Visions Metaphysical Boutique will host Deborah Raleigh-Chandler, oils–impressionistic, still life; Afton Chandler, acrylics–modern, impressionistic; Amanda Harrison, acrylics–modern, impressionistic (some new pieces); Linda Cain, handcrafted sterling silver & gemstone jewelry (some new pieces).

The Roxy Regional Theatre–Clarksville’s Center for Arts and Education, will host the work of Beverly Parker Riggins in the Peg Harvill Gallery. The subject matter includes architecture from historic downtown Clarksville. They are large digital prints from manipulated polaroid transfer images. For the performing arts, enjoy Disney’s Mulan, Jr. playing at 6pm and tickets for the hit musical RENT will be on sale in the lobby.

John Glass, a wood craftsman, is this month’s featured artist at ARTifacts. John has an gift for working with wood and has used his gift to focus on building boxes from paneling he salvaged from his construction job 10 years ago working on the United Methodist Church on Madison Street. John was able to salvage most of the paneling from the church during the reconstruction of the building after the tornado. Now he has many beautiful boxes made from these materials. He has also created planters, boxes with secret compartments and display boxes for flags and other items.

Hodgepodge is featuring Adam Yarbrough. An APSU student and ROTC cadet, Adam explores art in a variety of media. His show at Hodgepodge will feature several figure drawings in pen, ink and charcoal, as well as many other works. Stop by Hodgepodge to meet the artist and enjoy some refreshments.

The Downtown Artist Co-op will host DAC Member artists, Peggy Bonnington’s solo exhibition titled : “Part and Parcel” July 2-Aug. 1 with the Opening Reception, Thursday, July 2, 5-8 pm as part of First Thursday Art Walk. Peggy states, I cannot remember a time I was not drawing or being encouraged to draw and paint. I always loved beautiful images, rich color, lush and interesting texture; and I tried even in early childhood to capture likenesses or create interesting patterns that felt exciting to me.”

Strawberry Alley will have two new businesses to visit: Ingredients and Collector’s Pride Antique Mall. They both plan to participate in future Art Walks, so stop by and give them your encouragement!

Paige King’s Hodgepodge featured the ethereal art by Susan Tomi Cheek. Her pictures, many of them made by using a double exposure, held a haunting sense of the otherworld. One particular picture evoked the image of the tunnel and light that many people claim they see during near death experiences with the soul caught half way between life and death.  Susan has a different perspective on the world, and that allows her to capture images that other artists would find hard to duplicate.

Susan is the official photographer for  the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) events. It was also my distinct pleasure to meet one of her daughters, Cherish.

Susan Tomi Cheek and some of her ethereal art

At ARTifacts which is upstairs from Hodgepodge one exhibitor had just sold out as I arrived, but Gabriele Wardeiner was on hand to show me her exhibit of dragons. I love Asian culture and her dragons were reminiscent of their representation of the dragon. Her signature piece was Reisa’s dragon (Center of image below) which was based off of a friends tattoo. She also has some “one of a kind” postcards. Each one with its own unique touches. Including washers, an old onion bag, the tags from tea bags, pieces of a Roxy program, a rubber tree’s leaf. “I never throw anything away” Gabriele said.

Gabriele Wardeiner and her dragon art at ARTifacts

Kitty Madden and Visions Metaphysical Boutique's owner Linda Cain

At Visions Metaphysical Boutique owner Linda Cain greeted me as I walked through the door. Her business has such a warm energy that people immediately find themselves at ease. Debbie Bugg was there to do readings for the evenings Art Walkers.

The Roxy had already closed up for the evening by time I arrived but several of the people at the walk had told me that they had really enjoyed Disney’s Cinderella Jr performance that evening. The show which is presented by the Roxy School of the Arts Students, plays through June 13th so it is not too late to catch it!

The timeless fairy tale meets the magic of Disney in this adaptation of the treasured animated film. Poor Cinderella is endlessly mistreated by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, and denied a chance to go to the Royal Ball. With a little help from her mice friends, and a lot of help from her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella goes to the ball, meets the Prince, and falls in love! With a beautiful score including “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and the classic “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” this musical will charm its way into your heart, and remind you that dreams really can come true.

