Monthly Archives: August, 2010

Daniel Finch, Twin Kittens Gallery

Daniel Finch’s large paintings reconstruct mechanical images distorted and degraded by processes of automation and transmission. Daniel shares what compels the physicality of the painting process as opposed to other methods of rendering these images;

“Through my physical interaction, my greatest hope for both myself and my viewer is a reconnection with the primacy and energy of the initial event portrayed.”

The figures within his pictures are, in great part, a search for the remnants of masculine identity among the media icons of his generation. Daniel continues,

“It is no accident that the majority of my subject matter is taken from modern archetypal characters and events, whether historic or mythical: King Kong, Evel Knievel, Bruce Lee, etc. They were, for better or worse, powerful symbols for a young boy growing up in the wake of the sexual revolution, in the post-Vietnam 70’s.”

Daniel Finch’s work was exhibited last month at Twin Kittens Gallery’s show Pipeline.  Click here for more information.

Salvador Dali, Artist Trifecta

This has certainly been a Dali-esque summer here in Atlanta.  With the opening exhibit of Dali’s Late Work at the High came the billboards, the crazy mustaches, and the madman vs. genius debates at the dinner table.  Galleries began offering lectures and guided museum tours and hosting parties celebrating the late surrealist master.  One gallery in particular is taking it one step beyond just talking about Dali and is actually offering his pieces for sale to the general public.

 Only a few months after they opened their doors, Artist Trifecta was given the honor to sell a private collection of Dali’s etchings and lithographs, including Cosmic Rays from 1965, which resuscitates the soft watches form The Persistence of Memory created in 1931 (and on view at the High).

Cosmic Rays, original pencil signed lithograph, 1965

 To celebrate their exhibit, Artist Trifecta is hosting Dinner & Dali every Wednesday night in September, where you can dine among the Dali masterpieces while learning the history of each piece and the story of Salvador Dali’s life from art historian and professor Ted Field.  You can also hear Field’s lecture during Dali Dialogues on September 5 & 18th.  Visit here for more information and to book your lecture and see the rest of Dalis for sale.

Huff Harrington Fine Art will host its annual frame sale Saturday, August 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The gallery will sell more than 60 frames in all sizes and finishes from $10 and up! Perfect for artists, an update on an old piece at home or for a new masterpiece.

Blayne Beacham’s Wonderland Series, Artist Trifecta

Cinderella

When Artist Trifecta hosted a visual scavenger hunt themed photography contest in Castleberry Hill last month, it was in effect a hunt for the city’s most talented photographer.  The winner, judged by local art gurus such as Fay Gold, received a one month show at Trifecta and an exhibition in their honor.   The contestants had 12 hours to decipher 20 clues, photograph them, process them, and get them printed.

It was former photojournalist (and current realtor by day, artist by night) Blayne Beacham that claimed the top prize with her whimsical Wonderland Series.  She started out by just taking photographs of the clues, which ranged from basic items such as graffiti or a ray of sunlight to more interpretive riddles such as “Cinderella would have used it to drink from if she had been 21” and “Where’s the beef?”  Then she began putting a model (Hailey Lowe), a pair of blue shoes and a white dress into her photographs to form unification and the essence of a story.  “The blue shoes were old and damaged, and really captured the feeling of a long journey,” says Blayne.  “As I worked, I noticed the dominance of blue and red throughout the series and just went with it.”

Blayne’s photographs showcase her technical abilities and her boundless creativity as an artist.  The metaphor of the worn shoes for a long journey is my favorite aspect of her series. Click here to see the winning Wonderland Series, or see them in person at Artist Trifecta.

Train Track (a clue in the scavenger hunt)

Charles Young Walls, Quinlan Visual Arts Center

Atlanta artist Charles Young Walls is featuring a one man show, Transitions, at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, GA.  Charles is on the major forefront of the traditional and representational art comeback, and counts himself among those artists devoted to portraying the beauty of the world in a beautiful way.

 “In this modern world of high speed everything, some things still take time,” Charles says. “Invariably, these are the things of substance and lasting quality.  I want my paintings to convey a deeper reality, not a photographic feel. Every painting I paint is a new avenue to explore, new ground to break. I pursue excellence and my personal best with each new work.”

Portraiture and equestrian art are clearly Charles’ strong points.  He makes a name for himself teaching the Essentials of Figure Painting Workshop at Binders in Buckhead.  His exhibition at Quinlan features paintings in oils, and sketches and drawings in charcoal and ink, and will be on display until August 14th.

Super Pop!, WM Turner Gallery

Art Nouveau Magazine and artist GreatEclectic present “Super Pop!” opening this Thursday, Aug 5th at WM Turner Gallery.  The show will feature 15 artists paying homage to the pop art genre and will accompany Art Nouveau Magazine’s Super Pop Summer Issue, which will defend the popular culture in music, art, and fashion.

You can also Watch the Video featuring the Super Pop commercial as well for a preview of the artists works that will be showcased.