Monday Moments - Irving Art Center Variety

Took a quick ride over  to the  Irving Arts Center on Friday afternoon.   Several new little  exhibits. "Rooted  Visions" featured works by over 25 Southern  Black artists - most born in poverty, never trained, just producing their  lives.  Resilience, storytelling, and powerful folk art. 

This is Moved  by the Word (2001) Ransom "Rocky" McCormick.   Obviously spent some  time in church.  Do  I hear an "Amen"?

It Cost to Hate by Ruby Williams.   Simple and striking. 

In the Dupree Lobby Gallery - photos by Bill Thompson.   This one is Threshold 

In De Profundis: Echoes From the Deep, Giselle Castro-Brightenburg captures the beauty of the natural world and explores complexities of the human  experience. 

Mesmerizing  colors

Altogether, a forty minutes art stroll.  Relax and expand  the mind and the heart.  

Have a good week. 
 

Whatever Wednesday - Irving Arts Center variety

A little stir crazy from  some cold blustery Texas days. Where  better to go for a little jaunt than the Irving Arts Center? They put on the nicest displays and  it is free to stroll the galleries. 

Rachel Black's oil painting are lovely. I  felt as if I was in the  various  state parks she visited to paint  nature scenes.   Vibrant colors and nifty perspectives. 

Sudeep Kumar - Invisible Spaces: Watercolors and Drawings.   His urban works brought an old fashioned tone to modern day utilities and such. I liked his watercolors. Almost a sepia  touch.  Very subtle colors. 

LeUyen Pham's illustrations are SO FUN. Huge variety of characters for  various series. She  worked at Dreamworks, then went  on her own to  award winning works.  Over  one hundred books (as an illustrator) bring joy to  children.  She's also written and illustrated her own stories. This  whole gallery was  delightful to peruse. 

On the serious  side,  in honor  of Black History Month, the center featured works from the  Arthur Primas  Collection.   Charles White's  work captured my eye.  His etchings like Cat's Cradle above are fantastic.  He is deceased, but his  works live on fortunately. 
 

And a little  humor as February comes  to  a close.  Weather  has been wacky!

No  doubt March will  throw  us some curveballs  too - Lion  or lamb?

Monday Moments - Texas Women Artists

Marking Space/ Holding Time - works by Texas Women Artists - was a lovely little exhibit in the Irving  Arts Center. I try to get over to these galleries because the curator does a fabulous job.  It only takes about thirty to forty minutes to see and enjoy the  works. 

This picture is "Out of Order" by Ellen Frances Tuchman.  It's mixed media on watercolor paper - acrylic, colored pencil, vintage matchbooks, hand painted paper quills, beads, buttons, cabochons, and thread.  Quite fascinating

"Guardians" by Sherry Owens is crepe myrtle, bailing wire, dye, and wax.   Wow!

"Garden 1 and Garden 2" by Mihee Nahm is oil on linen.  So calm and lovely

 "Between the Worlds" by Dawn Waters Baker just glows.  It's oil on gold leaf and canvas

These were just a few of the works that  caught my eye. The talent is tremendous. Such variety and creativity. 

You need a stroll?  Go find a local art center or gallery to enrich your heart. 

Wednesday Whatever - Our Voice

Enjoyed a Saturday morning at the Irving Arts Center for a special exhibit:

Our Voice: Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards

Stunning books with glorious illustrations.  101 award/honor winning titles. The Coretta Scott King Awards celebrate fifty years as a champion of books about the African American Experience.

A lovely illustration of Martin Luther King Jr.   This one struck Ray's eyes.

I too, Am America by Bryan Collier (2012) caught my eye. 

The galleries were filled with watercolors, prints, oils, and photography. So many talented people. I appreciated this touring exhibition. I may have to go to my library to actually take the time to read and peruse these children's books. 
 

Golden Books Legacy and more

 Took a little jaunt a week or so ago to the Irving Arts Center. It's about twenty minutes from my house. I was impressed - they have art galleries, a theater, and a small sculpture garden.

 The main exhibit I wanted to see was The Golden Books 65 Year Legacy.  They displayed fifty or more original artwork illustrations from Golden Books. Biographies of the artists were interesting, and one stuck out - Richard Scarry. Yep, he began in the Golden Book world. One of the richest illustrations was from Little Red Riding Hood. It was spectacular.

Another small exhibit contained gorgeous black and white photos by Terry Cockerman. He took them in the Big Bend area of Texas. Stunning contrasts.

I was very glad I took a little adventure on a Thursday. Poke around in your own backyard - you never know what you might find.