DAC Members Gail Meyer and Cliff Whittaker talk about one of her pieces

At the Downtown Artists’ Co-op I arrived in time to have some personal time with their featured Artist Gail Meyer. “I like to experiment” she said. Her show Serendipity hangs at the DAC until June 27th. Talking about the exhibit she explained it to me, “I sometimes sit in front of a canvas and don’t know what will come out. Serendipity, it’s a happy mistake, I just made lots of happy mistakes.” Painting on the canvas with acrylic paints she finds that the speed acrylics requires vs the slowness of oil paints, enables her to let her creativity flow freely. “It brought out my inner artist. Instead of doing little tiny details and making sure everything is right. I just sort of spiritually started painting from the inside out. Instead of from the outside in.” She has 27 pieces in the show. With soft pastel colors her city scape scenes have a light airy feel to them. My favorites pieces from her show was the Tuscan Vineyard, and her Potters Shed.  She also had a very good Painting of the old Ringgold mill.

Over at the Front Page Deli, they were holding their trivia night to a packed house. But lets save that’s for a future story!

The Front Page Deli's trivia night

The First Thursday Art Walks are always new and unique, and are a great way to experience new art and artists. If you haven’t been before plan on attending the next walk on July 2nd. This is a great opportunity to directly support the local art community by purchasing some of the pieces you see.

[Show as slideshow]

Randall Boen with his 1st place award

Randall Boen and his mother, Debbie Boen, both brought home awards, with Randall’s being a 1st place award.

The Open Exhibition is an opportunity for all artists over 18 years of age to exhibit and sell their work and help raise money for college art scholarships.  To date thirteen art majors at APSU have received the US Bank Scholarship. 

Debbie Boen uses art to make a political statement and encourage people to think about issues, in this case, "PTSD."

Debbie Boen, whose popular work has a decidely political bent, described her son’s work as “birds in distance at top and tree tops at bottom.  It is serene and very cool.  He made the frame.”  After he won, she said, “I hugged him and in his calm and quiet voice he said, “I beat you.”  She considers that bit of humor priceless.

Debbie took second place, amateur division, with a unique and thought provoking work titled “PTSD.”

“Besides the weird head on this soldier, he is sitting on a barbeque; the barbeque tools have American flag colors around the handles and he has a passport.  The tiny pictures inside the passport are all about Iraq and the painful images taken there of civilians and soldiers.  There is also some print taken from a recent story the (newspaper) did about soldier suicide.  Some professionals seem to think the soldiers can “think positive” their way out of PTSD.

“Even though we live in a ticking time bomb of PTSD around us, it’s not talked about.  When I first brought the piece in, two people asked me what PTSD is and why is he sitting on a barbeque?  I made this 3D and life size to be right in people’s faces (try to ignore this!).  I worried about whether I would “get away” with showing this.  This isn’t lovely, beautiful or fine art and it’s controversial.  — Debbie Boen

Boen’s wish was that “everyone would get an award or even just hear the awesome comments that people give their art.  Art is such a personal statement that we put out to the public.  It is personal and so vulnerable. ”

ARTifacts, 124 Strawberry Alley, will feature Kate Johnson, Elizabeth Klein and Jo Rhodes.

Kate Johnson has always loved art, but has not always been an artist.  After graduating from West Point in 2000, she served five years in the Army as a member of the Signal Corps spending most of her Army time at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne division.  Specializing in wall murals and portrait art, Kate has carved a niche for herself in the Clarksville community.  She can create paintings/murals on canvas so you can take the art with you where ever you may go!

Elizabeth Klein creates her art with yarn.  She states she enjoys creating heirloom quality baby items; afghans and lab robes; scarves and hats (both “fancy” and “fun”); handbags; and jewelry.  Says Klein, “I believe in using my God-given talents to try to reach others about the gospel, so all the items I sell include a tag that encourages the purchaser to seek the truth for themselves.”
Elizabeth Klein has been antiquing for many y ears and has many fascinating and hard to find pieces in her booth at ARTifacts.  Did you know that the E-911 system was invented here in Clarksville?  Well, Jo has documentation on this story along with bird drawing prints from the man who did it.  He was an inventor and a nature lover on the side.  Come see what other really unique things Jo has found in her booth.

National Youth Art Month

In conjunction with the DCA 1st Thursday and the National Youth Art Month the Downtown Artists Co-op will working with the Clarksville/Montgomery County School System to host an exhibit of art works by local high school students.  Art teacher Leo Adames will be coordinating the event for the school system.  There will be an opening reception from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 5th, at the DAC gallery located at 96 Franklin St.  This will be an opportunity for local art students to exhibit their work in a public forum.  For many of them it will be their first exhibit outside the school system.  In addition to the public showing of their work the students will be learning the importance of presentation and the many details of preparing for and coordinating an exhibition.  The reception is open to the public and, as usual,  DAC expects an overflow crowd of interested art enthusiasts to attend.

