd Gallery Hop

This is the official banner of The Bowling Green Gallery Hop! In the photo with the banner is Brie Golliher from BGB Photo & Design, the newest member of the group. She called me on Friday afternoon to say the banners were ready and could I run outside and take a quick look. (Sleeping baby in the car.) I grabbed my camera and took this shot to share with you all.

Brie has taken on the responisbility of placing the banners around town for this week's hop. What a trooper! In addition to pounding stakes on other people's property, she is getting her studio ready for her first official Hop night.

In addition to her work, photographers Alan Hudson and Alex Leigh will also be showing work. Brie also will feature a "sneak peek" of a work by Stefan Duncan. Stefan is an artist who lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina. Brie will be exhibiting his work during December with an opening reception on Gallery Hop night December 4th.

It's no secret who we will be exhibiting this Hop.... Our home page shows work by Yvonne Petkus and James Pearson. If you will be in the area this Friday (5-8), please stop by. As usual we will have refreshments suitable for a Friday evening.

Surprise, Surprise

Many of you know my partner, Steve, but very few of you know that he is an artist. When he has the time, he wanders to the back of the gallery where we have a small studio and relaxes by painting one of his "boats." I will have to delve into his fascination with water and small boats, as I have no idea where this fondness originated. I do know that after seeing several of his pieces, he has an eye for them.

He is off on a mini vacation and I told him the world wide web needed to see this piece. Since I didn't hear DON'T DO IT, I hurried and posted it before he returned my e-mail.

It's always easier to get forgiveness that it is to get permission!

Public Theater of Kentucky Benefit and Live Art Auction

Yesterday, when we were supposed to be enjoying a labor free day, Steve and I reworked our windows in order for the Gallery to showcase the wonderful art work that will be auctioned off at the annual Public Theater of Kentucky or P T K, Benefit and Auction that will be held September 13, 2009 at 440 Main, on the Fountain Square.

Miki Holmes, a wonderful patroness of the arts, has graciously arranged to have her restaurant be the site for this year's function. Not only will we be gathering at 440 but Miki and her culinary staff will be providing the refreshments for the evening. John Martin stopped in the gallery today and told me he would be playing for the event. All in all it sounds like it's going to be a great evening for an even greater cause.....live professional theater right around the corner from the gallery!

I love the place!

Auction will feature the work of:
Joe Downing
Angela Kuprion
Lynette Haggbloom
Kim Chalmers
Lynn Robertson
Yvonne Petkus
Mike Nichols
Marsha Heidbrink
Alice Gatewood Waddell
Jacqui Lubbers
C. David Jones
George Vitorvich
Susan Lackey
Faye Christian Phillips
Mark Whitley
And...Misha Ambrosia / artistic coordinator for the event.

Tickets are available.....just e-mail the gallery and we can get you all the information you need!

New Look

The outside of the Gallery at 916 has been undergoing some renovations. Tonya Taylor an architectural restorer has been working on the limestone columns and caps, scraping old paint and recasting "gargoyles." The old awning has been removed which makes the interior seem so much brighter and the sign has been repainted. We asked (begged) that the awning not be replaced. That made the landlord quite happy, for obvious reasons!

With the changes going on outside, changes must go on inside as well. That means artwork! Our next exhibit will coincide with the Bowling Green International Festival Gallery Walk and will feature Amanda Sears.

Amanda was born and raised in Kentucky and currently resides in Nashville. She spent several years in Chicago perfecting her art in addition to fashion styling and acting.

Amanda's artistic statement actually poses a question for her audience...What do you see?
Drawing from an extensive background in theater and fashion, Amanda creates pieces that incorporate both tactile and visual elements that lead the viewer to discover their own conclusions about what may or may not be conventionally beautiful.

"I want to know what my audience perceives from my work. Although I may create a piece with a certain intention, or inspiration, nothing is more gratifying than to hear what it has encouraged someone else to discover. Ultimately, my work is a modern expression of my energy and truth, whatever that may be at the moment, but when someone looks at my work, it becomes theirs."

Amanda's work will be on exhibit September 18th through October 2009

Always Adding

It is time to shake up the gallery once again. The third Gallery Hop of 2009 takes place on August 14th and a new look is always a big priority. No, we haven't had time to paint the walls, just rearrange the furniture! This time we are showcasing one of our longest running and most loyal artist, Edit Hepp, as well as Debra Gall, who is new to The Gallery at 916.

Edit's work is energizing and melds well with Debra's whose sense of color is deep and dramatic. We feel these artists will enhance the music of John and Marshall who will perform selections from their new CD as well as old favorites. The CD, JMS, will be available that evening as well as their older work.

We are also anxiously awaiting new work by Bill Guffey. As always, we have a special Guffey section. Steve thinks it looks more like a shrine.

Put August 14th on your calendar and come Gallery Hopping!

OOOOPS!

The title of the Karen Hollingsworth piece is "Room for More" not "4 chairs." I apologize for the misinformation.

Is it really August?

