Lots going on....

Well, yesterday was Jackson's first ever downtown-wide trick-or-treat event. What FUN! hundreds of spidermen, darth-vaders, princesses and many other various costumed children streamed into downtown collecting their "sugar bounty." For the full story check out this week's Jackson-Today column: Jackson-Today October 27 Article

I've also updated our website listing the fact that November marks the Dickson Gallery's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! Hard to believe that we've been going strong for one full year now. A LOT has happened in 12 months!! What an adventure it's been too. Check out the gallery's events page to read about our upcoming "Art-i-versary" celebration: http://www.dicksongallery.com/events.htm

Happiness, Rachel

"Puttin' on the Pink" awarded!

Hey everyone! Today was the final culmination of "Puttin on the Pink" week downtown. Ended with the grand finale luncheon held at Aeneas from 11:30a-1:00p. What a great event! Breast Cancer Awareness was attained as far as I'm concerned. We gave away fine jewelry artist Jai Johnson's exclusive pendant aptly titled "Puttin on the Pink". The lucky winner was Betty Livingston of Jackson, TN. Congratulations Betty!
Shown below is the actual pendant given away and also our gallery windows decorated in pink for "Puttin on the Pink" week downtown! Was truly a great day and needless to say, I too learned a lot about breast cancer and early detection. HUGE thanks goes out to Jai Johnson for creating and donating this great pendant and also to West Tennessee Healthcare (especially Stacey Mott) for selecting downtown as the location for this years "Puttin on the Pink" event!

Thursday...Cool things happening...

Was contacted today by a writer from the Memphis Business Journal! That was cool! So had a phone interview with him because they're doing a story on the growth and happenings of downtown Jackson. It should be posted on their website in a few weeks www.bizjournals.com/memphis I wasn't familiar with their periodical until now...a solid business resource. Who knows what sort of positive promotional value this will create? I'm thrilled! Tomorrow is the luncheon for "Puttin on the Pink" week where the winner of Jai Johnson's Pendant will be announced. If you haven't come down to the gallery to register NOW is the time! (well actually tomorrow between 10:00a and 11:00a) after 11:00a the registration "fish-bowl" is going with me over to the luncheon. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow... It's been fun having pink in the gallery window display...hopefully tomorrow I'll get chance to take a photo and post it here. Happiness, Rachel

Tuesday's!

WOW, Tuesday's are becoming very business foot-traffic days at the gallery. Couple after couple, individual after individual wandered into the gallery yesterday (same as last Tuesday)...any of which were "making the rounds" in downtown. More and more folks are coming downtown to see what all the talk is about. Seems like most are starting at the "Painted Lady" (a new 8-shop boutique right up the street from the gallery on E. Lafayette) at the moment and then branching out from there.

It's "Puttin' on the Pink" WEEK in downtown (now through October 21st)! Businesses look great all dressed up in pink! Come downtown and check it out. There's been a lot of good press for this event which is accomplishing the main goal of West TN Healthcare ...Breast Cancer Awareness.

Oh, and I've posted the new pieces from Jai Johnson that she's brought in to the gallery! Check 'em out at http://www.dicksongallery.com/artist_jai_johnson.htm

Happiness!

Saturday: Another extraordinary day in the life...

Today I got a phone call from Jin Powell. She's an incredible sculpture artist who's work I'd seen at various shows in Memphis over the past few months. She called me to say that she was in Jackson on Saturday because she was at USJ's Art Festival and had her work there in a booth. We had been talking previously already on the phone that her work really NEEDED to be in The Dickson Gallery of Fine Art. I was thrilled to hear she was in town and took the time to go by and see what she'd brought. I felt like a 4 year old in a toy store...ooooh, ooooh, ooooh...love that...that and that! After a brief discussion I picked out 6 pieces which will be in the Dickson Gallery come Tuesday October 18th. You SOOOoo need to check these out! I'll be taking photos of them soon and adding them to the gallery website. Until then...you MUST come by to see them! For a sneak peak at the style of work I'm talking about check this out: http://www.iconatelier.com/innovation.html and her work will now be in The Dickson Gallery of Fine Art!! What an incredible addition to our gallery Jin will be!....and to have her work exclusively at my gallery? I'm flattered and very excited for Jackson to present such a talented and accomplished sculptor.

Jackson Magazine!

We're gonna be one of the featured stories in 2006 Jackson Magazine!! A photographer contacted me on Thursday and came to the gallery Friday to shoot photos for the story. COOL! WAY COOL! How excited to be a major part of the "Art" section in the 2006 version of this magazine!
Couple this with being mentioned in Southern Living Magazine in November, and also being a part of the coffee table book that the Jackson-Madison Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to print...we're getting some great exposure!
AWESOME!

Wednesday: continued...