The Roxy Regional Theatre’s Peg Harvill Gallery will host a new show by Billy Renkl. This mixed media show is inspired by William Shakespeare’s MACBETH, will open on Friday March 6.  Billy traditionally creates works to compliment the annual Shakespeare productions at The Roxy.  This is an all new show!

Betty’s Antiques will be offering a 20% sale on all purchases over $100.00. We will also be featuring an artist and a photographer. Our artist, Al Clark, does oil on canvas. Our photographer, Jenny Gilman, does portraits, weddings, lifestyle photography, and maternity and pet pics.

Visions Metaphysical Boutique will host several artists this month.  Deborah Raleigh-Chandler, oils–landscape, still-life; Afton Chandler, acrylics–modern, surreal; Amanda Harrison, acrylics–modern, abstract; Samantha Stephens, acrylics–surreal; Linda Cain, handcrafted sterling silver/ gold gemstone & crystal jewelry.

Hodgepodge will feature “Architectural Images” by Tammy Dohner.

Tammy enjoys studying architecture and states she especially love older architecture and the craftsmanship involved in the decorative elements. “In 1989, when first learning how to use a 35 mm camera, I began photographing architecture. Unlike people, buildings didn’t become impatient with me if I was taking too long fiddling with the equipment before I took the picture. Stonework never seemed to mind if I was waiting for the light to change and I never felt compelled to explain a delay to a staircase.”

Architecture continues to be one of my favorite photographic subjects.

Coming Events…

The Art Walk in April bears mentioning now, as the public may wish to participate in one or two of the events.

The 2009 Open Exhibition is sponsored by USBANK and the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts.  The Downtown Artist Co-op hosts this event. Proceeds from the exhibit (the entry fees and a percentage of sales from work from the show) go to fund an annual $1000 scholarship for an art major at APSU. The recipient of the scholarship is selected by the Art Department. faculty each year. The recipient is recognized at a reception at the DAC.

The Exhibit is open to all artists in Montgomery and surrounding counties. Artists can submit one piece for a $10 entry fee. All submitted work is in the exhibit (often 100 pieces or more). A juror is brought in to select the award winners (up to $1000 in awards are given in both amateur and professional divisions).  The entry forms should be available during Art Walk at the DAC and along Franklin Street. Also they well be available at the US Bank Downtown Office.

The Roxy is also accepting registrations for the first annual Sidewalk Art Walk, which will be held on Thursday April 2, as part of the Art Walk.   Teams (of no more than 10) from all elementary, middle and high school art departments are asked to select a picture of their choice and re-create it on the sidewalk on the date from 2:30 until 5:00. The winner will receive a pizza party and a night at the upcoming musical CATS. Call Tom or Katie at the theatre for more info.

Art Walk is one of the many monthly events taking place in the downtown area.  Visit www.historicdowntownclarksville.org for more information about this event and all downtown happenings.

In "King of Spades" (17 X 23, 2008), Lewis’s most recent work embodies her aesthetics and ideals as an artist that anyone can have their portrait done, and shows her flare for detail while capturing the innermost essence of her subject, a trait she shares with regional portrait artist, Billy Price Carroll. Featured here is Ryle.

Though Monet said, “My life is useless,” artist Judy Lewis disagrees with this statement, though she can see how Monet may have felt this way. “It is a tough life to live struggling to make a living as an artist because you feel such desire and passion. If you look at art history, many artists lacked the customer base to feel appreciated during their lives,” according to Lewis, a native Clarksvillian.

Lewis, a devoted mother, has one daughter, Keegan, from a previous marriage and has lived in Clarksville for the majority of her life. In addition, Lewis has done work in Texas, and recently returned from Gettysburg, PA.  Lewis has been steadily producing art work sometime after, Art Cantu, a Christian minister from south Texas, witnessed to her, and sparked a hope in her that she could achieve her dreams. At this point in her career,  Lewis has done over 300 exhibit-worthy pieces, and continues to produce more art every day, not counting numerous drawings.

