Where has the time gone?

So Summer is basically here. In my memory banks...pretty much summer season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Could be my past life in the tourism industry...could be my memories as a kid that school pretty much was letting out around Memorial Day and going back in around Labor Day if not before.
ahhh, yes....summer. Warm air, green grass, snakes, the smell of skunk in the air, the need for COLD drinks, lotsa sunburn (ooooh the sunburns I've had), laying full out in front of a fan, thunderstorms, vacations that involve sandy beaches and rolling waves, and I always shed some extra weight during the summer (guess that was because I was outside so much more) and of course, garage sales.
So...yes, I've been prepping for this years garage sale. Dontcha just hate all that accumulated crap? I've got boxes of it...starting the pricing process tonight. Sale starts at 7a Saturday. Interested in adding to your treasures? Pay a visit to Bldg 14, Apt 6 at Post House North here in Jackson, Tn on Saturday June 2nd. Sale ends at 11a or when the stuff runs out...whichever happens first...oh, and some of this stuff is from my cleaning out the storage rooms of the gallery. Amazing what one can accumulate!

Packed House!!

Well, for those of you who attended...you're well aware we had a packed house last night (Friday night, May 25th)! Thank you to YOU for attending our annual Art-A-RITA Margarita party!!
Once again the Dickson Gallery secret Margarita recipe was a HUGE hit. (We might just auction it off to the highest bidder on ebay...interested?)
Anyway...we'll post photos soon so you can see just what a time we had in case for some reason you weren't able to attend.
Full house, fine art, and the Dickson Gallery...can you go wrong with that?
Peace,
Rachel

Blues Harmonica and Margaritas?

You might think we're crazy...but you're gonna LOVE THIS!!! I promise!! We've booked blues harmonica extraordinaire, SHINE to play live blues for us at our "Art-a-RITA Margarita" fine art celebration on Friday night, May 25th from 7p-9p.
He's played here at the Dickson before...and everyone RAVED about the music. Soooo, we've invited him back...just in time for this fabulous event here at the Dickson Gallery.
So yep, time to don that cocktail shirt you've been dying to wear, and get on downtown. Perfect opportunity to check out our newest work by Janice Sumler, Dana Brooks, Don Hickey, Roy Elmer, Dean Hamilton, Pat Patrick and many others!
You'll also want to check out our new photographers fabulous work!! Help us welcome Don Harris, Tina Todd and Cathy Coleman to the Dickson Gallery fold.
more details...no problem, visit www.dicksongallery.com

Cocktail shirts?

We're gearing up for our 2nd annual "Art-a-RITA Margarita" party this coming Friday, May 25 from 7:00p-9:00p. And apparently I'm successfully stumping people as to what a cocktail shirt is...the official "Art-a-RITA Margarita" party wear. So here's my personal definition: A comfortable button-up, collared shirt, with any number of various embroidery decor on it, also comes in a variety of colors. For some fun samples see:
http://www.shushans.com/havanashirt3.html
...and by the way, no, cocktail shirts are not required. ...and yes, there's no charge to attend this FABULOUS FRIDAY-ingly COOL event, but donations will be accepted in support of the art scene downtown.
So don your favorite cocktail shirt and enjoy fine art at the Dickson Gallery of Fine Art, 118 E Lafayette St, Downtown Jackson on May 25th from 7p-9p.
For all the details visit www.dicksongallery.com/events.htm

TAB with Kacky Walton!?

I remember as a kid drinking TAB out of those big glass bottles. Remember those? Those glass bottles that you returned to the grocery store and got a credit for the next 8-pack you bought?
So last week when I walked into the WKNO-fm radio station in Memphis and was offered a TAB I couldn't resist!!!
ok...so I was there for a radio interview for "Checking on the Arts" and what FUN it was to be drinking TAB and chatting with Kacky Walton at the same time.
Sometimes I think I'm crazy...because such little things I find so amusing. By I did tell Kacky I sooo was gonna blog about that. Drinking TAB at WKNO-fm in Memphis was certainly a highlight of my week. Not to mention how AWESOME National Public Radio and specifically WKNO and their staff are...they're just COOL people!!

It's the Art-A-RITA Margarita Party!!! May 25th!

Happy Art-a-Rita - May 25th!!
We're ringing in the Summer in Dickson-Gallery-of-Fine-Art-Style with our very own MARGARITA PARTY. Please join us for a night of fine art and fun during this month's Fabulous Friday celebration where downtown businesses stay open late for you to experience the art & culture of downtown Jackson, TN.

