ArtValet

Saturday is the Sunshine Date for First Saturday Arts Market. That’s right, I made that phrase up - I don’t want to jinx our makeup date by calling it by the name that got it canceled in the first place. Rain-date? What sun hating fool thought that name up? The market features nearly four dozen curated fine artists from all over Houston. Nearly all are fine artists, we do have a soap maker in Cammie’s Handmade Soaps. Cammie and Larry always provide a water bowl for our four legged friends, making the market pet friendly! The market is always going to be a little different, and I’m okay with that. It is an inspiring environment, both shows are. That’s probably why I’m on edge without sun or the markets. What to do? Just because you’re an adult now doesn’t mean you can’t do what you … [Read more...] about Art Valet: sunshine, Year of the Dog, get some class

Artist John Ross Palmer has been in my peripheral vision for many years. Why? Because he is a successful artist, he follows no rules but his own, and has made branding his name an art form. When you reach the pinnacle of success what do you do? Give back, of course. Palmer would most likely disagree with that statement about success, there is no way he and business partner and husband Ryan Lindsay are done achieving. Palmer did start giving back in the way of mentoring other artists almost 10 years ago. First, it was just friends at informal gatherings, that eventually led to a program which is now overseen by a nonprofit called Art Launch. The Escapist Mentorship Program, founded in 2009, pairs emerging artists with an established artist who coaches on all aspects of the … [Read more...] about Art Launch Introduces The 2018 Escapist Artists

Houston’s foremost arts organization supporting local artists - hosts its annual gala, The Crystal Ball, on February 2 from 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. at Silver Street Studios. The event honors Fresh Arts Coalition founder, Marita Fairbanks, and attendees can expect a thrilling evening of over-the-top costumes, entertainment, art installations, food, drinks and a dazzling art and lifestyle auction. The annual gala is Fresh Arts’ largest fundraiser of the year and is among the best people watching events in Houston. “Last year was a tough year for many Houston-area artists affected by Harvey and we’re excited to use our gala as the catalyst to kick off a much stronger year for the Houston arts community in 2018,” explains Fresh Arts executive director, Marci Dallas. “Our honoree, … [Read more...] about Hey Houston, Let’s Party! Fresh Arts Presents The Crystal Ball Gala

On a recent visit to Independence Art Studios, I was shocked to see that Brooke Summers-Perry, a 22 year Heights resident and neighbor, occupied one of the studios. I had no idea she painted - and in fact, she told me, she hadn’t for a very long time. Yet her work had a depth and passion to it that is rare among painters with years of experience. Loving Mystery; an Invitation, featuring 25 - 30 paintings and poetry is featured at the Cloister Gallery at Treebeards in February. Summers-Perry took art lessons as a teen but was quickly re-directed toward pursuing a “lucrative” career. While getting degrees in Psychology and Architecture, she squeezed in some black and white photography courses studying light, people, and spaces, but never returned to drawing or painting. Leaving … [Read more...] about Art Valet: Artist Shares Healing Through Art & Word

Despite my appearance here each week, bringing you art news and other artistic points of interest (albeit, primarily to me), I’m not exactly what you’d call verbose when it comes to art critique. In English - when it comes to art, I either like or I don’t, I feel no urge to discuss the finer points of what the artist was thinking or worse, wants “us” to think. Enter “Miss Carolyn,” an oft-described senior most-artists in my world, who will very shortly be officially in her ninth decade plus one on our lovely planet. Miss Carolyn loves to talk about art in all its forms. Especially modern contemporary art. We could not be further apart in our approach to art. I will say this, it is my opinion that her style and especially her most recent works are more in keeping with current times … [Read more...] about Art Valet: Adventures with Miss Carolyn