Of late, Lewis has delved into painting oils and acrylics with a style and color technique as unique and original as her drawings. The painting, Phoenix Rising on Angel’s Wings, captures the colors of a young girl and her gallant horse, Angel, as they properly go riding across a verdant field. Her vivid brush strokes in Christmas Carriages on Franklin Street capture the light and color of night lights downtown during a Christmas extravaganza.

Starting out, Lewis did drawings, and Christian poster art, and was always drawing more. Ms. Lewis got five commissions for her work from having her art work in a downtown window in Schumer’s. The client later told her, “You’re the best kept secret in this town.” As we sit in a local restaurant, Lewis unveils her life as a regional artist in the following interview.

At what point did you first realize you were an artist?

“I always thought I was since I was a kid—first grade—all I wanted to do when I was a kid was color. My friend would get mad at me and say, ‘all you ever do is color.’”

“But it goes earlier than that. In my grandmother’s Bible there were real, detailed paintings in between each book of the Bible, and woodcuts in the appendixes. I was around four or five at the time. I remember while I was redrawing them, the thought came to me–maybe I want to be an artist? At that moment something inside me said that I wanted to be an artist. Growing up, I got in trouble in school a lot for drawing in class.”

Could you tell us some more about your work?

“I mostly do portraiture. I do love to do portraits of people. Norman Rockwell was a storyteller, but feel that I can capture a feeling like the innocence of childhood. Say I had twenty studies of a child’s portrait but there was only one that captured my heart. That’s when I know it’s going to be a good portrait, and my goal is to pay tribute to that person the best I possibly can.”

"Portrait of Abraham Lincoln" ( 17 X 23, 2006) by Judy Lewis was done in Gettysburg, PA., site of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address, during his dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery.

One of my favorite pieces that you’ve done is the portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Is that the case with this historical piece too?

“Yes, I wanted to portray Abraham Lincoln as best I can. I loved going to the Smithsonian and seeing the presidential portraits, but Lincoln was the first one I wanted to draw. Also, because I was in Gettysburg, it was right to do him and I’m glad I did.”

What about doing portraits of historical figures and celebrities?

“I’d like to do Joan of Arc’s portrait! I’d also like to do Wilma Rudolph, Frank Sutton, Sgt. Carter from Gomer Pyle, [because] he’s from Clarksville—anyone from Clarksville who was well known, or celebrities.”

Why Joan of Arc?

“Because she’s an interesting character in history. You don’t see a lot of portraits of great women, since it’s been a men’s world.”

Which five artists would you like to be stranded with on a deserted island? You know—the art world’s version of Lost?

“Van Gogh, Renoir, Norman Rockwell, da Vinci, and Michelangelo. I’ve read a lot of van Gogh—his life was depressing but interesting. Other artists I like are Sargent. Rockwell is number one for me. The art world didn’t consider him [because] he was more of an illustrator but an illustrator is still an artist. And I like Norman Rockwell’s portraiture. He did Eisenhower’s portrait and Nixon’s portrait—they were in the Smithsonian. Norman Rockwell is a major influence.”

Have you found it difficult having a realistic drawing style in a contemporary art world?

“No, I just do what I do and I’m not concerned with what the art world says about a particular style. You don’t see hordes of people going to see movies they don’t understand—they go to movies that touch their hearts—I think art is so loved. That’s why Norman Rockwell is so beloved—he did work people could understand. To me, art is art if it shows emotion—I think that’s good art—great art. I like Jackson Pollock—his work was well balanced and beautiful. Georges Seurat’s pointillism—I love it. In fact, when I was a kid when I saw A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte— I said, ‘I love it!’ There’s something about umbrellas—the parasols and it was brilliant outdoor lighting.”

How do any of these people influence your work and why?

“Renoir—Luncheon of the Boating Party—influenced me because I like his romantic themes, his impressionism, his boating party, and people with feeling. I think I want to achieve something like Renoir, except in a Norman Rockwell fashion. [Laughs] I also have been influenced by Chuck Close’s big portraits—he’s a contemporary influence, and Daniel Green.”

Is creativity innate? What are your beliefs on this?

“I think we’re all born with it, because we’re made in God’s image and he’s the creator. I think we all like to draw when we’re kids—I don’t know any kid that doesn’t like to draw, but when they grow up—adult—they think it’s stupid. I think we can create far beyond what we think we can actually create. We don’t realize the depth of our own creativity—we’re limited by how much we think we can create. A lot of times I felt like Don Quixote chasing rainbows and windmills and [thinking] it’s not going to happen, or is this really real? Chasing something after the wind— it was right after that Art ministered to me in Texas and I became a Christian that my art took off. He asked me, ‘What do you want to do in your life?’ ‘To be an artist,’ I said. Something sparked. He gave me a glimmer—just a glimmer of hope that with God all things are possible and it was all I needed to start drawing again. If you live your whole life without being an artist when you’re supposed to be, you’re going to regret it. Ten years ago I thought I’ll be better than I am today and it gave me hope.”