Join us at the Dickson Gallery of Fine Art
downtown Jackson, TN
Friday, May 25th
7:00p-9:00p

Presenting a Friday evening of margaritas, fun and fine art with Dickson Gallery artists in downtown Jackson. Don your favorite Cocktail Shirt and join us for this Fabulous Friday Summer Party!

We'll be featuring our newest gallery artists, photographers Tina Todd, Cathy Coleman, and Don Harris. Don't miss it!!
There is no charge to attend, but donations in honor of art downtown will be accepted.
for all the details visit: http://www.dicksongallery.com/events.htm

woops...just jokin...

So hey, guess you figured it out if you tried to tune in this morning (May 17th at 9:00am) Obviously we were JUST JOKING about the air date being today at 9:00am. HAH! ...no really, due to a scheduling update..."Checking on the Arts" will actually air on Friday, May 18th
which clearly means you get a second chance to tune in!!
How often do we get second chances anyway?

Dickson Gallery to be featured on...
radio segment "Checking on the Arts"
May 18, 2007
9:00a Central Time
(*obviously not May 17th as we first published)

...tune in or listen online.
Tomorrow May 18th, Dickson Gallery owner,
Rachel Dickson will be featured on a little radio segment
called "Checking on the Arts" on the Memphis/Jackson NPR
station WKNO 90.1 fm. If you live in the Jackson, TN area
tune in to 90.1 fm tomorrow morning at 9:00a Central Time
or you can listen live online by clicking here
http://www.wknofm.org/ListenLive.html and
then click on the appropriate link.
Rachel will be talking all about the arts
in downtown Jackson, the
upcoming Shannon Street Blues Festival and
of course, the Dickson Gallery of Fine Art.

LIVE on WKNO fm Memphis!!

Check this out. Today I'm running in to Memphis to be featured on our local (Memphis and Jackson) NPR station (WKNO FM 90.1) "Checking on the Arts." Going to be talking about the goings on here at the Dickson Gallery in downtown Jackson and also I'll be mentioning the upcoming Shannon Street Blues Festival" coming up June 1 & 2.
This radio segment will air tomorrow morning (5-17-07) at 9:00am Central Time. To listen to it live via the web go to http://www.wknofm.org/ListenLive.html and click on the appropriate link.
Special thanks to WKNO fm stations for their support of Jackson's local arts!
I'm a HUGE fan of National Public Radio and listen every day to news, music, and especially on the weekends love listening to Prairie Home Companion, and "Says You".
To learn more about WKNO FM -Memphis/Jackson visit www.wknofm.org.
To learn more about the 16th annual Shannon Street Blues Festival visit www.downtownjackson.com.
To learn more about the Dickson Gallery of Fine Art in downtown Jackson visit www.dicksongallery.com.
"Enjoy life...cause if you don't...who will?" Rachel

Why is it....artists get the shaft?

I made an observation today...seems like artists nearly always get the shaft?
When it comes to fundraisers...ooh, ooh, let's call the artists and see if they'll donate their artwork or their time or their whatever...hence enhancing the event, creating more of a "feel good" environment. Yet when it comes to cash flow...artists are rarely thought of....
What's up with that? I think it's pretty clear that artists enhance our lives. (don't get me wrong there are some who's soul purpose is to make political or religious statements...little life enhancement built into that)
It's VERY clear to me that art in schools certainly enhance lives! After all, in what other subject can you truly express yourself? Enhances imagination, creativity, working-togetherness, tolerance, and many other such benefits. ...and yet...artists and their artwork...are SOooooo under-appreciated!
WHY??!!!! I'm gonna have to think on this some more...
Might be a t-shirt slogan come out of this one.

"Gallery of Hair" Spotlight Reception, May 3rd!

It's set! The Spotlight Reception will kick-off this coming Thursday, May 3rd from 6:00p-9:00p. We've received some really GREAT entries for this unique, first-of-its-kind art show in Jackson, TN featuring "hair themed" artwork. The "Gallery of Hair" juried art show will be held at Carolina Avenue Salon located at 365 North Parkway, Suite 100 in Jackson from May 3-31. It's gonna be COOL!!!
Special thanks to BancorpSouth for choosing to be the headline sponsor of this unique art show!!
For more information please visit www.dicksongallery.com