Repression and Revelation: Show at Pi

Repression and Revelation
Pi Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO
November 3rd - November 25th 2006
Opening Reception: November 3rd, 6-9pm

Over the weekend I delivered several paintings and some drawings to Pi Gallery for my November solo show. One main wall features the series 'Repression and Revelation,' and other walls feature various figurative works. Above is a sneak peek at the main wall. (The city scene in the corner is actually a painting by Jane Pronko, who exhibited for October. It was a great show!)

H&R Block

Last Friday I set up my display at the new H&R Block World Headquarters. Saturday was a 'Block Party Safari' celebration for the employees and their families, which I was invited to attend. There were bands, food, face painting, and even a small petting zoo. Following are some pictures of the panels; yes, I often make silly faces in photographs.

Details on Governor's Invitational

I have acquired more information about my piece in the capitol building. Eleven paintings were chosen from the MidAmerica Pastel Society's Juried Exhibition at the South Wind Gallery in Topeka to hang in Governor Kathleen Sebelius's private conference room at the Kansas Statehouse. Among them was my pastel, "Cris."


Needless to say, I am completely honored and excited! I hope to make another trip out to Topeka soon for a historical tour and to see where the painting is hanging.

Lots of Things Happening!

Wow, have I got a lot on my plate right now! I just picked up one of my pastels from the MAPS Juried Exhibition in Topeka; the other was chosen to hang in the capitol building. I don't have many details on this, but will post them A.S.A.P. This Thursday I will deliver portraits to hang in the lobby of the new H&R Block World Headquarters, and will attend the "Block Party" celebration next Saturday.

Of course, the big news in my show Repression and Revelation opening November 3rd at Pi Gallery in the Crossroads Arts District! I have been working diligently to finish the series and everything is going well. Here are a couple from the series; more can be seen on my website.

Trip to Manhattan!

Manhattan, KS, that is. This blog is way late, but what can I say? It has been a busy time for me. I took the road trip on September 2nd primarily to visit the Strecker-Nelson Gallery. This is the farthest west I have ever been, and the road there was, well, rather flat.


The overall quality of the work at the Strecker-Nelson is really impressive; their Person to Person figurative show is what really caught my eye and propelled me to contact them about representation. I am pleased to announce that the gallery and I are building a relationship together, and I am scheduled to show in one of their rooms in August and September of 2007!


On the way back, I stopped in Topeka. The first stop was South Wind Gallery where I have two pastels on display with the MidAmerica Pastel Society 2006 Juried Art Exhibition. I had a pleasant conversation with Gary, a charming man who runs the shop. The gallery is beautiful, and the exhibition was full of impressive pieces.



The second stop in Topeka was my good friend Terry's chocolate shop: Hazel Hill Chocolate Traditions. I got to catch up with a friend I had not seen in a while, get a behind-the-scenes tour, and sample a delicious cappuccino truffle. Mmmm, a yummy end to an exciting day.

Art Fairs, et cetera

I have been too busy to blog! Last weekend was Art Westport, and though it could have been worse, it was a soggy, dreary weekend. If you missed me there, feel free to stop by the UnPlaza Art Fair Spetember 16th and 17th!

• UnPlaza Art Fair
  

I have been working diligently on my series for the opening in November. The third painting was finished some time ago, the fourth is almost complete, and I am nearly ready to start the fifth. The show will be titled "Repression and Revelation," and an opening reception will be held on November 3rd.

(I was planning to insert an image here, but the image uploader doesn't seem to be working at the moment. I will try again later.)

Pi Gallery

Last Saturday I had a meeting with the art director at Pi Gallery. The paintings "Repose" and "Cris With a Purple Drape" are currently on display at the gallery, and a solo show is planned for November 2006. The focus of the show will be my new series involving the box, the third of which is about to be completed.

• Pi Gallery Website
  

WIP Completed

This was finished a few days ago.

Oil on Canvas, 24" x 30"

WIP Update

Here is an update on this work-in-progress.

Oil on Canvas, 24" x 30"

Shell

Oil on Canvas

4" x 6"

The above is a small painting completed from life in one evening. I plan to do several of these over the next couple of months. They provide an opportunity to train my eye from life, and will hopefully also sell at the art fairs in September.

Summer Schedule

MAPS Juried Exhibition South Wind Gallery 08-25-06 through 10-08-06
Lacey's pastels "Cris" and "Self Portrait in Pastel" were chosen for inclusion in the MidAmerica Pastel Society's juried exhibition at the Sount Wind Gallery in Topeka, KS. Opening reception is Friday, August 25th from 6-8 p.m.

• South Wind Gallery

Twenty Seventh Annual Art Westport 09-08-06 through 09-10-06
Historical Old Westport provides a perfect backdrop for a "Kansas City" artist's fair. You will find Lacey's display at the end of Archibald, right across from Californos!
Hours: Friday 5 - 9pm, Saturday 10am - 9pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm

• Art Westport 2006 Information

UnPlaza Art Fair 09-23-06 and 09-24-06
Peace Works Kansas City's 15th Annual UnPlaza Art Fair.
Hours: Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sunday 12 noon - 5pm
Location: All Souls Unitarian Church, 4501 Walnut, KCMO, 64111 (across the street from the Kemper Gallery of Contemporary Art)

New WIP

Oil on Canvas

24" x 30"

Hush

This is my 2nd addition to the 'box' series. At least one more painting on the same theme will follow.

