Michael Davis Gutierrez

I remember studying Alberto Giacometti a while back:

"In the sparseness of his environment, relationship became everything. The human became an icon almost. I had never witnessed this extreme a motivation to understand the world through art. To communicate essence.

Anyway, I learned from him that struggle was OK. He always began working with the knowledge that what he attempted was impossible, and then he would go ahead and attempt it anyway. Whatever a particular challenge entailed for me, I found that eventually I would get to the end of it. Maybe it’s even worth the struggle to get that final resolution, that satisfaction, when everything becomes focused and congruent and finished. Thankfully, Alberto gave me that drive to achieve a compelling image in each painting."

                                                                    from:   A Safe Place

                                                                                                       by MM Kent

 

Double Negative by Michael Davis Gutierrez

 I like to think Michael is carrying on with work that Giacometti started. The interface between human and the world. That is the subject, isn't it? Relationship.


What is our point of view? The chair? We are definitely on the ground, but what distance between us and the object of our observation? How much negative space?
These and other questions arise. We at the Underground are very fortunate to have Michael join us. The level of artistic inquiry  has been raised. Cultural symbols abound.

We had an excellent inauguration of Spring on First Thursday April. Almost a capacity crowd for a great show. The retrospective for Myrtle Laabs is a nice surprise consisting of beautiful minimalist watercolors which were lovingly curated by Kathleen Barta, Myrtle's long time painting partner.

New work by Martha Molina, a mask entitled Yggdrasil (Norwegian Tree of Life), slightly surprised.

This by Sheila Richards, Serenity personified.

Gallery Talks, Food, and Flight

Since the first week in January, we've had an interesting and informative series of gallery talks on Saturday mornings at the Underground. David Bachman, our gallery talks coordinator, is working on another series for the future, but for now, we will table the talks and focus on the visuals, anticipating lots of visitors with the reopening of Farmer's Market of the Fayetteville square. With that in mind, First Thursday at the Underground will feature the theme of FOOD: Local Flavor, featuring the debut of NW Arkansas' own cookbook, complete with a recipe by Underground artist Hank Kaminsky. Look for enhanced refreshments at this time.

Grapes 11 x 16 oil painting by MM Kent on display April in the Underground

Also for April, a memorial reception for local artist, the late Myrtle Laabs. Her watercolors will be on display First Thursday thru the month of April.

Watercolor by Myrtle Laabs

Musical events continue at the Underground:
Several more Good Folk Productions have been scheduled for April and May. Last week a small audience was fortunate to hear a performance by Emily Gail Nelson and Brian Glass of Verbal Transcriptions do interpretations and improvisations of both poetry and graphic art. Emily has promised to return this Summer for a First Thursday to perform at the Underground.

The fayettevilleunderground.com website is fully engaged and interactive. A calendar of events may be found there.
On First Thursday in June, there will be a special exhibition entitled, "Women Take Flight," in celebration of women who fly. Everyone is excited about this, the first National Juried Art Exhibition produced by Fayetteville Underground.

MM Kent's Great Uncle Nelson Odell Pope took this photo of Amelia Earhardt "Taking Flight"

Todd A. Williams visiting in March

Anne and I just returned from a trip to Texas, where we had the chance to visit a couple of notable art galleries in Fredricksburg. The first was Insight Gallery, where we were treated to some excellent oil paintings, including one by C.W.Mundy a recognized top-tier American artist. I mentioned to Anne that Mundy is Todd Williams’ mentor, and we looked around, expecting to see Todd’s work there.

It was in the next gallery that we found Todd’s paintings: The Whistle Pik Gallery. The Whistle Pik has been around for maybe ten years, and has an established place in the national representational art scene. Several  small Todd Williams landscapes were featured in the front room. There were two sunset scenes that had dots on their labels, indicating that the paintings were sold. Congratulations!

I met Todd probably seven or eight years ago after watching him do a demonstration for the Artists of Northwest Arkansas in Springdale. The most memorable thing about that demo was that before he started, Todd said a prayer. I remember thinking, “This fellow is serious about painting.” At that time, Todd was already an accomplished artist, but in the next few years, through relentless dedication and focus, he has developed a recognizable fluidity of style and experienced a great deal of success. Collectors, gallery directors, exhibition jurors and fellow artists are in accord, and the work of Todd Williams has a widespread appeal. The quality puts him among the very best of living oil painters.

