The Gallery At 916

Dali Day

2011-05-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

The last time I looked at the calendar it was April and Easter was almost here. Since that look at the calendar, my husband and I took a much anticipated trip to Treasure Island, Florida. The event was scheduled to coincide with our oldest grandson's spring break because our intent was to gather up the two daughters, the two sons-in-law and the 4 grandchildren and have a week of family. And we did. No one was excused. We all pitched in lugging beach chairs, coolers, chasing kids, looking for kids, cooking and keeping the beach towels clean. The adults took turns slipping away for a few hours leaving their offspring to grandpa and grandma.

When it was our turn to disappear we headed for the new Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. The collection has been exhibited since 1982 but this year, in keeping with Dali's surrealist fascination, the new museum building opened on 1-11-11 at 11:11. The building is as intriguing as the art it houses. The grounds include a garden, a grotto and labryinth. The building design uses helixes, spirals and "fool the eye" techniques to create a total immersion into Dali's creative genius. The Cafe Gala serves only Spanish inspired food. How fun is that?

First we took the docent tour through the main exhibit then, after a little Orangina break, we used the self guided audio tour to do it again. It was a great beach break and we spent the better part of the day there. It is a must see if you find yourself in the Tampa area.

When we returned to the beach we headed to the Don CeSar for cocktails and the sunset... with a couple of grandchildren, of course!

Portraits that Make A City

2011-04-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Gallery is proud to share the portraits of fifteen individuals who, in our opinion, have helped shape the personality of Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are by no means the only ones but these folks came to mind quickly when brainstorming about personality, visibility, and accomplishments.

You may wonder about the Notable or Notorious title. We felt that we are all notable at sometime in our life and with some people, same with notorious. It truly is a matter of perspective. We all have our loving side, our generous side and yet deep down we know there's a little devil lurking in there somewhere too!

We gave four Bowling Green residents the honor of being included posthmusithly: Ernst Hogan, George Ann Hobson Duncan, Pauline Tabor and Dr. McCormack . It was our feeling that these people and their personalities were slipping from the collective memory of the city. We hope our exhibit reintroduces them to you.

Let us know which Notable or Notorious person inspires, intrigues, or just interests you. We would love to read your thoughts and comments. Better yet, suggest someone you think is worthy of inclusion in Notable or Notorious II.

2011-04-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

MEDITATIONS ON THE HOLY CROSS

The most widespread and important of the Christian symbols is the cross. It is universally recognized as the instrument on which Christ was crucified, died for our sins and redeemed us in the eyes of God the Father. Many of the faithful sign themselves with the cross, “a repetition in motion of the symbol of our salvation,” and are blessed with the sign by the priest as they begin and end prayer. Crosses decorate our homes and adorn our bodies.

“Properly speaking, a crucifix is a cross to which there is attached, in relief an image of the body of Christ.” Simple literal representations of the crucifixion as relief in doors and walls began to appear in the 5^th century. The Middle Ages continued to create literal images of the crucifixion but heightened the violence suffered by Christ’s body. Icons, a Byzantine art form, often depicted a pitiable figure of Christ “dead and yet alive.” Artists of the Northern Renaissance style kept a harsh emotionalism as seen in Matthias Grunewald’s, Isenheim Altarpiece (1515). The 17^th and 18^th centuries saw a rise in dramatic representation of Christ as in Rubens, The Raising of the Cross (1609-10).

Modern day portrayals of the crucifixion are much more symbolic or stylized and devoid of violence.

Meditations on the Holy Cross is a series of paintings, drawings and sculpture by John Warren Oakes. Oakes, a Professor of Art in the Art Department at Western Kentucky University, began the series in December 2008 and has completed over 100 paintings in oil, acrylic and encaustic, plus over 600 drawings and a dozen low relief sculptures based on the Crucifixion.

Following his return from a sabbatical in England during the summer of 2008, John began searching for a new direction in which to take his art. His wife, Libby, suggested that he investigate The Shroud of Turin which by its nature continues to intrigue viewers with its power. But John felt that The Shroud offered no options for further artistic interpretation, “Where could I go without minimizing the effect of the original.”

During his months in Arizona, meditating and studying images of the past, the idea behind Meditations began to take shape. Drawing on his insights developed at a workshop on iconography in 2005, John felt moved to create sacred images that people were familiar with but in a more contemporary style.