The door to the Gallery is open and the air conditioner is off.....is it really August? This is absolutely wonderful weather. Last week my husband and I flew to Cape Cod. I feel like I brought this fantastic weather back with us. What a gift.

Our week away took us to Chatham MA which, if you know your "left arm" geography of the Cape, is at your elbow. Michigander's use the "mitten" to show non-Michiganders where everything is in Michigan and Cape residents use the upper left extremity. Henry David Thoreau was the first to use the left arm analogy and it's accuracy has kept it in use for the past two hundred years.

Everything is Cape Cod is special. The food, the beaches, the ice cream and the weekly band concerts which are held in every town park from Mattapoisett to Provincetown. In Chatham it is advisable to position your blanket on the grass before 9AM as the park fills to overflowing. Not surprisingly for the Cape, no one even thinks of moving a blanket, so even if you are late for the performance your space is still waiting for you. I told you the place was special!

If you are an art lover, the Cape has hundreds of special small galleries, co-ops and art centers. Admittedly, the landscape and the architecture lends itself to all types of artistic interpretation and there is no shortage of places to view and purchase. I think I was most impressed with the Wynne/Falconer Gallery. The owner is Ken Wynne and not only did he know where Bowling Green was located,no body parts needed, he had fond memories of Charlie Garvin! Let me know if you are interested in that link as it would take a post all of it own.

Karen Hollingsworth had work on exhibit at Wynne/Falconer Gallery during July and her piece "4 Chairs" will be on the cover of Southern Arts magazine this coming month. "I'm trying to recreate the experience found when a room is bathed in strong sunlight, transforming simple human things, chairs, beds, paper bags, into objects of beauty." (Artist statement) As far as I am concerned, she can drop the "trying to" she has achieved a perfect recreation of several simple human things. I have visited her website and left a message of admiration. Wonder if she'd be interested in showing in good old Bowling Green. If she answers my e-mail, I just might ask her.

JAZZ DUO TO RELEASE NEW CD

August 14th is the date for the next Bowling Green Gallery Hop and John Martin and Marshall Scott will release their new CD , JMS, to the public. It is really great and I wish I could let you hear a few cuts from it but technologically, I am not that savvy. You will just have to come downtown on the 14th to meet the artists and hear the music. They will be here from 5 until at least 8pm. CD's, old and new will be available.

As WKU colleagues, John and Marshall have enjoyed a 20 year friendship and performed together in jazz combos, big bands and even classical ensembles. The JMS Jazz Duo began as a "necessary experiment" as many gigs required less performers and/or less sound. This wonderful combination soon evolved into one of the most creative and rewarding ensembles

Marshall Scott began playing trumpet at the age of 9 under the direction of Jack Basil in Elkins, West Virginina. He has been teaching trumpet and directing the Jazz Band at WKU since 1990. As a performer he has played in a wide variety of roles ranging from playing principal trumpet with various orchestras to performing with brass ensembles. He has accompanied many entertainers and jazz artists including Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops & Temptations, Natalie Cole and Bernadette Peters.

He can be heard on CD recordings including: "Lumen" as a member of the Louisville Trumpet and Brass Ensembles, "Earth Dances" as a member of the Kentuckiana Brass and performing his own compositions on"The Marshall Scott Jazz Quintet."

John Martin is currently director of guitar and music technology studies at WKU. He has appeared in Guitar Player magazine, is an artist for Godin guitars and GHS strings. He has made concert appearances with Al Martino, Norm Crosby, Clint Holmes, Joe Nichols and Tracy Lawrence.

John frequently performs with Michael Scott. He and Michael spent Thanksgiving 2007 on tour in Iraq. Along with teaching at WKU, he keeps quite busy as a freelance musician.

Plan to join the Steve and the fabulously talented Jazz Duo on Friday, August 14th at
The Gallery at 916 for the next Bowling Green Gallery Hop!

Back to Work

I believe that when this country has a holiday it should involve several days. Therefore, I am just now getting back to business. And it was a great holiday! The weather had everyone guessing on Saturday and Sunday but that just added to the excitement. On Saturday evening, I gathered with friends and husband under a tent on the lawn of the WKU Guthrie Bell Tower waiting for the rain to stop so that Orchestra Kentucky could begin . Well, that never happened. No music but fabulous fireworks! All of us under the tent agreed that it was a festive, if a somewhat soggy fourth!
Sunday plans for the lake had to take a back seat to the weather too. We finally did make it out to the cabin but all outside activities were cut pretty short. We've decided you can pan fry just about anything(hot dogs, steaks, hamburgers) and it all tastes great when you are among good friends and family.

Tomorrow the gallery will host KET which is our local PBS station as they produce a segment on Bill Guffey, who is exhibiting in the gallery this month. When I have more informaiton on where the segment will air and when, I will pass that along. Stay tuned.

There, I have worked pretty hard today and it's only my first day back on the job. Better knock off early...don't want to wear myself out!

