Purple House Parade

Sunday in East Lake the Purple House Parade will showcase homes for sale. In each home will be artists, writers and musicians displaying their talents and entertaining.

I will be at 804 86th Pl S along with artists Ted Openshaw and Lisa Nuby. This flyer lists the various properties and artists and musicians. I will have my book, Those Others: Navigating the "Riddle of Homosexuality" in 1965 available.

Click on the picture and it will enlarge and be easier to read.

The weather will be beautiful so come on out and check out the art and the book and the homes.

Art of All Types

Be sure and read my Western Tribune column from last week, which follows this. It's a prelude to this week's column, which will be in Wednesday's paper, avaliable Tuesday.

The Magic City Art Connection is over but the art lives.

This drawing of our current president and a former president was on prominent display at Magic City Art Connection. Steve Shepard's art work often carries a message.

This one says;

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of Obama's fateful win, He has trampled down the Bushes who we'll never see again. He has loosed the fluid lightning of his mightier swift pen: Torture and War will end!!

Barack Obama Hallelujah. Barack Obama Hallelujah. Barack Obama Hallelujah. His change will save us all."

I own one of Steve's drawings of Barack Obama. Steve told us yesterday that he is a cousin of Shepard Fairey, who painted the famous Obama Hope painting. Talent, and politics, run in the family, I guess.

Now what is this? These colorfully costumed ladies were gathered near the fountain in Linn Park yesterday.

Just as colorful was the most expensive piece of art work that I saw there: this collection of insects. All of the insects are accurately painted on paper by Jennifer Ivory. She uses mylar, horsehair, feathers and other materials in her work.

This collection was priced at $35,000. All I have to say is, it beats capturing poor little butterflies and murdering them with chloroform or whatever. I was guilty of that as a kid.

One other artist of note was Karen Elise Cohen whose computer generated paintings are both thought provoking and eye catching. Although created on a computer they are difficult to reproduce on a computer, as she admits on web site. My favorite is "For Love" but I couldn't get a good image of it. Here's a detail from it, though. Click on gallery and figurative to see "For Love"and click here to see the Rebecca Series for some really "wow" paintings.

Art, Love and Torture

See some pictures of an interesting rose and more at Bessemer Science and Nature.

Lots to choose from for lovers of art this weekend. Today through Sunday is the Magic City Art Connection at Linn Park in Birmingham. In Bessemer, on Saturday, is Art at the Tracks at the Hall of History, from 9:30 to 4:00.

At Linn Park yesterday I was helping someone to set up, and we were near this guy building this. I didn't get his name, but he says there is no plan to building this. He just does it.

Near the fountain is the art of Paul Cordes Wilm. Paul is a twin (the second), plays softball and likes abandoned houses and rivers. This is a series of his artwork. You can buy it. It follows the theme that I have been following. Love is love and is real and is significant regardless of who it is between and regardless of what detractors of love say. Thanks, Paul.

You might remember this cover from Black and White (February) that Paul did.

Jonathan Mann is writing a song a day. For this one, he took the lyrics directly from the "torture memos," the legal justification for torture that the Bush administration used and for which no one has yet to be prosecuted. Thanks, Homer (and Jonathan).

Redbuds and Scott Avett

Redbud trees are blooming. I know I probably say this every year, but they were a favorite of my mother. To her, they were a signal that spring was, indeed, here.

Look at the flowers closely. Often we just see a splash of pink along the roadside or at the edge of the yard, but never take time to notice the intricate details of the things that we appreciate.

There will be a workday at the Jonesboro Community Garden on Saturday, March 21 beginning at 9:00 am. We will be planting some new things, trimming some old things, and just getting the garden ready for Spring. come and join us. Look for an announcement soon of an Earth Day event at the Garden (maybe).

I keep hearing this song by the Avett Brothers, so I guess its time to post the video.



Singer Scott Avett is also an artist. Here's a link to his work. Scott was born in Wyoming but raised in the Piedmont of North Carolina.

Scott has been described as an "Artist Hobo, for his methods of collecting subject matter, inspiration, and time to work, expresses his ideas through multiple artistic mediums. These mediums include illustration, printmaking, painting, sculpture, songwriting, recording, and performing."

"Conceptually, Avett’s work involves self critical analysis and awareness of one’s mental strengths and weaknesses such as phobia’s and talents, fears and courage."

Speaking of art, I just got permission to use an author's photos of petroglyphs from Nevada in a project I am working on with UAB. This is gonna be fun.

Art on Exhibit in Birmingham

Be sure to read my Western Tribune column, just below this one.

The Birmingham Art Association was founded in 1908. Among the early artists involved were Hanna Elliot, shown here painting Lucille Douglass. Women were instrumental in promoting art in the early 1900's, as they still are.

