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The Rudd Art Center website does and they’re hoping you will press all their buttons, too!
While perusing the ruddartcenter.org web page to look at the photos of the Member Art Show “Celebrate the Arts with a Big Bang” the artful blogger noticed some new buttons on the right hand side of the page. One was marked ‘Donations’ and the other said ‘Join or Renew / Click the Paint Splashes.’ Well, it was all rather like the bottles in Alice In Wonderland that said “Drink Me” and I had to click those buttons to see what would happen. Do you know the Rudd Art Center is now accepting credit cards to make donations and to become a member or even renew a membership? (and more buttons are coming, too!) How easy is that? All online! That’s right. It’s now easier than ever to become a member. You can do it in your jammies while having your morning coffee or while sitting in front of the television watching the Wheel (I love that Vanna White, don’t you?). Just click the button, fill out the super simple forms and hit send. Easy-Peasy. The Dale County Council of the Arts and Humanities wants to make it easy as pie for you to support the arts by either your kind donation or better yet by becoming a member. They love new members! Speaking of membership, if you get a chance, drop by the Ann Rudd Center on Tuesdays or Wednesdays (from 11 - 2) to view the member art. We certainly have the talent in this area. It simply must be seen and it is all for sale, too. Wouldn’t you like to have a unique piece of art or photography from a local artist hanging in your home. Here’s your opportunity to support the arts as well. And speaking of artists, while you’re on the ruddartcenter.org web page, don’t forget to check out the artists’ pages where you will find other works by local artists. If you are a local artist and would like to display and sell your artwork there are buttons to press for that too! So many buttons! Button, button, who’s got the button? ruddartcenter.org has them all!
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Southern Culture. What does that phrase call to mind? What pictures do you see? Moonlight and magnolias? NASCAR and barbecue? Or maybe you can almost hear an old gospel song or a Patsy (do I really need to include her last name?) torch tune? Well, those elven folk at the Rudd Art Center have been toiling away again and the upcoming Southern Culture Celebration is sure to be a magical evening. The opening reception will be held on July 23rd from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the art to be exhibited through August 20th.
I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the art and entertainment to be offered at the reception and let me tell you, if you miss this you will be missing a big time. DCCAH members have gone above and beyond to offer a smattering of all things Southern and yes, Southern hospitality, too. There are original paintings and photographs all with a Dixie flair, as well as some home-around -the-kitchen-table storytelling by Ms. Vicky Gissendanner, Chuck Auman channeling the late great Lewis Grizzard, a presentation of a Ms. Ruby skit written by local author Laura Frost Crouch, a music presentation by local deejay Gil Anthony and a poetry reading by, er, um...me. In addition to all this Southern goodness there will be a silent cake auction. The cakes will all be traditional cakes of the South and the feature cake will be made by local pastry chef Samantha Dean, owner/ chef of Tanta’s Treats. The proceeds from the cake auction will go towards many upcoming needs at the art center as well as DCCAH’s continued aim to foster the arts in Dale County. Join the celebration July 23rd at 6:00 p.m. for amazing art, food, stories, and laughs...maybe you will even become part of the exhibition by offering one of your own distinctly southern memories? Word has it that Rhett “You should be kissed and often by someone who knows how.” Butler will be there----swooning is encouraged, Ladies. Ya’ll Come! In both of my previous posts I’ve invited you, dear reader, to check out the offerings of the Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities. You might have asked yourself why you would want to? “What does art have to with me or my life?” “Isn’t art just for the rich?” “How am I supposed to understand all those spots and blotches?” Many people think that art is for someone else. How do these rumors get started?