I have been fortunate to watch Todd paint a few times at Plein Air painting events in Bentonville and Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri.

His canvases are usually “open”, meaning you can see the bare or lightly toned canvas in places. Other passages are painted in heavy impasto. The edges are predominantly soft, the color muted and harmonious. Romantic realism is what I would call the work. Ranging from small river and harbour scenes to large figurative work, Todd has accomplished an amazing degree of individuality or “authorship” in his work. All of it has obviously passed through the emotional aperture of his consciousness to express a humble and profound love of life on earth.

We at Fayetteville Underground are fortunate to have such an accomplished painters as one of our featured artists in March 2013.

                                                                                                          MM Kent

Golden by Todd Williams

Marriah 2  by Todd Williams

http://toddwilliamsfineart.com

Plein Air

Plein Air painting is characterized by painting "on location" outdoors in the open air. Both a challenging and rewarding activity, Plein Air painting has been a popular activity in the Western World for over 150 years. I imagine it has been popular in China and Japan for much longer.
Metal tubes for oil paint were introduced in the mid-1800's in Europe, enabling artists to venture into the countryside with a lightweight outfit. The French Barbizon painters were one of the first groups to paint together "En Plein Air." They were followed closely by the Impressionists. Meanwhile, John Constable and others in England were establishing the tradition there.
Today, Plein Air groups abound everywhere.
One of our neighboring groups will be featured during February in  the Fayetteville Underground gallery in an exhibition entitled:

"Follow the Light"

Visiting artists for February:

Plein Air Painters of Eureka Springs

All the Undergroundhogs will be crawling out soon to prepare a memorable show for February. Led by our featured artist, Ed Pennebaker, whose glass work will be seen in a specially prepared environment, the artists have gathered a new body of work for exhibit.
Plein Air Painters of Eureka Springs (PAPES) are the visiting artists for February, and we're excited about the variety their art will bring to the Underground.

Chandelier #581  by Ed Pennebaker

 

looking ahead

The Old Men Telling Lies will wrap up this Saturday with Jan Gosnell's talk at 11 AM. We are yielding the podium in February to some of our women, who are much, much younger and beautifuller, also. Susy Siegele will be demonstrating the building of ceramic pieces on February 2nd.
The First Thursday event in February will have several surprises. Look for Ed Pennebaker as featured artist. Plein Air painters of Eureka Springs, a very talented group, will be our Visiting Artists, and gallery artists will be presenting a new batch of work.

Showing right now at Fayetteville Underground, this painting by David Bachman

Old Men Telling Lies

It's been an intense year for the Fayetteville Underground, which has survived the re-birthing process and begins to thrive in a new form in a new location. The association with artists and supporters has been a rewarding experience in many ways. As we move into the new year, we will be adding some new features.

We artists have a desire to explore how and why Art is important in everyone's life. This often takes the form of a personal and private exploration. However, some of our grey hairs have decided to share our insights on the topic.

In January, the series, "Old Men Telling Lies", will debut at Fayetteville Underground on Saturdays at 11:00 AM, and lasting about an hour. The coffee pot will be full. Everyone is invited to come see the sights and hear the tales about making art, looking at art, critique, value, and other things. MM Kent, Ed Pennebaker, Jan Gosnell, Hank Kaminsky and William Mayes Flanagan will provide the entertainment starting January 5th through 26th.

MM Kent will present a gallery talk on

Saturday, January 5th from 11am 'til 12:30pm.

Elegance of form. Craftsmanship unexcelled. Availability limited.
Find it at Fayetteville Underground!

A Teapot by Susy Siegele and Mike Haley
featured member artists for the Holiday Show.

How's This for a Cultural Symbol?

Greg Moore's latest and arguably his best -

A Zebra-Pony that you'd like to ride, but you can't.

Sold!

Last week at Fayetteville Underground, four paintings sold, 

one each by Janis Gill Ward, David Bachman, 
this one by Doug Randall

Leaning Tree

and this one by me, MM Kent.

Select Creations