Niagara

One of my favorite Helen Altman sculptures "Niagara".

Gaylord Texas

Okay, so I saw something different - I'm not a photographer but I liked this photo.

Ron Hoover

My close friend Ron Hoover passed away early this morning. An artist that never shied away from matters that was important to him. Ron never followed the mainstream and thus his work was not widely exhibited. His art came directly from his personal experiences, alternative newspapers and public radio. Ron revealed the untold truths behind little known allegations of crime, corruption, and social injustice. I first met Ron in 1995 when Sally Sprout took me to his studio to pickup a painting that I had purchased. Ron was not an easy person to get to know. He was very opinionated, would get in your face, and challenge you to prove him wrong. This came out in his work and one reason his work was so strong. I visited Ron almost every year and sometimes 2 or 3 times a year. In 2002 I started working on an exhibition of Ron’s oil pastels of which he had been creating since 1995. The Arlington Museum agreed to the exhibition of which I am so grateful. Ron was at the opening which was a big success. The following day Ron spoke on Arlington Public Television and I suppose those who watched the program have not forgotten. I last visited Ron in August of this year where he shared with me the numerous watercolors he had been working on. He had completed a new drawing entitled “US” and I am so sorry I did not take a photo.

Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Office Park in Frisco

Sherry Owens, "Coming Out of the Circle"

Mac Whitney, "Blanco #17"

David Hickman, "Prairie Falls"

T. Paul Hernandez, "Reincarnation of Farmer Bradly"

James Surles' and Harry Geffert's sculpture

David Iles, "Rabbit"

TWO x TWO x TEN at the Dallas Museum of Art

On the way to see the two x two x ten exhibition we stopped and viewed the "Materials & Meanings" exhibition in the Center for Creative Connections and this was Stacey's and my favorite piece.

By the way, there was no on in line for the King Tut exhibition, so if you are thinking about seeing that exhibition maybe you should consider a Thursday night.

I did enjoy seeing contemporary work purchased by the DMA over the last 10 years. Lots of photography including Matthew Barney, Nic Nicosia, and Thomas Struth. The painting that I photographed (it was allowed) I didn't write down who did them. Maybe someone can let me know. Mamma Anderson "Gone for Good"

I think the large painting is by Laura Owens, not sure.

This artist's work needs no introduction. It was nice to see one of Bruce Nauman's work in the DMA (are there others???). A fews years ago I saw a retrospective of his work at the Tate in London - wow, it was annoying!

Take your time: Olafur Eliasson at the Dallas Museum of Art

The Outside of Inside

This exhibition is absolutely worth the trip to the DMA. Eliasson's work definitely needs electricity to survive. One of my favorites was "Room for One Color" this installation just sucks the color out of anyone that enters the room. It just goes to show you that I know very little. Tracy - not sure if you read this but there were two installations that I think you would really enjoy, Moss Wall and Beauty - let me know if you see this exhibition.

Inverted Berlin Sphere (from DMA site)

Room for One Color (from DMA site)

Beauty (from DMA site)

Terrible News

I just received a call from a mutual friend of Ron Hoover. Ron is in bad shape and right now I just want to share some pictures of a great friend and artist.

Ray-Mel Cornelius opening at VAL

Bryce Lafferty and Ray-Mel Cornelius

Jack.

CADD ARTLAB

My first visit to the CADD ARTLAB was a good choice. It took Tracy Hicks' work to bring me downtown. It was actually easy to find parking and the group exhibition "More Than This" was worth the trip.

Main Street entrance with Frances Bagley sculpture.

Upstairs overlooking the walkway was Tracy Hicks' brand new piece.

Looking toward Main Street from upstairs.

Upstairs gallery with Candance Briceno (nearest) and 2 small paintings by Terrell James.

"Wow That's Me" by Trenton Dole Hancock.

Anne Lawrence is the director and took time to give a tour with background information on how CADD began and works with the member galleries.

Gallery trip to Dallas

Made to Dallas once again to catch-up on several exhibitions. Thought I would hit the high almighty galleries first. My first stop was at The Goss-Michael Foundation. This stop set the tone, they declined to allow any pictures. But that's okay.

