Art Stimulus Silent Auction

One of many beautiful photography images by award-winning photographer Christine Taft will be auctioned on Saturday, July 11, 2009. The auction will be held in Earth Gallery, 1014 N. Main Street, (928) 451-4495 during the "Artwalk" in the Historical Art District of Old Town Cottonwood, AZ from 1:00 - 8:00 pm. The "Artwalk" will also have entertainment and refreshments.

Christine Taft will be personally available to showcase her work and answer any questions that day. If you are not the lucky winner of the auction, special incentives will be available- i.e.: first purchase will receive reduced pricing.

If you are not able to attend this special event, you can view and purchase a selection of her photography work on her website: www.theperceptivelens.com.

Free photography talk at SMoCA

Everyone is looking for a deal now a days. How about a little education and artistic enrichment too? Arizona State University professor, Betsy Schneider, will be giving a free talk on June 18th 6:30 pm at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Stage 2 located in the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts adjacent to the museum. She will be discussing her own work as well as those of photographer Harry Callahan. Much of Betsy's recent work explores themes of childhood, culture, and relationships. Harry also focused on loved ones as his subjects for his photography. Callahan's image scene here "Eleanor and Barbara Lake Michigan, 1953" is taken of his wife and daughter. His wife, Eleanor, was the subject of many of his images. SMoCA currently is running an exhibit of Callahan's work along with the work of Aaron Siskind and Fredrick Sommer (who lived in Prescott, Arizona) entitled At the Crossroads of American Photography: Callahan, Siskind, Sommer. The exhibit of 151 photographs has been extended to August 9, 2009.

SMoCA is also holding a series of free events every Thursday night during the summer. For more information about Betsy Schneider's talk or SMoCA's other events check out their website.

David Spindel, a 50 year overnight success story

David Spindel is a photographer who has had some amazing opportunities in his career. He has worked with many celebrities, probably the one that has given him the most notoriety is John Lennon. He was given remarkable access to John at his recording studio in New York not long before his untimely death. David's work has been used for multiple album and book covers. We had the opportunity to print some of his images for shows he has had around the world.

David and his wife moved to Arizona 2004 to "retire", although I don't think he has slowed down much. He currently has a showing of his work at The Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Mesa, Arizona until the end of May. He was also recently interviewed by the Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Magazine. This morning he was interviewed by Scott Pasmore of Channel 3 for their Good Morning Arizona show. If you missed it, here is a link for the interview.

In David's words "My favorite expression is that it has only taken me 50 years to be an overnight success."

Need inspiration? Get Ignited!

Well the temperature has broken 100 degrees for three straight days and that can only mean that summer has arrived in the Valley of the Sun. So, between the economy and the weather, it's not easy for creative folks like us to get inspired.

Since we're spending gobs of time trying social media as a way to drum up some business we here at Artisan Colour / Display Graphics have found a cool site where creative minds can present ideas. You know that many times it just takes a thought or an idea from someone to ignite the passion within. The site we found is appropriately named Ignite-Phoenix.com.

Ignite Phoenix is an information exchange aimed at fostering and inspiring Phoenix's creative community. On Tuesday, June 16th. Ignite Phoenix will be having it's fourth event at the Tempe Center for the Arts. While that event is more than a month away these folks are opening up submissions for the event right now. so get fired up and ignite the creative passions from within.

We are excited to announce that Ignite Phoenix will be returning to the gorgeous Tempe Center for the Arts for our fourth event on Tuesday, June 16th. The overwhelming turnout for Ignite #3 in February forced us to alter our plans, as we needed a venue that could hold 400+ people. Thanks to support from the City of Tempe and some generous sponsors, we will be in the TCA’s gorgeous 600 seat theater!

Ignite Phoenix has come a long way since the the first “I Wonder If Anyone Will Show Up” event last August, and from now on our goal is have the next Ignite scheduled and posted as soon as a previous event wraps up. We will also open up submissions immediately, so you can submit an idea any time it strikes you. The only time submissions will be closed will be during the judging period right before an event.

If you have an idea you would like to submit for Ignite Phoenix #4, just visit our Submission Page.

David Mehrer BFA Exhibition

David Mehrer is an artist completing the photography program at Minnesota State University Moorhead. You probably remember seeing Moorhead and Fargo on the news in the past couple of weeks with the Red River cresting and subsequently flooding the surrounding area. Because of that situation, the University's BFA Exhibition had to get rescheduled. The show will go on, and is opening on April 27th.

