to open up the ArtNEWS and see Blanche Lazzell two pages in. Her ad taken out by the bourgie Craig F. Starr gallery in NY is incredible with the image of…

WV Coal Works, 12″ x 14″, white line color woodblock

Giacometti, Portrait De Diego, 1958

Untitled (Maria), Jason Berger, 1996, oil on linen

Head up to the Art Store to see a selection of works by Jason Berger. It looks to be a bit of an art history lesson as well, as Berger has works in the permament collections of the Guggenheim and MoMA in New York City. Looking at his paintings, watercolors, and woodblock prints online I see traces of Van Gogh and one of my favorites Raoul Dufy. He seems to paint in a quick gestural style that reveals quite a bit of artist training and traveling.

Head up to the bridge road gallery for

What: Jason Berger exhibition, Selected Works
When: Friday, June 5th, 2009, 5:30-7:30
Where: The Art Store on Bridge Road
Why: Because maybe you’ll want to still be making paintings when you’re in your 70’s.

In a somber and joyous note, Sally Romayne, an important WV artist who received her Masters in Art in painting and printmaking from Marshall University, passed away May 19 at the beautiful age of 94.

I think it’s amazing the family has chosen to remember Romayne in a joyous light and asked the public to wear bright clothes and walking shoes to the celebration of her life this past Wednesday May 27, 2009 at Christ Church United Methodist. Romayne is known for her use of color in painting and drawing the WV landscape, and in particular the color found in streams.

I was a student at the University of Charleston in 2006 when her massive-retrospective, curated by Mark Tobin Moore, was at the Frankenberger Art Gallery. I met the artist and was taken by her gentle, colorful spirit. I wish I had some images, if anyone wishes to email them to me I would be very appreciative and get them up on the blog.

daklingaman@gmail.com

Here are some photos jacked from Facebook of the Head First exhibit at the Hansford Art House that popped off last Friday, May 15, 2009.

These photos are from Charleston painter Amanda Jane Miller, and Lauren Stonestreet. Amanda Jane and Elle Effect.  Thank you ladies.

In case you ain’t know, Head First was a 16 artist multi-disciplinary exhibit emphasized in getting artists together and collaborating via exhibiting artwork from artists who make work regardless. It followed two shows Beating Art and Exhibit Two that both happened at the Hansford Art House in Charleston’s furniture district.

amanda jane credit, art by aowenking and another good painter

amanda jane credit, outdoor painting from me, dane

amanda jane credit, work from Aowenking, Preston, chicken crate from Stray Dog antiques

amanda jane credit, art from Amanda Jane

amanda jane credit, art from Chris Dutch

photo by Lauren Stonestreet, Sign of the Fig performance

Lauren Stonestreet credit, Sign of the Fig performance and video-piece

lauren stonestreet credit, art from Preston

lauren stonestreet credit, bike installation from Andrea Anderson

lauren stonestreet credit, dope photo of backyard

lauren stonestreet photo, people outdoors

lauren stonestreet credit, artists table detail

lauren stonestreet credit, art from Tyrone

lauren stonestreet, all too real

Special Thanks to: P. Joseph Mullins, Dr. Gina Puzzuoli, Barbara Bayes, all of the Charleston Artists who dove in, Sign of the Fig, Sarah Chaffin, Barri Klingaman, Andrea Anderson, Aowenking, Chris Dutch, Suzanne Thorniley, and Gayle Manchin who although couldn’t make it declined the invite so gracefully.

Here’s what you can expect to see should you decide to look at the walls:

• Annex Gallery @ Taylor Books: New work by David Simmons, Rob Cleland, Eric Pardue, Dane Klingaman, Jamie Miller

• The Art Emporium: Pat Miller

• Callen McJunkin Gallery: Rural Exhibit, work from Stephen Lawson, Ryan Russell, Prints by the Women of Gee’s Bend

• Good News Mountaineer Garage Gallery: Head First Exhibit, travelling exhibit from the Hansford Art House, work from 16 Charleston Artists

• The Purple Moon: Vintage Art Show, one year on Quarrier Street Party! (with discounts)

• Stray Dog Antiques: everything from 6 dollar knick-knacks to 17th century Venetian glass, and plenty of wine

• Gallery 11: open studios

• The Clay Center: Art in Popular Culture Exhibit, work from the permant collection

• Chet Lowther Studio: Chet Lowther, Ian Bodie and Dave Thomas

ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.
THE BALL IS NOW IN YOUR COURT CHARLESTON.

I was at the Vermont Studio Center with this California-based artist, Sarah FitzSimons. There were so many artists named Sarah there that names were given to them pertinent to their artwork, such as Sarah Sleeps With Mountains or Photo Sarah.

I received a press release from her about a show she’s in at the Spaces Gallery in Cleveland. Sarah FitzSimons’ work is featured heavily in promotion for the show (that’s her tent in the Tetons!).

Here’s the Link.

Paula Clendenin will have her first solo exhibition at The Art Store opening tonight from 5-7. Get there before 5:30 so you can hear some remarks from Jenine Culligan, Senior Curator at the Huntington Museum of Art. It’s always nice to have some formal speaking done at these shows, although it can be nerve-racking to do so.

Where: The Art Store, 1013 Bridge Road, 304.345.1038
When: Tonight, Friday, May 9, 5-7, with the Senior Curator at The Huntington Museum of Art introducing the artist
What: Paula Clendenin’s first solo show at The Art Store
Why: Because it’s probably going to be packed, the art is never before-seen, and it’s a good chance to look some people in the eyes and shake some hands

Taken from the gallery’s press release, this is a new body of work, and one that sees Clendenin at a period in her career where she’s exploring natural tones and imagery on softly-lit grounds. Works featured in the show are on paper, panel, and rusted metal and all pertain to imagery sprouted from nature. Her Weed Series looks to be especially interesting as an almost-divine light takes precedence in the works on paper.

Other works I will be interested in seeing, as I’ve had a chance to preview the images at the good graces of the gallery staff, are the In Praise of Mountains Past 1-4. I will hold off on any further comment until I’ve seen the show!

However, here are some images that struck me from my previewing, all of which will hung on the walls at the gallery on Bridge Road.

P.S. all images are copyright the artists so don’t be trying to jack ‘em.

If you’re like me, WV TV can be fascinating when you stumble on it and see someone you know. Stephen Lawson is featured in a documentary short by John Nakashima of WV Public Broadcasting. He lives in the Morgantown area. Here’s the link.

Is what artists do. If you are trying to find some inspiration for money art, check out Mark Wagner’s website.

Dude is disgusting with an x-acto.