Upcoming Exhibitions

• I"m beginning to finalize the December show at Gallery Fifty Six.  It will be our resident artist's exhibition.  You'll see new work by Jeannine Paul, Michael Whitaker, John Sosh, Art Covington, Mark Lammie, Paul Clarke, Mary Bowman and others.  Also in in this exhibition, we will feature a guest painter - Lonnie Wilson.  Lonnie was an art instructor for the Memphis City Schools for over 30 years.  He will be showing his magnificent Bible-themed paintings. 

• The January 2011 exhibition will be our first invitational show.  You will see work by established artists Chuck Johnson, Jan Hankins, Sara Howell, and Nick Pena.  Also invited is sculptor/painter Eric Painter.

• February is reserved for Ohio artist Ivan Kende.  He will exhibit some of  his incredible masks and sculptures made of leather.

Being The Curator of A Gallery

"There's hardly a more gratifying way to make a living on this planet than to manage or own an art gallery, sit in a roomful of beauty all day long and have people walk in, pay homage, and then pay you.  To be surrounded by original art, perhaps the highest form of creative expression than human beings can muster, and to sell it as a livelihood...that's real sweet."      Alan Baumberger  (http://www.artbusiness.com/)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

More About Mariana De Marchi

Mariana De Marchi graduated in 2002 from the National School of Fine Arts Prilidiano Pueyrredón as National Professor of Drawing. In 2003, she earned National Professor of Sculpture. Mariana studied her post graduate work in seminaries of the Superior School of Fine Arts Ernesto de la Carcova in lithography, wall painting in fresco, ceramic and artistic graphic.

Waiting

Mariana De Marchi has obtained numerous first prizes, mainly in drawing, engraving and painting. As a consequence of this and because of her continuous participation in different saloons, her work has been shown in the Sans Souci Palace, the Quinta Trabucco, the Museum of Fine Arts Benito Quinquela Martín, the National Museum of Fine Arts of Taiwan and in several foundations and cultural institutions.

Her work has also been shown in Romany, Taiwan and Italy.

Prints by Argentine artist Mariana De Marchi

Graffitera

Coming Soon
To
 Gallery Fifty Six







                             



My friend, Mariana De Marchi is an art educator and printmaker in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Mariana will be sending me some of her original prints to exhibit and sell at Gallery Fifty Six.  I am sure you will love her work as much as I do, and I'll let everyone know when her prints from Argentina arrive.

Ay mi Casita




Unexpected Eye Candy

Kay Robinson, the artist whose show is in November with Art Covington (Eclectic Visions:  The Art of Kay Robinson and Art Covington), sent me her latest creation that will be in the exhibition.  I have included only a snippet of the original.  It is a wonderful work of art that you MUST SEE in person.  Remember, our next opening is Friday, Nov. 5th. from 5 to 8 pm.  Please come and see the show.

Why Do People Buy Art?

In a recent survey, I asked the question:  Why do people buy original art?  Here are the survey results:

1.I must like the art, and the price must be right. I am interestedt in representational art, not abstract expressionism. Wed, Oct 20, 2010 7:19 AM Find...


2. why not buy original art?? i would most likely buy contemporary art. i love owning items that are one of a kind and seeing what brains are up to these days. Tue, Oct 19, 2010 1:16 PM Find...

3. Admiration of the artist's work.

4. I enjoy outdoor scenes of nature and portraits of people. Tue, Oct 19, 2010 8:53 AM Find...

5. because I like it. Mon, Oct 18, 2010 8:54 PM Find...

6. I don't. Mon, Oct 18, 2010 8:35 PM Find...

7. The reason would be to show support for an artist who's work I admire. Whether we admit it or not...we are performers in some sense...and we LIKE for others to like our work. When someone likes your artwork well enough to purchase a piece that you have created...well...you feel a sense of accomplishment...finished. Funny...never really thought about it. I personally am attracted to impressionist works of gardens and landscapes. But most art appeals to me in some way and is always worthy of thought...I suppose. Oh! And figurative sculptures...love them! Mon, Oct 18, 2010 6:18 PM Find...

8. Something that would establish an emotional connection with me, basically. I tend to like pieces that show strong symbolism along with beauty and fluidity, and show a very particular artistic interpretation. Pieces I would not buy: strict representation of reality, naturalism. Mon, Oct 18, 2010 9:33 AM Find...

9. I buy art, when it delievers a good feeling to me, when I sense something special and unique in it (this applies to paintings, clothes and other things)

10. buying original art means receiving a particle of the creators energy and I honour that

11. i most likely purchase artwork in bright vibrant colors that deliver a good feeling Mon, Oct 18, 2010 1:50 AM Find...

12. I like colors pleasing to my preference and something that is clearly creative, unique and not possible to mass produce. Sun, Oct 17, 2010 9:58 PM Find...