David uses light almost like sculptural aspects in his photography. His mixture of the media creates new elements to traditional themes. We were happy to help out an emerging artist across the country. We wish David the best of luck with the upcoming exhibition and his career in the arts.

If you will be in the Moorhead area in late April, you can visit the Roland Dille Center for the Arts to see the show.

Chris Adams at Winfield's Cafe

We recently printed some work for Chris Adams for his show Urban Landscapes at the Winfield's Cafe in Old Town Scottsdale. The Winfield's Cafe is a different kind of coffee house. It is run by the First Baptist Church of Scottsdale and located in their campus. Their mission at the cafe is not only to offer good coffee, but to also build community relations through their services.

There is a opening reception for Chris' work April 2nd from 6 pm to 8 pm. The show will be on display until April 13th. To learn more about the Winfield's Cafe or their events visit their website.

Tempe Festival of the Arts this weekend

If it is spring time in Arizona that can only mean one thing, festivals. The 32nd annual Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts will be held this weekend off of Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. Starting at 6 pm tonight, they will shut down Mill Avenue and the artists will start setting up their booths for the event. Admission is free, and the event is even dog friendly. The weather promises to be beautiful this weekend. Bring the whole family down to view and buy some original art!

SPRING FESTIVAL 2009 March 27-29/ 10am to Dusk

The Tempe Festival of the Arts consistently ranks among the Top 20 art festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist and has received the Pinnacle Award from the International Festival and Events Association. The spring and fall events each attract nearly 250,000 visitors to the Mill Avenue District over the course of a 3-day weekend.

Quality artists are fundamental to the success of the event. Each year, the Festival receives more than 1,000 applications from artists across the country. From these applicants, a jury comprised of members of the local art community selects the top artisans in each category to participate in the Festival. During the Festival, a new jury then selects the best overall artist and the top artist in each category.

Participants are separated into 18 different artistic categories for judging, ranging from woodwork to photography to ceramics and even wearable art. More than 400 artist booths line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets presenting unique, and hand-made artwork that offers visitors a distinctive shopping experience.

Christine Taft at Earth Gallery

Earth Gallery is located in Old Town Cottonwood in Northern Arizona off of Historic Route 89A. The Old Town Association of Cottonwood is holding a Second Saturday Art & Antique Walk every 2nd Saturday of the month, starting this weekend. Christine Taft has been asked to display her work at the Earth Gallery for the on-going event. We printed some gorgeous Metallic prints of her award winning images available for purchase at the gallery.

The art walk starts this weekend March 14th from 1-8 pm. Come and play!

The Art District in Old Town features art in all mediums, from antiques and galleries to artisan breads and fine food fusions.

From 1-8pm, come stroll the sidewalks and enjoy our beautiful climate, incredible food choices, large array of shopping options and Old West atmosphere of Historic 89A, as you meander through the wonderful spectrum of galleries and shops. Chances are good that music will be playing and the sun will be shining.

Every second Saturday there will be events to stir your artistic soul, and a new show at each gallery, every month, whose work you can newly appreciate.

Go West exhibit at Tucson Airport

If you happen to find yourself with some time to spare at the Tucson Airport there is more for you to do than just read a magazine while you are waiting for your flight. James Cowlin along with photographer Tom Kiefer currently have an exhibit at the airport gallery entitled Go West: One Road, Two Visions. Both artists tell the a story of the West from very different viewpoints. While Jim focuses on vast sweeping iconic Western landscapes, Tom concentrates how man altered and changed these locations.

The show is on display through the end of March 2009. If you won't be flying out of Tucson during that time you can still 'visit' the exhibit on line. We were happy to lend a hand by printing Jim's Historic Route 89 images used for the exhibit.

As story tellers with cameras, Tom Kiefer and I may seem to be worlds apart. The paradoxical juxtaposition you see in this exhibition should not hide the passion we each bring to our work and the commitment to truth and beauty as we see it.

Through Each Other's Eyes show this weekend

Another event taking place this weekend is a show from the Through Each Other's Eyes organization. The latest show features four photographers from two countries. Dennis Scully and Maurice Sartirana traveled to Japan in a culture exchange with two Japanese photographers Haruhiko Shimauchi and Noriyoshi Kanda. Their resulting images will be on display this weekend at the Historic Southwest Cotton Company Building. The show will be part of the First Friday events as well as a reception with the artists on Saturday night. We were honored that they selected us to do some Metallic printing for the show.