Where do you see yourself then in ten years from now?

“I’ll be better ten years down the road than I am now. I like to challenge myself.”

Training

“I’m self-taught. We’re all self-taught in a way. Even with someone training you—you have to compose the piece and do the work yourself. I read a lot of books and practiced hard. I drew a lot. I have 300 final pieces. But that doesn’t account for every practice drawing by any stretch. If you count them, oh, who knows? It’s very difficult to draw for pleasure and try to sell [it] versus doing commissions since I’m used to doing commissions. Although, I think they’re marketable, I do some pieces for me.”

What are the best and worst parts of being a full time working artist?

“The best part is being your own boss, and doing what you’re free to do, and you’re happy. The worst part is if I’m able to survive or not. I hate the term starving artist. I feel like it’s the only profession where people expect them to be starving—you don’t hear of a homebuilder being a starving homebuilder, or a doctor, [etc.]. Donating work is great—if you have pieces lying around—I’ve given to auctions in the past. I also feel it’s the only profession where people expect you to do work for free—people don’t realize that talent is work that you need to be paid for.”

“Early on, when I saw it as a hobby, I kept practicing, and practicing thinking one day I’d be good enough and in those times I would often give work away. In the past. I’ve had to do work on weekends as a single mom, and when I was working other forty-hour-a-week-jobs. The myth of the starving artist is so strong, and it needs to be broken. Getting people to pay what you need is difficult because of the starving artist myth. It’s not cool to be a starving artist these days–you have to be able to make a decent living, even though you love fulfilling your passion but now I have to look at it as a business.”

"Working Hands" ( 16 X 19.375, 1995) displays Lewis’s knowledge of art history in doing work after Albrect Dürer and Dürer’s influence on her life and work.

Tell me why Working Hands is one of the most beloved pieces you’ve done?

Ms. Lewis shows me a picture after Albrect Dürer of his Praying Hands, that she has entitled, Working hands and tells me how Dürer’s story inspired her to draw this piece and to write his story over the art. “Albrect Dürer had an older friend –another struggling artist who roomed with him.”

“Albrect Dürer did these praying hands in a woodcut as a tribute to his roommate’s hands. Albrect Dürer’s older roommate spent his life scrubbing floors in a restaurant to support Dürer and got a job until Dürer made enough money to support them both with his woodcuts that finally sold years later. Dürer told his roommate he could go do his art now, but both his hands were so shot—his roommate couldn’t hold a paint brush anymore due to the pain. One night Dürer saw his roommate praying when he came home, and Dürer said he’d paint those hands to show that toil and work for others—the sacrifice his roommate made for him. God honored Albrect Dürer and the man who toiled for him.”

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

“Be committed to the piece. Give yourself time and patience, and try not to get discouraged. Just keep doing it, because you’re going to be further reaching your goal just pressing on. It takes a lifetime and you can’t do it with just a few pieces. When you get forty or fifty pieces in a room—that’s when you can tell an artist’s quality and workman style. And seeing your work in a collection—seeing my work in a collection gave me, for the first time, an appreciation of my work. Usually, you’re just so focused on one piece. It’s the feeling and emotion that’s there in the room. Get to that point, and feel [it].”

What are your hobbies or life outside of art?

“There’s nothing much outside of art, spirituality, and God. But, I like to read about quantum physics—atoms popping in and out—where do they go when they pop out, and pop back in? If you break matter down, you’ve got nothing—where does matter start? It all comes down to spirituality. I think there’s a spiritual lesson in everything. God is literally in the details.”

Of her early works, Lewis said that Jaime and Baby Lucy was one of her first portraits. Dormitory Window was one of Lewis’s first pieces drawn at APSU of two college students looking out a Sevier Hall window. In 1984-85 she had the prints shrink-wrapped and placed in the APSU bookstore. Local street scenes that Lewis has vividly rendered include Owen’s Barber Shop, The Roxy, Ely Feed Co. and Uneeda Biscuits.