13. I will buy if piece speaks to me in a special way or is symbolic

14. Of importan issues my life...pottery, photos, paintings are my preferances. Sun, Oct 17, 2010 9:36 PM Find...

15. To help reflect my view of the world in my own space. Paintings or B&W photographs Sun, Oct 17, 2010 7:09 PM Find...

16. I would be very interested in the outcome of this survey. - Giorgio Sun, Oct 17, 2010 6:43 PM Find...

17. I would buy art only for the pleasure of looking at the piece. Maria Brockelman Sun, Oct 17, 2010 6:43 PM Find...

18. I think people purchase art to decorate their homes more than anything else. Of course, some people purchase art for an investment.

Please click the link below if you would like to take the survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TRB2QZP

Recent Surveys

A few days ago, I sent a survey to my email friends and associates.  In the survey I asked the question:
'What is your favorite subect for paintings?'  Here are the results so far:

Landscape 46.4%         13 responses
Still Life 10.7%               3 responses
Abstact 25.0%               7 responses
Figurative 10.7%            3 responses
Floral 10.7%                  3 responses
Portait 32.1%                9 responses
Animal 0.0%                 0 responses
Surrealism 35.7%          10 responses
Realism 17.9%               5 responses


If you would like to take the survey, please click here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFQ7C2Y

Coming In November

Eclectic Visions: Paintings by Kay Robinson and Art Covington at Gallery Fifty Six in November

The rich colors, fantasy subjects and dream-like backgrounds of the paintings featured in Gallery Fifty Six’s November art show, Eclectic Visions: Paintings by Kay Robinson and Art Covington, bring fashion, music and life in the natural world to the forefront of the artistic imagination.

Kay Robinson's paintings are inspired by the exotic worlds of both contemporary and vintage fashion. Her subjects flaunt a stylish sophistication that is drawn from her many years of experience as a fashion illustrator for Goldsmith’s and Gerber’s department stores in Memphis. Her “Dinner at Eight” portrays a fashion beauty cloaked in classic black and white, bearing a little skin and the hint of a smile beneath her wide-brimmed Fedora hat.

Art Covington’s music-inspired paintings display the same passion as the works of his mentor, Memphis artist George Hunt, but Covington shows a softer side as well with pieces that feature the people and wildlife of the natural world. Visually stunning subjects highlight his talent for dimension, his sometimes psychedelic presentation of music interpretation and his ability to capture an intimate human moment. His “Inside My Music II” melds together elements of music and the human anatomy of a musician into one being, as if neither could exist without the other.

Eclectic Visions: Paintings by Kay Robinson and Art Covington will be on display at Gallery Fifty Six beginning Friday, Nov. 5 with an artists’ reception from 5 to 8 p.m., and running through Tuesday, Nov. 30. Gallery Fifty Six is located at 2256 Central Ave. For more information call (901) 276-1251 or visit http://www.galleryfiftysix.com/.

Spotlight: Art Covington

Art Covington is a native of Tunica, Mississipi.  At the age of four, he discovered his ability to draw.  When he was a child his father would encourage him by leaving a nickle on each successful drawing he completed.

In the early 1970's, Art's family left Tunica for Memphis.  He attended Carver High School and his art teacher and mentor was Memphis painter George Hunt.  After high school, he attended the Memphis College of Art through a scholarship he was awared because of a church sponsored world-wide art competition.  His awards include presentations from the March of Dimes and Nike, Inc.

Art works with many different and varied subjects and themes in his art, from realistic to abstract, a real eclectic mix.  He has worked in a variety of mediums, including oils, acrylics, and mixed-media. 

His prints can be found at the Center for Southern Folklore in Memphis, TN.

LOOK FOR ART COVINGTON'S EXHIBITION OPENING NOVEMBER 5, 2010 AT GALLERY FIFTY SIX!

Spotlight: Kay Robinson

Kay Robinson is busy getting ready for her November exhibition at Gallery Fifty Six.  She and Art Covington will present:  'Eclectic Visions - Paintings by Kay Robinson and Art Covington'.  This is sure to be an interesting and dynamic show.

Kay Robinson's paintings are inspired by the exotic worlds of both contemporary and vintage fashion.  Her own vintage clothes collection is often depicted in her paintings.

Kay excelled in art school, and attended a fashion illustration course at the Memphis Academy of Art and the Mississippi College for Women.  Her first jobs were as a fashion illustrator for Goldsmith's and Gerber's department stores of Memphis.  She has renewed her love for fashion in her current paintings.  Her career has consisted of advertising, graphic design and medical illustration.

Come and view her work at the artist's reception on Nov. 5th, 2010 from 5 to 8 PM at Gallery Fifty Six, 2256 Central Ave., Memphis, TN.  38104