OK, I admit I have a soft spot for Texas. After all I spent 2 years at the University of Texas @ Austin supporting the Longhorns and making fun of the Aggies. Oh, and I also got my BA there, met some very cool people from all over the world and learnt to speak with a drawl.
34 artists will display 39 art pieces (chosen out of 150 entries) in an almost two-month long (running July 2 – August 28, 2010) show entitled ‘What Texas Means to Me’. The show’s theme is built entirely upon artists’ impressions of any aspect of Texas’ past, present or future. And, those inspirations proved to be wide-ranging from abstract and contemporary to representational and traditional. Pastel, oil, watercolor, acrylic, collage, mixed media, photography and sculpture are among the media included. Not surprisingly almost all the artists are from TX, but a South African managed to sneak in there.
What does Texas mean to me, personally? A host family who took me in for the week-end into their home and ranch. Making friends with students of all races, culture, color, language — and shattering quite a few misconceptions and generalizations along the way. The largest campus I’ve ever seen such that I needed to run between classes so as not to be late and even take the shuttle from one class to the other. Jeff Haynes and his “happy van with no nose” gathering up a motley crew of hungry students bound for the cafetaria with “The Beach Boys” blaring. Bing from China on his huge motorcycle and constant off-again on-again gf issues always humming “You are the sun. You are the moon.” Wonderful Sagun stinking the whole place for 2 weeks with his home-made pickled bamboo shots. The Canadian guy who kept telling all who would hear that Canadians did not live in igloos. “Obi-Wan Kanobi”, a good freind from Malaysia. And Quynh who drove the biggest car I had ever seen, who hated boiled anything, and made my first trip away from home and country pleasant. Friendship. Beautiful people all.
PRESS RELEASE
“What Texas Means to Me” 2nd Annual Art Awards Show Selects 39 Diverse Works from Inside & Outside the State
Austin Art Space announced the selection of artwork to be featured in its second annual juried awards show and exhibit focused on everything Texas, entitled ‘What Texas Means to Me’ running July 2 – August 28, 2010. Artists’ Reception and Awards Scheduled July 10, 6:00-9:00pm. The juror for this year’s show was well-known Austin artist Phillip Wade.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) June 25, 2010 — Austin Art Space announced the selection of artwork to be featured in its second annual juried awards show and exhibit focused on everything Texas, entitled ‘What Texas Means to Me’ running July 2 – August 28, 2010. The show’s theme is built entirely upon artists’ impressions of any aspect of Texas’ past, present or future. And, those inspirations proved to be wide-ranging from abstract and contemporary to representational and traditional. Pastel, oil, watercolor, acrylic, collage, mixed media, photography and sculpture are among the media included.
The final 39 art pieces were chosen from over 150 entries from artists as near as Austin and Georgetown to Dallas, Houston, and Lubbock to as far away as Missouri, Arizona, Maryland and South Africa. In all, works by 34 different artists were selected for presentation.
The juror for this year’s show was well-known Austin artist Phillip Wade. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, with a MFA in Painting from the University of Texas, he currently mentors and teaches at the Austin Museum of Art. His work resides in several galleries and innumerable collections around the country including the Driskill Hotel, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bentsen, and actress Diane Ladd.
Valerie Walden, co-founder and director of Austin Art Space commented, “This awards show gets better every year. The range of styles is impressive, and the breadth and depth of the interpretations are inspiring. We have introspective examination and liberal symbolism contrasted against more traditional representations from across Texas, from out of state and from another hemisphere. We are exceedingly pleased with the quality of the work submitted. At least 300 people attended the opening reception last year. We expect a Texas-sized turnout this year, too.”
All patrons are invited to attend the Artists’ Reception on Saturday, July 10, 2010 from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served and many of the artists are expected to be on hand to discuss their work. Mr. Wade will award first and second prizes along with honorable mentions at that time. Many of the pieces will be offered for sale. The exhibit continues during regular gallery hours, ending on Saturday, August 28.
About Austin Art Space Gallery & Studios
Austin Art Space opened in November 2008 as a cooperative space for established and emerging artists to create, collaborate and present their work. There are ten artists-in-residence at the studios. The gallery presents the work of these artists and hosts juried shows, as well as solo and group exhibitions by other artists. The gallery is available for rental for public and private exhibits and receptions. Austin Art Space is located in a free-standing shopping center behind Northcross Mall. The public gallery is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11am – 6pm, or by appointment. Operating as a collective, the working studios are open Monday through Thursday whenever artists are on the premises. More information at www.austinartspace.com, austinartspacegallery@gmail.com, or 512.771.2868.
About the Selected Artwork
A preview of selections is at http://austinartspace.com/TexasExhibit2010.aspx. At the bottom of the page click on “Preview Artwork”.
About the Participating Artists
The artists selected to participate in the 2nd Annual “What Texas Means to Me” Awards Show are:
Theresa Bayer, Austin, TX
Jeffrey Brailas, Houston, TX
Sharon Byars, Austin, TX
Sandi Carlton, Leander, TX
Bob Coffee, Austin, TX
Janie Coleman, Austin, TX
Cecilla De Jesus, Dallas, TX
Gary Deininger, Silver Springs, MD
Mariko Frost, Wylie, TX
Christine Gilbert, Austin, TX
Pia Greenberg, Friendswood, TX
Renee Harvey, Austin, TX
Kay Hughes, Austin, TX
Betty Jameson, Austin, TX
Leslie Kell, Manchaca, TX
Eve Larson, Austin, TX
Layla Luna, Mesa, AZ
Robert McArthur, Austin, TX
Fran McDonald Berry, Austin, TX
Nancy Michalewicz, Austin, TX
Jannise Mora, San Antonio, TX
Cindy Morawski, San Antonio, TX
Armin Muhsam, Maryville, MO
Makiwa Mutomba, Pretoria, South Africa
Kathryn Paige, Round Rock, TX
Marilyn Rea Nasky, Volente, TX
Sandra Reiff, Austin, TX
Debbi Smith Rourke, Austin, TX
Ellen Russell, Austin, TX
David Schulze, Dallas, TX
Susanne Slay-Westbrook, Austin, TX
Catherine Small, Austin, TX
Kenneth Verdugo, Lewisville, TX
Rom Welborn, Austin, TX