Although the central figure of Christ is immediately recognizable in each piece, Oakes’ approach allows the viewer’s personal history to “fill in the rest” of the composition. He expresses this concept by combining multiple visions of the crucifixion integrated with abstract forms and transparent layers to suggest rather than depict the event. Hints of traditional images are barely visible. The viewer contributes personal memories of the historical subject completing the image. “One obvious challenge,” John admitted,” was to include enough detail to suggest a historical representation of the subject without losing the shroud-like mystery as the suggestion of the form is revealed.”

In the series he has included shapes and forms that suggest the subject without detailing. He uses value and color contrast to emphasize the feeling of internal light emanating from the figure surrounded by ambiguous space and darkness. His personal mark making and brush strokes add texture by over-painting in a scumbling fashion. His color is triadically harmonized and limited to warm darks with yellows and orange tints chromatically making value shifts. He employs complimentary cool blues and violets which contrast with the warm colors. Fr. Ray Goetz saw, “More light out of darkness, massive, solid looking cross but looks like it is floating, ‘If I be lifted up…”

The compositions are basically symmetrical with movement of forms emphasized. Figure elements are repeated in various positions to create movement, rhythm and a repetition of form. “I am interested in depicting the life energy that emanates from Christ, not the crucifixion itself. It is the transcendence of the spirit on which I focus. To paint the crucifixion in a non-sentimental but emotionally charged manner is my aim.”

“I am personally inspired to do this series. By meditating on the crucifixion I hope my relationship with the subject will grow and contribute to the effect this image has on the viewer. These are not for worship but to inspire and create a spiritual experience.” Indeed, upon viewing the work one senses his respect for the subject and the feeling of life of the spirit emanating after the death of the body which significantly contributes to emotional impact of his art.

John has posted many of the pieces on both on The Gallery at 916 website and https://picasaweb.google.com/jokerbgshow/MeditationsOnTheHolyCross?feat=directlink Since the series began he has received hundreds of comments that reflect an intense personal association with the work. “You know you are bearing witness to something great when you forget to take a breath in between viewings.” wrote Courtney Collins Bevins. “I see sadness within sadness here, Jesus/humility embraced by the father/grace.” Jennifer Bell commented. “It is lovely and I am moved.”

In addition to viewing Meditations on the Holy Cross on line, selected work from the series is on exhibit in several locations throughout the city during the month of April. The Presbyterian Church, 1003 State St. houses the largest collection and will host a reception for the artist on Friday, April 29^th from 5:30-7:30. Christ Episcopal Church, 1215 State St. has created a gallery/ prayer space for reflection and prayer that will be open to the public during the day. St. Joseph Catholic Church, 434 Church St. has selected pieces for the sanctuary and the nave to enhance Lenten services and provide additional spiritual nourishment for all. Several pieces have been selected by Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Three Springs Road, for private meditation and prayer and may be viewed during day time hours. For 24 hour viewing, The Gallery at 916, 916 State St. has in addition to work inside the gallery several pieces displayed in the window. Additional work can be viewed through the windows at 1019 State St., which is next to The Presbyterian Church.

“I hope that a contemporary approach to this historical subject will contribute to the devotion of the subject of the crucifixion of Christ.”

John Warren Oakes was an Albert Dorne Scholar at the Art Students League of New York. He received the M.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the School of Art and Art History at the University of Iowa and did graduate work at Harvard University where he received the C.A.A. He is a member of ArtWorks Coalition of Bowling Green Kentucky, The Sedona Visual Artists Coalitions of Sedona, Arizona, Encaustic Artists International, The Encaustic Art Institute of New Mexico and International Encaustic Artists.

The reception for John Warren Oakes on April 29 is free and open to the public and will be presented by all participating venues. During the exhibition, visitors may register and list their church affiliation at The Gallery at 916. At the conclusion of the exhibit, the church with the most viewers will be given a painting of their choice from the exhibition.

First Ever Public Art Hanging!

2010-07-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note before everyone turns off their computers for the weekend.

We have extended the deadline for entries!!! Since Steve and I will be in The Gallery on Monday, July 5th hanging and labeling artwork, we have decided to accept entries with artwork on Monday. We have a few spots remaining and we wouldn't want anyone who is interested to be left out. Call The Gallery before you make the trip downtown 843-5511 and let us know you are on your way. We'll leave the light on for you!

Gallery Hop Night

2010-06-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

The second Gallery Hop of 2010 took place last Friday evening. We had a great time and a great turn out. Libby Browning graciously agreed to be our celebrity bartender for the evening. She looked lovely and did a fine job with the Margaritas and the wine! She also had a great time meeting old friends and making some new ones. We look forward to having her back for the August Hop.