What we have

Steve and I had a photo session today. Boy, is he patient! We took a least a hundred shots of the artwork in the gallery. We realized that if you can't see what we have you can't enjoy hearing about it or the people who create it. With that in mind, we have an aggressive agenda of photo shoots coming up.
Today we focused on adding works by Bill Guffey and Rhonda Hartis Smith. who are exhibiting this month. We also photographed two works by Angela Kuprion, who is a nationally recognized portrait artist. Capitol Lobbyists, features people in the lobby of the Capitol Arts Theater which is a restored movie theater. This piece won honorable mention in the 2009 Women in the Arts exhibition which is produced by The Women's Center of The Medical Center at Bowling Green. The second work is titled Roses. Both works are oil, Roses on canvas and Capitol Lobbyists on board.
Lynn Robertson has exhibited with The Gallery at 916 since day one. We have added two new works to her page, Luxemborg Gardens and Hey! Hay! Lynn travels extensively with her husband Claude, who is also an artist, and always returns with images that become works of art. Both pieces are oil on board.
So that's a little of what we have. We took photos of our pottery, jewelry and furniture which I will introduce to you along with their creators in the days to come.
It's possible that I will publish this blog post before Steve gets the photos on the site. But patience is a virtue.....as Steve reminded me several times today.

Square Saturday...

Saturdays on the Square during the summer are lazy affairs. People stroll instead of rush by the gallery taking the time to really look at the art in the windows. Saturday is also the day when visitors to Bowling Green wander down to the Square. When the wedding is in the late afternoon and you just have to get out of the way, what could be better than visiting the lovely fountain and absorbing all the wonderful charm of downtown. Visitors often remark how they wished their hometown had something as unique as Fountain Square Park. I am sure that most towns and cities had a central park at one time but were lost in the name of progress. A developer and gentleman, who is building a large complex just off the square once told me that cities spend billions to create the atmosphere of downtown Bowling Green. I believe him...I've seen those projects from Rockport to San Diego.

Nice turn out last night for the meet and greet for Bill and Rhonda. Sangria was refreshing and several people asked for Steve's recipe for artichoke and cheese appetizers. I even got a job pool sitting for two weeks in July...sweet!

Getting Ready...

This afternoon, we are putting the finishing touches on the current exhibit. Tonight we are expecting a few invited guests to meet Bill Guffey and Rhonda Hartis Smith and view their recent work. Several times a year we open our door along with 16 other galleries, studios and museums and invite everyone to "Gallery Hop." And on June 5th, lots of people "hopped." Usually, there is such an enthusiastic crowd that it is hard to view the art and get a glass of wine, so we schedule a second opening which translates into less people, more art and of course, more wine! That is what is on our schedule for this evening June 26, 2009 5-8pm. If you read this, consider yourself invited! We would all love to meet you!

Geograhically speaking,,,,

Upon reflection, I realized an error in my initial posting. Interstate 65 actually goes through Birmingham but it come pretty close to Huntsville, Alabama. Birmingham is lovely but Huntsville is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and Space Camp which puts it pretty close to heaven for several young people we know. Just wanted to clear up my mistake and give you another great reason to "come on down" or up or over!

Hello World!

The Gallery at 916 is proud to be on-line and communicating with art lovers all over the world. It is truly exciting to be sitting in Bowling Green, Kentucky on a beautiful summer day knowing that people who enjoy original fine art can communicate with like minded individuals from anywhere in the world. I am thinking of a friend of ours from New Zeland, a potter, by the name of Jo. We miss you and hope you are enjoying the winter!

The Gallery at 916, is an independent gallery situated on Fountain Square Park in Downtown Bowling Green. Steve Oliver and I share the responsibility of running the gallery and scouting out new talent from around the region. We hope with the addition of the blog, we will be able to develop new relationships beyond our present boundaries with artists and patrons alike.

Bowling Green is located in southcentral Kentucky on Interstate 65. It is pretty much a straight line from Lake Michigan to Dothan, Alabama. If you start at the southern tip of Lake Michigan and head south, you will travel through lots of interesting rural country, dotted with outlet malls. You will also travel through Indianapolis, Louisville, Bowling Green, Nashville, and come pretty close to Birmingham.

The Gallery is just one of the reasons Bowling Green is famous. Bowling Green is also home to The Corvette, Western Kentucky University, Fruit of the Loom, Camping World, and Beach Bend Park. Just north of the city is Mammoth Cave National Park. The park boasts the longest cave system in the world (according to Steve) and receives splunkers from all over the world.

Historically, Bowling Green had a role in the War Between the States much like the role of Kentucky, trading occupying armies over the course of the conflict. The area has preserved four fortifications and regularly hosts re-anactments. Several residences from that period have been restored and a few are open to the public for viewing.

There are endless reasons to visit Bowling Green and we will continue to entice you over the course of our blog but art and connecting art lovers is what interests us the most.

Our gallery is proud to represent artists who are currently living in the region. Some have been here all their lives and others have recently made Bowling Green their home.

Our intent is to introduce you to our artists and keep you informed on gallery happenings. Right now it's, scotch o'clock and the sidewalk cafes are filling up! Got to go.....Lynn