Friday, February 12, 2010

Time Travel and Art

On the first Thursday of every month, Art Central has live music and new exhibitions opening.  January was the first time I went.  It was fantastic!


First off Kirsten and I got some hot beverages at deVille Cafe.  What an awesome little coffee shop!  You feel like you were just transported to New York City; what with the exposed brick walls, huge windows, and trendy furniture.  You can also order alcoholic beverages, and they have a delicious menu.  I felt instantly relaxed and happy.



Pictures thanks to the deVille website.

Ghosts of the Land were the live band for the evening.  They were a very nice indie/instrumental band.  Check them out:



We then checked out the "photo booth".  One studio room was dedicated to a photographer taking shots of people in a room full of balloons.  You could purchase your favorite photos right there, as they printed them off for you, thanks to an Apple laptop and a portable picture printer.


Off to the galleries we went.  In one of the galleries, I discovered an artist who does encaustic paintings.  I noticed that it looked like wax was poured over the canvas, and then sculptured and painted.  I made a note to look up what encaustic meant.  According to Wikipedia:


"Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface — usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used."


We really liked the word encaustic.  We proceeded to use it randomly in conversation a week or so later around other people, to see if they noticed and would have any idea what it meant.  "Oh Gavin, you are so encaustic".  Brilliant.  We still like this word.

Anyways...  Those paintings were phenomenal.  I am definitely going to try this style of painting at some point in the near future.  I absolutely loved the texture.  I also wish I could have taken some pictures of the amazing pieces there.  I cannot find any good representations online.


In another gallery, I discovered an artist with another very unique painting technique.  She called it "chemistry".  It looks like large globs of paint that have been swirled into whimsical designs.  Some were also swirled to look like sunsets or the ocean.  Then she puts a coating on it (the name of the coating escapes me) which makes the painting very glossy.  They were just gorgeous!  Full of texture, and the globs of paint go over the edges of the canvas.  Very eye-catching pieces of work.  I'm sure Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) would have enjoyed them.


This is another technique of painting that I would like to try.  I'm sure it takes a long time to get it right, but it looks like so much fun!

I also saw canvases with gold paint.  Those were very interesting also.  Note to self:  next time I am at Michaels, I need to check out metallic paint colors.

One of the things that I love about Art Central is the eclectic people that it brings together.  I enjoy watching the crowd these events attract.  And it's always fun to meet artists.  I find creative people so interesting.

I love being around the art scene.  I always feel joyful, peaceful, and a sense of belonging.

On the way home, I hoped into my time machine.  My time machine called iPod.  It immediately transports me.  I remember precise moments...the people there, the feelings I felt, the thoughts I was thinking, where I was...  The Postal Service and The Tea Party bring back some very good memories.  Music is such an amazing gift.  It touches us all.

So here is to an amazing night!  *cheers*




2 comments:

  1. I love your pics of this place!! The rocking chairs are very famous, by Charles and Ray eames back in the 50's/60's. I know this because I am obsessively studying furniture right now. Hearts!

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  2. I wish I could take credit for the pictures, but I actually got them off their website (I guess I should add a credit note...whoops).

    I did know that those chairs are very famous. I had a feeling you would know this also lol. How goes the furniture project?

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