In the post above is a review and tribute about the sudden, tragic death of artist and Marshall University professor Stanley Sporny. Sporny was a dedicated, truthful artist and educator. Sporny’s newest body of work shows the artist at a brilliant point in his painting, and is on view now at the Callen McJunkin Gallery.

I spoke with Amanda Miller, freelance arts’ writer for the Gazette, at the opening two weeks ago and she mentioned she wanted to review Sporny’s work and put it into the Fresh Paint blog. On the day I had received it and was going to add photos and publish it, we learned of his passing. It is uncanny and powerful to read such beautiful insights into a truly important artist’s work. It wouldn’t have been possible for Amanda to write something if she had been aware of what happened.

I had the opportunity to bike around and hit some galleries up before the rain on Thursday for ArtWALK. Angie Mullins and staff at the Annex Gallery effortlessly continue their line of exhibitions transitioning between one artist and the next. Trust me it’s not easy over there with so much going on with books, art, coffee, music, and street life (but to the dude who lifts cinderblocks for weights in the back alley, you are welcome to dinner at my house anytime, just chill on the yelling).

The newly-hung exhibit is a mother/daughter show from Elisabeth (Dolly) Hartman and Mary Hartman. In addition to the family connection, their artwork compliments each other well. Daughter Mary’s work would appeal to a younger generation with more ambitious abstraction that manipulates the figures of still-lifes and animals. She looks equally fascinated by pure mark-making as she is in representation. I can see her in drawing class spending equal time rendering a model, and half her time looking down at the paper and noticing what her medium (acrylic wash) is doing. My favorite piece of hers is the only one she did on canvas, titled Horse Study in Profile:

“Horse Study in Profile” by Mary Hartman (more…)

The submission date approaches for the 8th Annual National Miniature exhibition sponsored by The Renaissance Art Gallery of Huntington, WV. The gallery will be accepting submissions from area artists starting this Saturday, October 18 12-4 pm and Sunday, October 19, 2008 1-4 pm.

This exhibition is open to all area artists 18 years and older, so it’s only for the grown and sexy.

For a prospectus visit the Renaissance Gallery’s website at: www.orgsites.com/wv/renaissance.

For more info holler at: The Renaissance Art Gallery
900 8th Street, Suite #20
Huntington, WV 25701
304-525-3235

I was painting a sign last evening for a particular gentleman running for president (here’s a hint: he’s got the hip hop community on his side, excluding the suburbs in Arizona), and I got to thinking about the role of artists and their contributions to politics.
Good artists have a knack for getting their hustle on when they sense moneymaking potential, i.e. they’re busy as bees come holiday season.

The common conception is that “real artists” don’t sell out their creative abilities to meet the agenda of someone else, although this happens on the regular. The public doesn’t seem to notice when it’s for a popular cause.

So what makes us overlook art for propaganda? Is it the fame of the artists? Is it artists who truly transform the nature of a commission?
Here are two that I feel made the cut…

Shepard Fairey adapted his street-famous OBEY logo to meet the demands of the Obama campaign, which has distanced itself from most creative contributions from Hollywood. His Obama logos have dominated the landscape of political imagery this year.

The graffiti and hip-hop influenced Justin BUA, known for his creation of Slum Village’s video “Selfish” and the icon “The DJ”, created this oil painting of Obama, which he has silk-screened onto shirts.

In my personal opinion, I feel that commercial proceeds from this kind of work should go to the causes, and let the buzz and artistic value speak for itself.
Looks like artists for McCain need to step their games up…

Charleston and Huntington have quite a bit in common, culturally speaking. Both team with various live music and art venues, both have art museums with impressive collections, both have universities that cater to fledgling artist, and for better or worse, both have me. Though I reside in Charleston, I will always call Huntington home.

This past weekend, I visited Huntington, the purpose of my trip twofold: I played music at a thumpin’ house party Friday night, and then I woke up Saturday and worked one of my many moonlighting gigs, in this case, modeling for a figure drawing class. (Don’t get too excited folks, I’m not exactly Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition material) I model at a the Renaissance Art Gallery, located on 8th St., between 9th and 10th avenues, on the ground floor of the old Huntington High school building, which was renovated about 10 years ago. Next time you make your way to Huntington, say, to visit the Huntington Museum of Art, (which you should) it’s only a hop, skip and a jump down the hill to the Renaissance Art Gallery, and its worth a look. Pay some special attention to works by Bruce Bowersock, Gary Taylor, and Linda Helgason.

Bruce Bowersock is an art veteran who teaches drawing classes at the the gallery, and also shows his paintings, which are vibrantly colorful and expressive. Bruce uses his impressive command of realism to bolster his flair for the abstract, as can be seen in this piece entitled “Expressive Bruce.” (more…)

One of the city’s most skilled dudes with a paint can just started airbrush work in the Kanawha Mall, down in Kanawha City. If you’re shopping at Gabriel’s or finally returning that late Blockbuster movie, stop into the Airbrush Guy’s and see what creative images “Chris” is coming up with. You can go generic and get your name done, but my advice is to implore about his characters… Here’s one of them.