"Portrait of Alexis" (17 X 17, 1996) shows a young girl and her pet dog sitting on the steps as she enjoys reading her book.

A volunteer, Lewis is a member of the Downtown Artist’s Co-op, which helps promote the arts in the community. Of her current exhibit at Hodgepodge, Lewis said, “Paige King has been very, very helpful in helping me show my work since I’ve returned to Clarksville.” Lewis has portraits in homes that range from factory workers’ homes to mansions of high stature, and covers a vast client range and all income levels. Subject matter in Lewis’s works ranges from pets, animals, children, people, and famous figures to street scenes, and landscapes.

When asked about her portrait and art work commissions, Lewis said, “I want people to understand I can do a portrait of anyone—as individual in character as the subjects themselves. By that I mean not just a stately business man or woman, but portraits of teenagers, or young adults. Portraits always last forever, and the older they get, the better. Photographs fade and the clothes seem dated by time. Unlike photographs, portraits have a timeless presence and they get handed down from one generation after another. People have hunted me down to do portraits. I can try to meet anybody’s price range.”

If inquiring about a commission, call Judy Lewis for an appointment at (717)-357-7526 to visit her at her studio on Excel Rd., off Madison St. Lewis is open to inquiries for a wide variety of other subjects in various media.

After speaking with Ms. Lewis, I felt like I was just beginning to scratch the surface of a deep pool. Judy Lewis’s current work can be seen in Rogate’s Boutique and in her two person show with Reisa Peters at Hodgepodge through the 3^rd of September. Lewis will also have a booth at the Frolic on Franklin Street event in downtown Clarksville on September 20th.

Current Exhibits:

Rogate’s Boutique

Phone : (931) 645-3526

115 Franklin St
Clarksville, TN 37040

Hodgepodge

Phone : (931) 647-0444

Upstairs Gallery; Thru Sept. 3^rd

125 Franklin St
Clarksville, TN 37040

]]> http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/08/28/through-the-looking-glass%e2%80%94an-introduction-into-the-world-of-artist-judy-lewis/feed/ 0 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/02/17/dac-hosts-doug-hallorans-sidetracked/ http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/02/17/dac-hosts-doug-hallorans-sidetracked/#comments Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:00:05 +0000 A Guest Commentator http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/02/17/dac-hosts-doug-hallorans-sidetracked/ “SIDETRACKED: Something that causes a diversion from the original subject or activity.” This is the title of a new solo art exhibit by regional artist Doug Halloran. The exhibit opens with a public reception from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 23rd, at the Downtown Artists Co-op located at 96 Franklin St. on the square in downtown Clarksville. “Birdland”(at left) is one of the works on exhibit).

Halloran says his choice of exhibit title came about when he was reviewing his finished work.

“I was looking for some kind of common thread but, as usual, the work was an eclectic mish-mash of both photo images and pastel paintings; each image had at some point diverted from my original intention. So, I decided to explore this way of working and follow the “something” that led me to a different way of seeing.”

The pastel paintings include Halloran’s homage to Russian abstract painter Mark Rothko and Swiss expressionist Paul Klee. He says these paintings continue a series of his pastel works which he equates with jazz, poetry and spirituality and they created new technical challenges. “Flower” (at left) is among Halloran’s works on exhibit.

The photo images are a mix of abstract explorations of the same theme. These images were found in his explorations around his Cadiz, KY, home and represent Halloran’s newfound interest in digital photography which, “I have come to appreciate is not as easy as it first appeared to me.”

Halloran graduated from APSU in 1985 with a BFA in photography. He is a member of the Downtown Artists Co-op in Clarksville where he has participated in many exhibits and won the Best of Show award at the juried U.S. Bank show. He is a past member of the Lousiville, KY, Visual Arts Accociation (LVAA) and taught beginning photography at Artopia Art Center which was run by LVAA.

Halloran’s show will continue from February 23 through March 22 at the DAC gallery. Gallery hours are 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. There is no charge for admission and visitors are welcome.

Editor’s Note: Information on this exhibit submitted by Cliff Whitaker. 

In addition, downtown shops will remain open through 8 p.m.,  and will showcase the work of an additional six artists.

Participating businesses include Posh,  HodgePodge, Front Page Deli, Rogate’s Boutique, and Yesterday’s Antiques (both shops).

The Roxy Theater will host a wine tasting, with a virtual walk through of the proposed Center for the Arts, followed by a performance of The Chimes.

The DAC Membership Show will run through December.