The Historic Southwest Cotton Co. Bldg. is located at 605 E. Grant St. in downtown Phoenix. The March 6th First Friday event starts at 6 pm, and the artist reception on Saturday March 7th is from 5-8 pm. Hope to see you there!

The 16th exchange between photographers in Phoenix and Himeji, sister cities since 1976, began with the visit of Haruhiko Shimauchi and Noriyoshi Kanda to Arizona in February, 2008. Hosted by TEOE Photographers Dennis Scully and Maurice Sartirana, their shooting schedule included Super Bowl activities at West Gate, a Chocolate festival and fire cadet training in Glendale.

Sartirana and Scully will complete the exchange by traveling to Japan. The participants stay at each other's homes while traveling abroad, making the experience a rich cultural exchange that was about far more than making pictures. Each photographer will feature 20 prints in the resulting exhibit, presenting images of how two cultures perceive one another.

The pictures of Dennis and Maurice seen here were taken during their trip to Japan in 2008.

"3" Artshow at Jordre Studio

This Friday is shaping up to be a big night for art in Phoenix. As usual, the first Friday of every month is part of the First Friday art walks in the downtown galleries. March is also the 20th anniversary of Art Detour, a two day event with thousands of attendees experiencing hundreds of artists’ work in more than 100 galleries and studios. Both events are brought to you by the non-profit volunteer organization Artlink.

There are several shows scheduled on Friday and continuing in to Saturday. Some of which we were able to play a part in by helping the artists produce their work, one of them being 3 at the Jordre Studio. It is a collaborative show of three artists; Jennie Ignaszewski, Tyson Crosbie, and Kyle Jordre. We worked with both Tyson and Kyle for the show.

Tyson will be debuting the second edition of his annual series of fine art photographs, Phoenix 21. On Thursday March 5th from 6-8pm there is also a chance for you to preview the work before it is open to the public on Friday. It is a great opportunity to interact with the artists and see the work up close and personal.

Group Show highlights talents of three artists during Art Detour

Simply titled, "3," this year during Artlink's Art Detour Jordre Studio will be hosting a show of three diverse artists, Jennie Ignaszewski, Tyson Crosbie and Kyle Jordre (owner of Jordre Studio). The opening reception is being held on March 6, 2009 during First Friday, 6PM-10PM. The studio will also be open during regular Detour hours, Saturday, March 7, 10AM - 6PM; Sunday, March 8, noon - 6PM.

Documenting urban beauty - as each is committed to and loves the Valley/Phoenix urban environment. Jennie has lived here longest and has created many images of the community and the local population; Tyson is deeply embedded in the social networking arena and is the creator of #pfn (phoenix friday nights) a group that you can find on twitter/facebook; and Kyle's studio is in the heart of the Grand Avenue arts district and he is active in the Grand Ave. merchants association. Each of these valley artists is committed to our downtown community and through their work, they document urban beauty quite uniquely.

Lighting Essentials' photo contest

Don Giannatti at Lighting Essentials is starting up a monthly photo contest. This is the first month, and it looks like there are already some great submissions. This month's assignment is portraits in an environment; "Show the subject’s relationship to the environment". We are one of the sponsors by offering the second place winner with a free 16x20 glossy print. We are excited to see who wins!

You have until February 28th to submit images if you are interested. Please check out Lighting Essentials for all of the contest rules and details.

We have a wonderful sponsor, BorrowLenses.com and they will be awarding a grand prize of a weeks rental of any of their great photographic gear. Our wonderful sponsor, Mighty Imaging will be presenting a free 16×20 for second place and our third place will receive the Lighting Essentials 1 DVD.

2009 Arizona Fine Art Expo

Springtime in Arizona means there are lots of events to attend. We just finished the Barrett Jackson Car Auction, the FBR Open, and in a couple weeks Phoenix will be hosting the NBA All-Star Game. If cars and sports are not your thing, there is also the 5th annual Arizona Fine Art Expo being held in Scottsdale.

The 44,000 square foot tented event features 100 artists, from photographers, painters, jewelry makers, woodworkers, and sculptors. You can get up close and personal to the artists and their process. Many will be creating pieces at the event as well as offering classes that you can attend for an extra fee. They also have a 2 acre sculpture garden with a koi pond and a butterfly exhibit. Dogs are even welcome to come along! It sounds like a great time. The Expo will be open until March 29, 2009. For more information check out their site.

