Aurora 2010

Video by Hal.  Art installation in Pilot Grove Church

Last week I wanted to do something different.  Be outside and not be at a bar.  We ended up going to Aurora 2010 an Arts Festival at Heritage Village.  A number of artist used an array of art mediums to create a trippy type atmosphere.  Walking into the historic village you  are immediately enticed with the neon light installations on the outside of the houses.  The music by the artist kind of made it feel like a surreal Christmas movie, almost creepy walking in and out of buildings from the late 1800's.   

Photo by Alexandra Olivia
Light Installation by David Neale at the Millennium House

In the School House (below) we sat at the desk in the dark listening to a faint tape of children laughing.   There were a couple of interactive pieces that stood out as well, including a fog box with florescent lights.  The elements of fog and bright lights made it impossible to see which created a claustrophobic feeling.  All of pieces successfully challenged each sense.

image from Dallas Heritage Village website

Not only was Aurora free but it was so entertaining, visually exciting.  There were art installations in almost every historic structure, live music, and wine.  I definitely recommend venturing out to outdoor art festivals.

Suzie Brown

SALVAGING JUNK

I love, love, love hand-me downs especially when it comes to furniture.  Something about an old chair, the style, the history, the POTENTIAL.  Mixing and matching antiques with new pieces always makes for a great pair as well as some extra room in your spending budget. I have found that salvaging old furniture is definitely a trend one of the most famous stores in Dallas is Again and Again located off of Henderson. 

Image from Again and Again gallery

So, lets try and salvage some old furniture.  The things you will need include, a fabric of your liking, spray paint, staple gun, hot glue gun, a fabric border, fine sand paper, screw driver, Phillips head and a go-getter attitude. I have seen chairs from elegant (above) to trendy (below)



Image from Blue Artichoke Interiors



1) You will need to remove the screws holding the cushion to the chair.   You can either remove the fabric and use this as your measurement or you can just replace the fabric by laying it over the existing design.  Either way, remove the cushion. 

2)  If the wood needs a little spiffing up, you can lightly sand off any old finishes and place the chair on some plastic in your garage and spray paint the wood, I prefer an off white or a funky color. let the wood set to dry for a couple of hours and touch back over if you need to but let this set for about half a day.

IN THE MEANTIME....

3) remove the seat from the chair and with a screwdriver remove the staples or tracks holding the fabric to the seat board.

4) Cut some sheets of battling to fit the wooden seat (depending on how soft you would like the seat).

5)  Cut the fabric 3 to 4 inches larger then the seat to fit over the battling, than place your cushion on the inside of the fabric and begin wrapping it like a present.  Staple in the middle of one edge, as well as the opposite side by pulling the fabric.  Continue stapling all the way around

6) Once the wood is dry and the fabric is firmly attached to the seat, insert the piece back in the opening and replace the screws that you removed earlier.

and Marvelous!

Image from Ette Studios

Thanks,

  Suzie

Boundless Strokes with Meredith Pardue

    

Water's Edge
30" X 22"
Oil, Ink, Collage on Paper

 I am a fan of process and psychology. When these elements are part of the mix as well as aesthetics, in terms of color, I find a sense of admiration for the artist. Meredith Pardue, is a great example of using organic forms that are found in nature through growth and decay, but ultimately the paintings are a visual record of unplanned dialog between Pardue and the canvas.
 

Botanicals 3

40" X 26"

Oil on Paper

 

 

         Spell on the Bayou

        48" X 48"

        Oil, Ink, and Graphite on Canvas

To me the most intriguing works of art are the pieces that I find myself pondering how exactly they created the image.  The process of achieving a final image is the most interesting part to me.  That an artist starts with an image in their mind or just a drop of paint on a blank canvas and just goes.  This is probably why I am more drawn to abstract art and mixed media.  Pardue, "combines the random actions of painting with controlled, deliberate mark making to describe each form in her work, which appears floral or plantlike in structure." 



View from Rogue Spaces IV
48" X72"
Oil and Ink on Canvas

Pardue, has a BFA from SCADS and an MFA from Parsons, she is an infamous artist in Baton Rouge and is signed with Ann Connelly Fine Art where she continues to show today.  If you would like to see more of Pardue's work as well as interviews check out the below links:

 

 http://www.meredithpardue.com/

http://www.theestateofthings.com/wp_teot/tag/meredith-pardue/