Wednesday night was the downtown merchants association October meeting. After having met each month since June of this year...we're continuing to cultivate a "work-togetherness" that seems to be creating a momentum toward great things in downtown. This month we discussed the October "Fabulous Friday" (a downtown event held the last Friday of every month) which will be held on October 28th. We're trying to pull off a "costume preferred" Halloween pub crawl from 7p-?. It's still in the works...but the concept is great.
The evening will start at 7:00p-7:45p at Lola's Bar & Grill, followed by Shooter's from 7:45p-8:30p and ending at Downtown Tavern from 8:30p-? Best costume by a male and Best costume by a female will be voted on at each location with the winner announced at the Downtown Tavern at 9p. Or so goes the plan as it stands now. All of this may be subject to change...but that's the jist of it.
We also discussed November's "Fabulous Friday", "Puttin' on the Pink" and various other house matters.
All in all it was another great coming together of the downtown business owners.

Another great week in the life...Wednesday

of an art gallery owner. Wednesday I was invited to attend the "Calendar Party" luncheon held annually at St. Luke's Episcopal Church presented by the Episcopal Church women. (Proceeds from the Calendar Party go to the restoration of the nave of St Luke's Church). I really wasn't familiar with what "Calendar Party" meant until I got there. Each table was decorated for a month of the year. What FuN! I understand that various parishioners that volunteer to decorate a table pick a month out of a hat and decorated their table according to that month. For example, December, Christmas type decor. But this isn't just centerpiece type decor...this is tableware, chairs, centerpiece, color theme, various added trickets, etc etc. It was QUITE a site to see the elaborate decor that dressed each table!
I was pleased to be able to sit at interim Rector Susan Crawford's table. Along with her was various ladies from Memphis, Susan Sharp (minister at the Methodist church near the hospital) and Mary Bearden (downtown development director).
The menu was incredible! Chicken-Mushroom-Cashew turnover in Phyllo dough, Spinach Salad w/Creamy Bacon Dressing, Pineapple-Ginger Glazed Carrots, and Layered Pumpkin Cheese Cake. WOW! ...and being a vegetarian I was glad that I chose to eat it anyway!! It's was all wonderful!
Thanks to the Women of St Luke's and to Susan Crawford for an invitation to another great downtown event!

Busy Day!

Wow! For a Tuesday we had quite the foot traffic through the gallery today. Various couples, individuals and folks exploring downtown and just coming in to see the gallery also.I didn't get to the "Puttin on the Pink" re-decorate the front window project today...but it's on tomorrow's agenda...among many other things. We got 6 new fine art pendants today from Jai also! I'll be adding them to her page hopefully within the next 2 days. (http://www.dicksongallery.com/artist_jai_johnson.htm)

We've had a number of folks register to win the special "Puttin on the Pink" piece she created for us to give away. I spoke with West TN Healthcare (who's heading up this event) and they're all for the winner being announced at the complimentary luncheon on Friday October 21st.

OOH! I forgot to mention that in November The Dickson Gallery is going to be mentioned in Southern Living Magazine for our carrying Curesearch.org greeting cards!! Way cool! In lue of this we've begun also carrying original greeting cards from various member artists. So if you're in need of a fun anniversary, special occasion, birthday, Thanksgiving, or whatever card...come on in and check 'em out!

Happiness...

Website Update

Well, I've finally finished updated Jai Johnson's page on the gallery site http://www.dicksongallery.com/artist_jai_johnson.htm

We've already sold THREE of her pieces at the gallery and we've only had her work for 3 days!! I'm excited to have her work as it's a wonderful addition to are fine art jewelry creations.

Looking ahead to another busy week. I will be decorating the window displays in pink for the upcoming "Puttin on the Pink" Breast Cancer Awareness campaign officially beginning October 17th. Also means I'll be wearing pink a lot next week.

I've updated the gallery media page http://www.dicksongallery.com/media.htm to include my most recent columns published in the Jackson-Today Newspaper.

If there's anything specific you'd like to see on the gallery website just let me know...and I'll see what I can do.

Happiness!

Always working...

Today I've been finalizing new updates to the Dickson Gallery website. Have added images and descriptions for our newest artist (Fine Art Jeweler) Jai Johnson. As always I'm looking to keep the site fresh with the newest information possible.
Check out Jai Johnson's artist page Jai's Gallery Page.

I've also added information regarding "Puttin' on the Pink" Breast Cancer Awareness week October 17-21. Jai's even made a piece of jewelry to be given away via the register to win method. Just come by the gallery and drop your name in the box...it's that simple. Images of the piece are on the gallery site at the Gallery's Event Page.

I'll tell you some more about what's been happening at the gallery itself lately too.
Stay tuned...
Rachel

Welcome!

Hello Everyone...welcome to the new blogspot for the Dickson Gallery of Fine Art located at 118 E Lafayette St Downtown Jackson, TN. Definitely the new and upcoming art scene in the West Tennessee area...among other things.
Happiness to you all as you watch us grow along with all of downtown Jackson's shops, bars, and fun stuff.
Rachel