Meet 100 nationally acclaimed and award-winning artists passionately creating artwork inside or in the outdoor working cabanas. The Arizona Fine Art EXPO brings you seventy-four continuous days of spectacular art adventure!

Linda Connor exhibit at the PAM

Since their remodel in 2006, the Norton Gallery at the Phoenix Art Museum has been home to some fantastic photographic exhibits. Their latest installment is the photography of Linda Connor. Linda uses a large format 8x10 view camera to capture her images and then does a direct contact print exposing them with sunlight in her garden. The prints are also toned with gold chloride that adds an inherent luminosity.

If you visit the museum on Tuesday evenings you can get in to see it for free! The museum offers free general admission every Tuesday from 3-9 PM as well as every First Friday from 6-10 PM. Odyssey: The Photography of Linda Connor will be open until March 8, 2009.

Traveling around the world, contemporary photographer Linda Connor seeks places and traditions that convey such intangible qualities as time, faith, and spirituality. Her photographs connect these ethereal concepts to specific locales and to the natural world. She has worked extensively in India, Indonesia, Turkey, Cambodia, Egypt, Tibet, and the American Southwest. Included in the exhibition of more than 70 photographs are some of Connor’s best known images from the past three decades, along with more recent works that have had little public exposure.

Interview with Tyson Crosbie

Tyson Crosbie was recently interviewed by MyArtSpace, a premier site dedicated to contemporary art and artisans. Tyson reveals some of the motivations behind why he became a fine art photographer, his influences, and his process. He also provides some great insight on the power and potential pitfalls associated with online marketing for artists. Below is a sampling of the interview.

#3 of Tyson's Phoenix 20 series

Art Space Talk: Tyson Crosbie

BS: Tell us more about the thoughts behind your work. For example, do you adhere to a specific school of psychology or philosophy as far as your practice is concerned?

TC: Nearly ten years is not enough time to develop any clear understanding of the meaning of anything. I am not so sure I'll ever reach any clear understanding, I can speak to where I am now.

I view my work as an evolution, the most important image I've ever made is the next one. It is my goal to create a lifetime body of work that evolves as I do that is recognizable visually as a journey of a life. The first abstracts that I took in school were exercises in composition and theory. What I call the Mexico series was when I became self aware as an artist. Following that the early work is when my language really starts to develop and refine. My most recent work is confined by rules and language and far more complex and yet the subtleties of information that I can contain in the imagery fascinates me.

Of course it is my obsession to observe the world, this ties me to the medium of photography intimately. Still I am drawn to contradictions like; Creating work as a purist, a traditionalist and using digital media. Loving observation and information as a scientist and an artist. Believing that I am solipsistic and an existentialist and an egoist at times.

Timm Chapman exhibit at Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a 32 acre oasis located due East of Phoenix in Superior, Arizona. Their goal is to instill an appreciation for plants through research, conservation, and education. They also have an active art program in their visitor center. Each month they feature the work of a new artist. In January, it will be the photography of Timm Chapman.

Timm's polar bear images entitled Lords of the Arctic will be on display the entire month of January. His shots are gorgeous, and also thought provoking. They highlight the beauty of these majestic creatures, and also their struggle for survival in a shrinking environment. Timm generously donates a portion of each sale from this collection to Polar Bears International.

Timm will also be leading a 3 hour 'texture walk' at the arboretum on January 17th. He will be talking about photography techniques and offering tips on how to improve composition and utilize the natural textures of desert plant life. Contact Boyce Thompson Arboretum if you wish to attend.

This month marks the first official start of Winter -- how appropriate that images of polar bears and stark landscapes will grace the walls of the visitor center gallery at Boyce Thompson Arboretum during January. Pinal County resident and professional photographer Timm Chapman will be featured with a solo exhibition, and he'll also teach a class January 17 for a dozen pre-registered students.

"The Arboretum show will feature a variety of my images including shots from the Lords of the Arctic series which captures the great Polar Bear on the tundra of Northern Canada," said Chapman, whose photography manages to encompass dramatic landscapes -- and also intimate spaces.

Gus Koernig's art added to Mighty Imaging

Gus Koernig started out his career working in front of a camera as a TV journalist. He now enjoys his time behind a camera as a photographer. He has some beautiful images of the West as well as from his journeys around the globe. All of which are now available in his gallery as part of our Shop for Art program. We are pleased to be able to offer Gus' prints to the collection.