This month the Birmingham Public Library is hosting a show of BAA members. The exhibit is on the 4th floor of the Central Library in downtown Birmingham, during regular library hours, through the end of the month.

Most of the artwork is for sale. Here are some of my favorites.

Smile by Alexandra Mears

Click on the picture to enlarge and look at the detail, especially the "wallpaper" behind the figure.

Ladies Novel by Alexandra Mears

This seemed to be a favorite of many, including me. The detail in this one is great also.

Have not Decided by James Knowles

Not always my favorite style, but the colors and the "action" caught me.

Landscape in Color by Ted Openshaw

Ted's work is always attention grabbing.

Wasteland by Ted Openshaw

Some of you saw this painting at my house during the holidays, on loan from the artist. Maybe enlarge this one too to understand it.

Art Exhibit Update

At the Birmingham Art Association Art Exhibit at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the top award for a painting went to Ted Openshaw! Congratulations Ted. The painting is Untitled.

There are about 60 works in the exhibit. There were award winners in Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Photography/Digital Images and Sculpture/3D. Congratulations to all the artists, including Corey King of Skinworks in Bessemer who won an award for his drawing, One Glance.

The exhibit is called 100 Years of Diversity in Birmingham Art will be open until December 31, 2008. Most of the works on exhibit are for sale, and can be picked up after the exhibit closes. Who knew art could be created from Kudzu? Nice.

If you have never visited the Civil Rights Institute, this would be a good time to do so. In addition to the art exhibit, another exhibit titled Darkness into Life, Alabama Holocaust Survivors Through Photography and Art, is on display. Powerful images and personal stories from Alabamians impart the history of these survivors of one of the ugliest episodes in the history of the world.

Washing Dust Off Your Soul

Much more of this and The Western Tribune will have a web site (hint hint. And I know just the person to run it). The following article, written by Nancy Hartzog, Associate Editor, appeared in this week's paper. The article is about my brother Ted Openshaw, his art, and an upcoming show. As the article says, you are invited to the opening reception at the Civil Rights Institute Friday, October 17, from 6 - 8 pm.

Through Art
Washing Dust Off Your Soul


World famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) once remarked, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

Since all of us get dust on our souls from time to time, Oct. 17 through Dec. 31 is a good time to stop by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to visit a juried art exhibition hosted by the Birmingham Art Association (BAA).

“The Birmingham Art Association has held many juried shows over the years, but we are especially excited about his one, our first ever at the Civil Rights Institute,” says Dr. William Colvin, BAA vice- president.

The exhibit will feature paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture and digital photography.
This year’s theme is “Diversity,” and there will be 64 entries representing a range of artistic talent and sure to please a very diverse group of people.

One of the artists featured with two entries is Ted Openshaw, of Lipscomb, who moved back to the area from Clearwater, Fla. about a year and a half ago and who does oil paintings.


Openshaw studied art in high school and later with Percy Rouse in Birmingham in the early 1960s. He attended classes and participated in various workshops at the St. Petersburg Art Center and the Dunedin Fine Arts Center in Florida and has shown his work in various shows and exhibits with the Birmingham Art Association.

He’s sold quite a few paintings that hang in offices and homes in Pinellas County, Fla., Birmingham and New Orleans.

“Although I have sold some paintings, I don’t do commissioned work and I don’t paint to sell my work although it makes me feel good to know that someone wants to hang something I’ve done in their home or office,” he said.

When asked to describe his style of painting, Openshaw said, “That’s hard for me to say. I paint what I see in people and places but it’s not just reproduction.

“It’s what I see the way I see it,” Openshaw added.

The Birmingham Art Association has provided an opportunity for Openshaw and others to show their work, and according to Liz Reed, former president and membership chairman, “sees its mission to promote an interest in art and serve as a place for a new artist or emerging artist to show their work.”

The public is invited to the opening reception at the Civil Rights Institute on 16th Street North in downtown Birmingham from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 17.

Mississippi Blue by Ted Openshaw

No News - Just Fun

Today I have my last class of the semester!!! I still have a test to take and a project due in another class (which I will finish up today or tomorrow), and I won't get my grade in another class until we get back from Jamaica, but as far as I am concerned, it's over!

Maria sent me this, and it is just the greatest thing, especially if you like art. In 5 minutes, this guy does something remarkable. Watch We could use this guy at Bessemer's Art in the Park.





Want a Mercedes convertible? Birmingham AIDS Outreach is practically giving one away. For $25 you can purchase a chance to win this car. Only 750 tickets will be sold, so chances are pretty good. The car is a 1983 380 SL Mercedes. Sure it's a few years old, but hey...you can drive it away on Thursday, August 9.

BAO

Have a good weekend!