Verdi catered the event and Mirza had a wonderful assortment of hors d'oeuvers that included, my favorite, salmon croquettes. This is the second year that Cabot Creamery has sponsored our events. All of the galleries including "916" had an assortment of Cabot Creamery cheese on hand for everyone to sample. The food and the wine went well with the art! Overall, it was a nice mix.

Several clients left with Lynette Haggbloom's slumped wine bottle cheese trays. A great gift idea at $35.00. Kay Zoretic, A Sterling Performance, was another crowd pleaser. Her new line of museum inspired sliver jewelry ( $65 and up) got a lot of attention. Kay created several etched silver necklaces with a different Kanji symbol on each. Pieces by Lloyd K. Hughes, Shanna Paul and Bill VanTassel also left with happy Gallery Hoppers.

The Hop Passport was introduced during this month's event. All Hoppers received a special "passport" that has a numbered circle for each venue. When you visit a participating studio or gallery a representative stamps on their number. Participants who have all 16 circles stamped by the end of the December Hop are eligible to win a grand prize. If you have not received a Passport and would like to participate, all venues will have additional Passports available for the August Hop.

So now that the big event of June is behind us we are feverishly working on the Public Art Hanging scheduled for July. If you haven't heard about it ...head for our news page and check it out. It's going to be fun!

Public ART Hanging!

2010-05-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Downtown Bowling Green will be the place to be during July. Concerts in the Park will move from Wednesday at noon to Friday evening at 6:30. Verdi and 440 Main are working on special events and Mariah's continues with its 30th anniversary celebration.

Not to be outdone, The Gallery has decided to create its own special event. We will be hosting the First Public Art Hanging in Bowling Green. This exhibit is open to any one. We will be accepting entries until July 1st and will begin hanging the work on July 6th. The opening reception will take place on Friday, July 9th beginning at 6pm to coincide with the first Concert In the Park. From that moment until August 5th at closing time the public is invited to vote for their favorite piece of art. All during the exhibit, we intend to keep the voting tally on our Facebook page. That way the artists and our patrons can keep tabs on their favorite entry. Each vote costs a dollar and the $$$ will be donated to our neighbors, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) to help them carry on the wonderful work they do for children in South Central Kentucky. They will also keep weekly Facebook postings on the exhibit.

All the necessary entry information can be found in the news section of our website. Print the entry form and mail it or come by The Gallery, Monday through Friday 11-5 or Saturday 11-2, and meet Steve and me. (Sorry, we are not set up for you to enter on line.) We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have about the show, call us 270-843-5511 or send us an e-mail.

We are really looking forward to this exhibit and this is your chance to have your work in The Gallery at 916. This is for everyone! We just reserve the right to refuse anything offensive, but that is just a minor detail and we hope we won't have to turn anyone away.

So get our your brushes and create something wonderful or take that piece off the wall that everyone always tell you how good it is and enter it in The First Public Art Hanging in Bowling Green, Kentucky!

Summer's Almost Here

2010-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Seems like Spring is quickly turning into summer. School is almost out! WKU graduation is Saturday and the local schools only have two weeks to go! Memorial Day will open the pools and there we are! Summer for us means great things happening in The Gallery and on Fountain Square.

We are gearing up for the next Gallery Hop which will be held on June 4th. For this Gallery Hop we have put together a collection of 2D and 3D art from various artists who hail from all around Kentucky. We have metal work from Lloyd K. Hughes from Lexington, pottery by Fred Weisner from Maysfield and Thoms Porter from Philpot. Jewelry by Rad Relics based here in Bowling Green and The Purple Rabbit Studio from Scottsville. Our yard art is created by Karen Hart of Louisville and Jana Johns from Louisville designs our Derby Babes. And of course we continue to inspire Bill Van Tassel from Morgantown to create novel art forms in glass. The Gallery Hop, Friday evening June 4th until at least 8pm. After that good music at 440 until the wee hours!

The Concerts in the Park will begin Wednesday June 2nd at noon. The band will be "Blue Light Special" who rock with music from the 60's, 70's and 80's. So grab a lawn chair and a picnic lunch (don't know if Rapid Rick will be on hand) and plan to spend an hour or so on beautiful Fountain Square. Big thank you to BB&T who once again has stepped up to title sponsor for the 31st Annual Series! And in a much smaller way, The Gallery at 916 is once again proud to be a sponsor of this great program.

Summer is starting and it's looking good!