Sarah Lucas' work is personal and intriguing. Her and Tracy Emin's art has always been a favorite of mine. My favorite was "Where Does It All End?" a small wax piece of a pair of lips with a cigarette butt. I wish I could have posted a photo of this piece.

Dragon Street if you have never been there.

I stopped at Gerald Peters next to see Terrell James's new work. The best painting I saw on this trip was "Second Shift" and it was a knockout. Also saw Bill Komodore's show "My Arcadia: Memory and Transience" however, the show was missing the work titled "My Arcada". Wonder what was up with that? Next stop was the unfriendly grounds at Holly Johnson. David Aylsworth "Is it the real turtle soup?" Probably the best exhibition in Dallas at the moment.

Pan American was next.

To Conduit, one of my favorite galleries. If you have been to Conduit then the sculptures should look familiar. Why are they in such disrepair? Does anyone know? Anyway back to Conduit, there was a group exhibition with a couple of new Johnny Robertson paintings that looked great. Also, 3 small knockout pieces by Vincent Fallsetta. Didn't care much for the Ken Holder exhibition. Oh, by the way, the sculptures are across the parking lot from Conduit. That's all this trip.

New Work by Ray-Mel Cornelius at Norwood Flynn Gallery

Ray-Mel and Becky

Ray-Mel

Made it to Ray-Mel's opening at Norwood Flynn Gallery on Saturday night. I have known Ray-Mel and his wife Becky for about 2 years now, mostly through their visits to VAL. This was the first time I have actually seen Ray-Mel's work in person.

"Long Winter's Sleepwalk", acrylic on canvas, 6x8 inches.

My favorite from Ray-Mel's exhibition at Norwood-Flynn.

Childish: Bryce Lafferty / MFA Exhibition @ UNT

"... To See Time Fly" series

I made it to my first MFA student exhibition at UNT's Cora Stafford Gallery and it was a great experience. I did however get lost trying to find Oak Hall and the gallery. After finding the building at Ponder and Oak, I wondered into the clay studios, which is an area I want to visit again and one of the students had to show me where the gallery was located. And it was worth the effort. Bryce's Lafferty's work is somewhat similar to Richard Tuttle's work and for some reason (in my head I guess) Georgia O'Keefe's watercolors from her early days in Texas. Those that know me know that I like Tuttle's work very much. Anyway, the exhibition spotlighted a very promising young artist.

Bryce Lafferty (photo by Jennifer Jones)

This is my favorite group of Bryce's work.

Ray-Mel Cornelius at the Visual Art League of Lewisville

ELDORADO HILL, 36 in. by 48 in. acrylic

Courtesy of Norwood Flynn Gallery, Dallas, Texas

Ray-Mel Cornelius will be showing new as well as older work in his exhibition titled "From Here to There" at the Visual Art League of Lewisville. The opening reception is Saturday, December 6 at 7pm and is open to the public.

From Here to There

December 6 through January 17, 2009
opening reception: Saturday, December 6, 7 - 9 pm

Artist slide presentation: Tuesday, January 6, 7 pm
Gallery Hours: Fri - Sun 2-6 pm

Bryce Lafferty: MFA Exhibition

Alien with Earthly Associations, Watercolor, Gesso and Paper Construction, 2008

Childish

Bryce Lafferty / MFA Exhibition

November: 17, 18 & 19

opening: Monday November 17, 6 - 9 pm

University of North Texas
Cora Stafford Gallery
Gallery Hours: M-F 2-5 pm

Tracy Hicks at CADD Art Lab

"More Than This" at CADD Art Lab.November 13, 2008 - January 8, 2009

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 5-8 p.m.

This exhibition features Scott Anderson, Frances Bagley, Scott Barber, Kevin Bewersdorf, Paul Booker, Candace Briceno, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Tracy Hicks, Terrell James, Tom Orr, John Pomara, Carl Suddath, Lizzy Wetzel, and more.

Artists’ Talk, Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.with Frances Bagley and Tom Orr.

CADD Art Lab

1608-C Main Street, Dallas, TX

tues-sat, 11a - 6p, open until 8p on thursdays

tel: 214.741.1075