"Hush"

Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36"

Reticent

"Reticent"
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"

Danette, Unveiled

The pastel that I introduced last post is now finished. Here it is:

"Danette, Unveiled"
Pastel on Wallis, 16" x 22"

This is a painting of a friend, Danette, the first time that I saw her without a scarf (or security blanket, as she calls it!) on her head. A few months ago she finished chemo therapy and I have been happy to see her back to her bubbly, outgoing self!

It all started in the Spring of 2005, when Danette experienced a miscarriage. No one knew at the time, however, that what she was experiencing was not in fact a miscarriage but rather a symptom of Gestational Trophoblastic Cancer. Over the summer she became ill, and by the fall she was going in and out of the hospital, a couple of times in critical condition, and having surgeries. She was finally diagnosed while her husband was on an emergency trip to Texas where his father lay dying. Within a month Danette's own father was diagnosed with cancer, they had to relocate her mother-in-law to KS, and they experienced an accident which totaled their car.

The stress on Danette's family must have been incredible; she and her husband, Victor, work together as a youth pastor team at a local church and have five (count them, five!) children whom they homeschool. They also have no health insurance. But Danette stood as an example of Optimism and Hope. I would like to share a message that she sent out to our homeschool group in September of 2005 (unedited):

Hi everyone. i wanted to take a moment and tell you how overwhelmed i am with the kindness i have received from you all. I have been so blessed by the meals, the flowers and cards, phone calls and visits, and help with my kids, including co-op this fall. You all are a blessing from God to me, and I have said many prayers, and sent out many thoughts of blessings to you all.

as an update, i've been home since thursday, but have to return to the hospital this monday pm through wed. afternoon for more chemo treatment. I am also seeing a naturopathic doctor (who is working alongside my chemo doctor) who is giving me high vitamin treatment and herbal support, so I feel confident that it will help assist my body in the process.

i know we are a non-religious based group, but i wanted to share with you that i feel totally at peace with my dis-ease. the minute i got the diagnoses, i felt this overwhelming peace and total absence of fear. it's like my inner self knew somehow. I believe in Divine timing and guidance, and I feel that this experience is needed by my soul for my own growth. It has been like a huge spiritual crash-course for me, as I have spent time in the hospital reading from numerous spiritual sources, meditating, receiving reiki and prayers in many forms, and just had time to think. I am understanding things at a deep-heart level, that I never truly understood before. I tell you all this because as you are sending your many postive thoughts and prayers (in whatever form--positive energy is being sent), I and my family are soaking it up. I also wanted you to not feel worry or fear or sadness for me. I'm not some spiritual guru or anything---none of my peace comes from me--but i wanted to let you know that despite the difficulties, i am okay---at peace, knowing all is well, and in Divine Order.

you all have just been such a beautiful gift to me and my family, and i wanted to share a little of what is going on in my soul. I hope to be back with you soon. my body is still weak, so i'm not getting out much, but i hope to be back at co-op and other events as soon as i am
strong.

blessings and positive thoughts from me to all of you. talk to you soon! love, danette

Needless to say, I have been inspired by Danette. Actually, I was completely inspired by her entire family before any of this happened: she and Victor share work at church and at home equally and both participate in the schooling of and have great relationships with their children, who are amazing; they love each other, are helpful, intelligent and mature. They are all very affectionate both towards family and friends and seem to bring cheer wherever they go. As a family they have made me think about how I ought to treat those close to me and to face the world with a positive outlook. The past year has shown me how an optimistic, strong, loving family can weather huge difficulties.

This painting is meant to embody the spirit of Optimism and Hope that I see in Danette and her family, and also as simply a gift between friends, a congratulations of sorts. I hope that she sees something in the painting that reminds her, in a positive way, of her journey this past year.

As I was nearing completion of this painting, I got word from Danette that she had some 'disturbing test results' and may be having a recurrence of her cancer. I sincerely hope that this is not the case and that her body is as healed and well as she appears to be! I just have to keep telling myself to think positive thoughts.

Spring is Over, A New Beginning

(Close-up)

"Spring"
18" x 24"

Spring was finished on the 1st day of Summer. I will say more about the pastel, above, which I just started, as soon as possible.

Spring in Progress

"Spring" (In Progress)
18" x 24"

I am hoping to finish this before Summer officially begins, but it might not happen! There will be roses in that bush at the side, and maybe some other small additions.

News: I received a letter regarding my application to the Lawrence Art Guild Association's Annual Career Opportunity Grant. While I was not chosen for the grant, the panel was apparently so impressed with my work and the scope of my proposed project that they decided to award me an honorable mention! I am still trying to drum-up additional funding to study with Virgil Elliott; my fingers are crossed.

Shannon

Here is the final version:

"Shannon"
Oil on Canvas
14" x 18"

Over the weekend, I attended the Second Saturday Art Show at the Overland Park Convention Center, and met a couple of nice artists. I also browsed their permanent collection, which is definately worth the stroll. If you cannot visit Art at the Center in person, feel free to view the Virtual Gallery of the Human Form Exhibition.

More Progress

While there is certainly much work to be done, this painting is nearing completion. The hands are still mostly the underpainting, and the background and clothing are only blocked in, but the portrait itself is almost finished. (The close-up shows the colors more accurately, here.)

Art at the Center

Two of my paintings, "Amy Pinning Her Hair" and "The Silver Pitcher," have been selected to be part of The Human Form Exhibition at the Overland Park Convention Center. I will personally attend the Second Saturday Art Shows at the convention center on June 8th and July 10th from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

"Amy Pinning Her Hair"
Oil on Panel, 11" x 14"