I had the opportunity to ask a bona fide artist the very questions posed in the opening paragraph. Jeffrey Babine, a talented local artist, holds an MFA, contributes to local art shows, judges area art exhibitions and serves on the board of DCCAH ----so he knows a speck or two about art, right? In a very illuminating conversation, Jeffrey Babine stated that art matters because it is a commentary about the society that we live in. Artists are communicating their thoughts and feelings---we don’t all think in words sometimes we think in pictures and symbols. Art is a way to communicate complex ideas visually. The artist wants to communicate with each person that views his/her work...certainly not just wealthy people. It isn’t only wealthy people who make up our society--it is all of us. It is perfectly alright to like pictures that please your eye. You don’t have to like spots or blotches, drips or drags in order to like art. There is plenty of variety out there so go with what draws your eye and mind. As I said, I found my conversation with Jeffrey Babine illuminating. One thing in particular that I came away with was that not only should we all be involved with art but that if it wasn’t for the viewer there would be no art! The artist is trying to communicate...but you, the viewer, are the needle in the record player that makes the vinyl sing. The artist is trying to get a point across but because he is communicating in pictures and symbols he/she can’t be absolutely sure his exact meaning (if he/she has one) is getting made. He hopes for you to come along and say “Yes! I get that!” Not only that but a savvy artist knows that we all view through our own lense of perception so that when we view art we add our own meaning too...in a way we contribute to each work of art. This is why art matters. It is about you and for you; you help make it. The next art exhibit at the Ann Rudd Art Center begins April 23rd with the reception starting at 6:00 p.m. This will be the Back to Nature show--all art is nature themed or nature resourced. Hope I see you there...completing the masterpieces.  Rumor had it that Jagger would be there. Okay, so I started the rumor. Details, details. The DCCAH Member Art Show was fabulous. And, my right hand to the deity, there were important personages there. The mayor of Ozark was in attendance. Mayor Billy Blackwell was given a portrait painted by local treasure Joan Lamb. The likeness was incredible. It was as if Mayor Blackwell stood beside his twin. One can’t help but wonder if Mayor Blackwell will stash the portrait in his attic and mysteriously start to grow younger and handsomer while the portrait… of course I am joking but such was the magic Ms. Lamb’s work, to think of the incredible. It was obvious in his reaction how very touched and humbled by this gift Mayor Blackwell was.
Had there been just the above it would have been a great show. But there was more. So much more. The works shown ranged from photograph, to charcoals, to oils, inks, water colors and collage. It was a real panorama of our local talent and DCCAH members. All the works were for sale at more than reasonable prices. Not only these works of art but door prizes were given, too. Some of the prizes given were a digital camera, fifty dollar gift certificates to Hobby Lobby and Olive Garden, an adorable study of a chameleon that the Artful Blogger lusted after with all her teeny-tiny, red and beating heart and a lovely wine bottle and glasses hand-painted by Gaynelle Mixon. All that and wonderful hor d’ oeuvres (a fancy French term for snacks) and beverages (leaded and unleaded) served as well. Well, I put it to you that DCCAH loves its members. If you weren’t able to make it to this extravaganza the next exhibit is the DCCAH Back to Nature show which has its reception on April 23rd with the show running from that date through May 21st. If you are an artist interested in entering your nature themed art for that exhibit, the art take in days for that show are April 16th and 18th, it is not necessary to be a member to enter your art. For more information on this and upcoming shows let your fingers do the walking to ruddartcenter.org. Support your local artists or better yet purchase a membership and explore your inner artist….new classes form frequently. Oh, and rumor has it that Mick Jagger will make an appearance at the next show. ~ The Artful Blogger  Welcome to the first entry in the Artful Blogger series. By way of introduction, I am neither artful nor have I ever blogged before in my life. I know what you’re thinking. “Well, what are you then? An inveterate liar?” No, no I’m not. I am a writer and to put it in the vernacular of the day I am a “noob.” I am “new” to blogging and I am “new” to the Dale County art scene. Yes, Virginia, Dale County has an art scene. A small, but thriving, community of artists from all avenues of art who teach, meet and congregate at the Ann Rudd Art Center. Not only that, but they would love to teach, meet and congregate with you.
I attended the recent Sip and Dip offered at the art center. A “Sip and Dip” is a class where everybody paints the same subject as led by the art teacher, hence one “dips” their paintbrush and if one is of a mind, one can bring the beverage of one’s choice to imbibe which explains the “sip” of the sip and dip. The art teacher for these series of Sip and Dips is the lovely, talented and infinitely patient, Susan Boyles. The goal of class is to have fun and while you’re having fun to learn one or two basic painting techniques. Since you’re having so much fun the learning part hardly hurts a bit! We were painting a beach scene in hues of red, blue, green and white. I had never painted anything in my life before (except maybe the town red) so I was feeling very unconfident. I was very concerned if a brush stroke or painted shape was “correct.” After continuing encouragement from Susan, I began to just enjoy the process without over-thinking the outcome and VOILA! my fledgling inner artist came out to play. Class time sped up then as time can only do when one is fully engaged in a thing. Class was over before I knew it (two and a half hours later). I have my first complete painting under my belt. Is it a Rembrandt? No, it bore a passing resemblance to the sample painting. But the thing is I love my painting; I feel protective of it ... like a Mama eagle to my newly hatched fledgling inner artist. Not bad for a “noob”. I suspect that most of us have an inner artist waiting to be hatched. Come join DCCAH at the Ann Rudd Art Center. More Sip and Dips are scheduled as well as other classes and events. Keep up with information for these on the website and on Facebook. Let your inner artist hatch and fly. ~ The Artful Blogger |
Our Artists Rock!
Are you an artist and a paid member of DCCAH? If so, you qualify to have an Artist Page. Click HERE.
AuthorThe Artful Blogger is a sly one ... slips in and out of art events and shares it all. Archives
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