2010-04-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

"Did you know that laughter heals the heart, increases your metabolism, makes you happy and touches even the grumpiest demeanor?" Austin photographer Lorri Honeycutt has produced photo-illustrations for a real estate firm, hair salon, sign company, medical group, software company and, of course, many restaurants and wineries. Honeycutt’s work is sold at Fortneys and Sparks, both on 6th Street in Austin, and is available at art festivals in Texas and along the East Coast and I was lucky enough to encounter her work on a trip to Tampa, FL. "I think that a sense of humor is a gift. Meeting those who share your odd sense of humor is joyous. Which means, I think we would get along famously. "All the photos were taken with a Nikon SLR digital camera macro lens, and a lot of little figures. None of the photos have been digitally enhanced or created." I just love the little figures! "At the very least, I hope my photos bring you a smile." And smile you will when you window shop at The Gallery at 916. Three of Lorri's photos are for sale at The Gallery. Or visit her online gallery at www.bigworldphoto.com.

2010-04-24T11:59:00.001-07:00

Tis the Merry Month of May

2010-04-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

May is just a week away and we are busy collecting art to honor the two great May traditions of Kentucky: The Derby and Mother's Day.

Brenda Brown, our Russellville artist, keeps our gallery bright and cheerful with her mixed media horses and cows. Our newest piece is titled "254." It is a mixed media piece that features a black and white Holstein named, "254." We also have "Calvin" on display. It is also a mixed media piece that features the "winningest" jockey from last season, Calvin Borel. We are looking forward to several more pieces from Brenda for this most exciting of seasons.

Faye Christian Phillips promised me that she planned to set yesterday aside to paint, paint, paint. I haven't heard how successful she was but I am looking forward to seeing her new work. She has quite a followingher at The Gallery and her admirers anxiously await new work as eagerly as I do. She had several ideas that she wanted to commit to canvas for Spring. We will photograph and post as soon as we can, so stay tuned.

Working on an exhibit with Angela Kuprion, Helen Nash, Rhonda Hartis Smith and others for the fall. It takes a while to go from the talking stage to an actual exhibit and I will keep you informed as we progress through the process.

Gallery News

2010-04-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

The exhibit for Cindy O'Daniel and Bob Goodwin is sadly coming to an end. It has been a wonderful show and The Gallery has never looked so striking! We continue to have clients come in who have seen the exhibit not once but three or four times! They usually have a "first timer" in tow and they do the gallery talk for me! It is that amazing.

Although Bob and Cindy have been in several art shows, this is the first time they have exhibited in a gallery. Not knowing what to expect at an artist reception, they were thrilled with the turn out and the interest displayed by the guests. They were gracious to the end, explaining the process and philosophy behind their art.

They did not meet until the reception on Friday evening and after spending several hours enjoying each others work, they made plans to get together and work! Bob is most interested in learning more about oil painting and from the first time he saw Cindy's work, he said, "I want to take a few lessons from this lady!"

After the exhibit closes, The Gallery will continue to have a limited number of Bob's pieces available and we are currently working with Cindy to feature her prints on canvas.

Nashville Art Debut for Amanda Sears

2010-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, March 6th Amanda Sears will be making her Nashville art debut during the First Saturday Gallery Crawl, at The Arcade downtown.

She will be showing a few pieces in a group exhibition at the Davis Art Advisory/The Showroom, is located upstairs in The Arcade. She invites you to stop by anytime from 6-9 p.m. It's FREE and it's FUN!

She is excited and we are excited for her and for our clients who already have her work in their collections. She is a tremendously hard working and determined young woman whose art speaks of strength and depth.

We have several new pieces of Amanda's work and we will post photos next week. If you would like to view the art now, visit her website and look for Dirty Money, Pangaea, and Butterfly Tree. Prices are available on request through The Gallery at 916

ARTWORKS * MEMBERS 3RD ANNUAL FINE ART EXHIBIT

2010-02-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

The Gallery looked fabulous, the refreshments were fabulous, the music was fabulous and the artwork was divine! Last evening a select group of art lovers had the opportunity to preview the ArtWorks Members 3rd Annual Fine Art Exhibit. The classical guitar of Wyatt Roselle and the outstanding artwork by 44 Artworks members had the guests in a very mellow mood. Steve and I made our guests as welcome as possible as they sipped their favorite beverage, courtesy of FLUID and munched on spring rolls and the award winning spinach dip from 440 Main.

Steve took lots of photos and if they do not appear with this blog, check out the news section of the website. He also took a photo of each and every piece in the show, all 88 of them! Some pieces are already sporting the classic "blue dot" that signifies sold but should you see one you like let us know and we will get you all the information you need to make it your own.