Living in the western United States I am always surrounded by breathtaking images, just waiting to be photographed. I also have the opportunity to travel and take pictures in places I never dreamed I would visit. I spent several weeks in Australia, photographing the big cities and small towns, the seashores and the rainforests that are brimming with some of the most awe-inspiring images I have ever seen.

I was raised in a very big city and have lived in some very small, remote rural towns. These experiences give me a deep appreciation for the variety the world offers and my photographs reflect that variety. My galleries are filled with pictures of sweeping vistas of unspoiled wide-open spaces, as well as close-up photos of nature's most delicate handiwork. You'll find images taken in some of the world's great cities, along with photographs that capture the uniqueness of tiny towns in out-of-the-way places, and pictures of wide spots in the road where abandoned buildings silently hint at their history.

Vegetable art by Ju Duoqi

Ju Duoqi is a Chinese artist who uses vegetables as her models to recreate recognizable masterpieces by artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol. She uses digital photography, with a little help from Photoshop, to recreate each scene. Her images are printed large to allow the viewer to examine the amazing effort and detail put in to each recreation.

Ju can be seen here with her work "Vincent Van Gogh Made of Leek". Her show entitled "The Vegetable Museum" is on exhibition at Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery II in Beijing until January of 2009. To see more of Duoqi's exhibit, take a look at this slide show.

Do you want peas with your Picasso? -Celine Chen

Her works, the Vegetable museum series, are on show at the Paris Beijing Photo Gallery in the 798 art district from November 23, 2008 until January 24, 2009.

Mixing everyday vegetables such as tofu, cabbage, ginger, lotus roots, coriander and sweet potato, and adding a dash of digital manipulation, Ju presents a puzzling series of vegetable compositions representing world famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper by Leonard Da Vinci, The Dream by Pablo Picasso and Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol.

"In the summer of 2006, I bought a few kilograms of peas, and sat there quietly for two days peeling them, before stringing them on a wire and turning them into a skirt, a top, a headdress and a magic wand. I used a remote control to take a photo of myself in them, and named it Pea Beauty Pageant. That was my first work of vegetable art," Ju Duoqi said, recalling her first vegetable composition.

She began to find vegetables, normally associated with household drudgery, more and more interesting. The different types, shapes and colors of the vegetables, with a bit of rearranging, can make for a rich source of imagery. Fresh, withered, rotting, dried, pickled, boiled, fried, they all come out different.

Then she realized that as a photographer, she no longer needed models – she arranged her legumes and took photos of them. "I have found a way of life for women who love the home," Ju said, explaining the theme of her works. Anne Cooper Chen, an American visitor, commented, "These carry a great sense of humor."

Phoenix Art Museum showcases large photographs

The Phoenix Art Museum recently add Sara Cochran as their new modern art curator. As one of her first tasks in the position, the museum reinvented the contemporary galleries in the Katz Wing. One room of the five part installation is a gallery featuring wall sized photographs. Including this image "Untitled (House on the Road)" by Gregory Crewdson. It is exciting to see the museum recognize the power of these large scale photographs and introduce more of them to the collection.

To learn more about Crewdson's work, read this previous post.

Art museum galleries reinstalled - Richard Nilsen

The Phoenix Art Museum has reinstalled its contemporary galleries in the first-floor Katz Wing with a series of "mini-shows."

The large paintings and photographs from the museum's collection, with some loans from some local collectors make this 5-part installation a must-see.

Third gallery features monumental photographs. Unlike the snapshots you are used to, these photos are wall-sized. German artist Thomas Struth is the king of this genre. This is his "Pergamon Museum, Berlin" from 2001. Notice how in the gallery it takes up a good chunk of wall. These giant photos are something of a current fad.

Another giant photo is Candida Hofer's "Palacio Nacional de Ajuda Lisboa VII" from 2005. The genre favors images of large public spaces and incredibly sharp detail, so your eye can wander through them, fixing on this or that.

Another large photo is Gregory Crewdson's "Untitled (House on the Road)" from 2002. Although it is a photo, the subject is oddly mysterious and unreal. What is that house doing on that street?

Tim Lanterman goes to the dogs

They say never work with children or animals. Tim Lanterman decided to buck the system and ignore conventional wisdom. I would have to say he did an excellent job of proving them all wrong. Tim's latest exhibit aptly entitled Woof is all about dogs. Tim did an amazing job capturing the individual personalities of over 20 dogs he photographed for his series.

Whether you are an dog lover or just a lover of fine art photography, then you should be at the After Hours Gallery this Friday December 5th. The show starts at 7 PM and is part of the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Phoenix.