The exhibit was juried by Amanda Dillingham from The Renaissance Center in Dickson, TN. I wasn't in on the jurying (cleaning in the back studio) but I know she was quite impressed with the high quality of work she was judging. At this time the list of winners is being guarded by Price Waterhouse (if they still exist) and the awards will be announced at 7pm on Saturday evening. You are all welcome to join the throng that will be assembled here for the excitement and merry making! So either way...say tuned or come on down to The Gallery at 916

Let it Snow!!!

2010-02-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

January ended with a small explosion of snow here in South Central Kentucky which was welcomed by every kid, young or old, I know. The newspaper had multiple stories about sledding on this hill or that; how many sledding injuries made it into the hospitals and whose car slid into whose. The photos that accompanied these stories featured smiling red cheeked faces. My favorite photo has about six kids on one sled on the hill behind the junior high school. Hospital Hill, which is in the center of town and in my estimation the scariest of sledding spots, due to multiple trees and boulders, was the scene of a traffic jam for most of Saturday! Cars were parked on both sides of all the streets leading up to it. Oh, it was fun. Gallery was closed and I took the cross country skis out to the golf course for a little ungroomed trail blazing in the bright sunshine.

I grew up in the Buffalo, New York area and winter rolled in around November 15th with one big gray cloud that stayed until April. I thought every one's winter looked just like mine. When I was a kid, I never could figure out how photographers got those gorgeous shots of blue streams flowing through pristine white snowbanks with the sun shining through the pines. And then, thank God, I moved. I had never until then seen the sun come out after a snowstorm! It was heavenly! Although that was many years ago, I continue to marvel at that natural wonder made up of kids, sunlight and snow. And so it was this weekend. And it was fabulous.

Valentines Day

2010-01-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

The weather outside is frightful but Mary Lou's Valentines are delightful. I know those aren't the real words to the song but today it's the truth! The weather has been wild all day. First rain, then snow, then beautiful blue sky, a blizzard, hail, more blue sky, more snow and now as night falls all is quiet with soft grey clouds.

Mary Lou's Valentines on the other hand are lovely. We received 19 originals note cards! Some are pink, some red, some sport handmade glitter hearts. What a truly personal way to say you are loved. Mary Lou has never marketed her cards before and we are really happy that she has chosen The Gallery for her debut. Each cards sells for $4.75.

If you are in the Bowling Green area and the weather permits, stop by and take a look, I have several of them in the window.

So count up your Valentines and send us an e-mail, we will be happy to ship as many as you need to make them all happy!

Wow...What a Season!

2010-01-22T13:25:00.000-08:00

I promised our web designer that I wouldn't let the blog down...and that is just what I did during the crazy time between Halloween and the New Year! Where did the time go? I can tell you, Steve and I spent a lot of time together and all of it in the gallery.

Saturday, October 31 st. had us dressed in appropriate costumes handing out trick and treats to the little art lovers who visited the square. Six days later we were decked out for the Downtown Christmas Open House! All during November we stocked the shelves and walls with goodies for Christmas art lovers.

We accepted Tom Pfannerstills work and readied the gallery for the December 4th Gallery Hop. Tom's work delighted everyone who came into the gallery during the duration of the show. Steve, with the help of our other good friend Steve, succeeded in hanging one of Tom's 3d pieces from the ceiling. I stuck around watching them for awhile but when it came time to hoist the $3800 still life, I went out for coffee. They did an amazing job and Tom was so pleased when he saw our installation.

The December Gallery Hop was sandwiched between The Downtown Lights Up, on Thursday night, and the Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. A very festive time for all.

Tom's official reception was held on Sunday afternoon, December 13th. Despite the draw of a Titan's home football game, there was barely room to move as Tom and Jessica Snodgrass gave their gallery talks. And so the month continued.

Business was brisk and as we got closer to Christmas we were both feeling in the spirit of the season. Lots of folks liked what we had to offer in the way of art and good will.

Christmas over I took some time with Dennis to visit the daughter and her family in Madison, WI. We loaded Christmas presents and the cross country skis and spent 5 days enjoying the snow, great beer and the most adorable grandchild in the world.

So here we are somewhere in the middle of January. Steve has repainted the WHOLE gallery and we have ordered a new hanging display system. The majority of Tom's great work has gone back to Louisville, new work by Amanda Sears has arrived, the 3rd Annual Artworks Juried Exhibition is due to open in February, and the final plans are falling into place for the 2010 Gallery Hops which begin in March.

So now with the new year begun I have you up to speed And...I will promise our web designer one more time, I won't let the blog down! I promise!

October has been a great month!

2009-10-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

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

Is it really August?

2009-08-03T12:21:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-06-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-06-26T12:23:00.001-07:00

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,,,,

2009-06-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

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