Guttin' the Gallery....

Started on Friday...guttin' the gallery. I've been working on re-hanging artwork, hanging new artwork and simply rearranging things in preparation for this Friday's "Fabulous Friday" event at the Dickson Gallery. We're sending Summer out with a bang....with our annual end of Summer Margarita Party, in cooperation with this Fabulous Friday event "Lettin' Loose on Lafayette".
To learn more about this upcoming event at the Dickson Gallery visit: http://www.dicksongallery.com/events.htm
It's gonna be BIG, as we're showcasing are MANY new photographers and the LOADS of new artwork we've gotten in recently by artists such as Ella Mae Clark, Mary Spellings, Joseph Vickery, Jai Johnson, Weldon Ball and many others!!! Come see for yourself...
Until then, I gotta get back to work...

Gallery owner's pet peeve...

It happens nearly every week. ...notoriously, someone will bring in their artwork to show me...and one of the first things I notice is that it's not signed! aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. I'm a big believer that no piece of art is complete without the signature of the one who created it glowing somewhere on the piece.
A signature means something, it means it's original, it's the artists, it's been touched by a human hand, created by an individual...NOT reproduced 'en mass in some foreign country claiming to be original art.
So..."note to self" if you're an up-and-coming artist...and you're interested in getting your work out there...pay special attention to the "finishing" of your work. Sign it! Claim it as yours! It's YOUR masterpiece...you created it...it took YOUR time and YOUR creativity and YOUR talent...so be proud. After all...I want to know who painted this fabulous piece, who turned this pottery, or who shot this photo!
until next time...keep creating!
Rachel

North to South and downtown in between...

You know...it cracked me up today...when it came up in a conversation about travelling from North Jackson to downtown, or North Jackson to South Jackson, as if it's soooooooo far. I think that's hillarious...and it's so simply a head thing. It's the traffic lights I'm guessing, the stopping and going. But let's look at it for one second from a different perspective.
What about driving around in Atlanta? Or Nashville? Or Memphis? Can you get from one part of town to another as quickly or as so MUCH more hassle free as you can here in Jackson? It pretty much takes me about 30 minutes to drive from one side of town to the other here. THIRTY!
I'm beginning to think that it's just something to talk about...like the weather.
"I had to go to South Jackson," or "I went up to North Jackson" as if it were a BIG deal. It's just something people say and sometimes it's meant dramatically and sometimes it's not.
But really...30 minutes, no big deal. ...and remember, downtown is smack in the middle. A simple 15 minute drive from either side of town, in four directions.
We've got it so easy here in Jackson!!! We just have to remember it.

Banking with artistic flair!

The impact of purchasing and prominently displaying local original artwork in corporate offices and public venues is catching on within the business community of Jackson, TN. And if you just happened to be driving by the new headquarters of the Bank of Jackson on Oil Well Road in North Jackson yesterday (August 14th), you probably were wondering what in the world was going on there. Cars everywhere, people everywhere, huge crowd!
Grand Opening Festivities...that's what that was. I've never seen such a crowd at a ribbon cutting, opening event at a bank. A testament to their reach into the community. Complete with raising of the American Flag, playing of the National Anthem, prayer and of course the ribbon cutting itself...the Bank of Jackson opened with style and charisma. Naturally, I was there to show MY support to THEIR support of the local arts. Who wouldn't bank with a firm that invests in local artists ORIGINALS?! Got that? Originals!! Not prints and not quick-slap-it-on-the-wall-and-make-it-pretty decor. ORIGINAL FINE ART from our very own community's artists!! (hopefully I'm successfully conveying how BIG a deal this is to me!)
...and the Bank of Jackson has exhibited their commitment to the Jackson art community by recently acquiring selected pieces from Dickson Gallery artists!
although...not actually hanging on their walls yet...but in their possession (some of which is still at the framers) are the following Dickson Gallery artists' work:
Harriet Sells, Janice Sumler, Tina Todd, Carl Ouellette, Laurel Smith, Gina Heathcott and Mary Spellings.
So I say all that to say, THANK YOU Bank of Jackson for your commitment to our community but especially for your commitment to the artists community! May your business, employees and clients be blessed each day by the wonderful environment you've built utilizing original local fine art.
But it wouldn't be fair if I also didn't mention that there are other corporate clients who've led the way in supporting local art as well. In the business community specifically: BancorpSouth, Commercial Bank and Trust, and Attorney Carl Seely to name a few. Onward we go into the precious world of art.

Everyday America!

So Sunday morning...I was with a friend in a local farming community and they say to me..."do you want to experience some local flavor?" And of course, I'm never one to turn down an adventure of any kind so naturally I replied, "Certainly."
A few minutes later we pull off the road in front of a little locally owned convenience store...that barely looked opened. The sign on the front of the door cracked me up, "Sorry we're open, and now that you know, you have to come in". LOVED IT!!
I was the first through the door and the smell of grease nearly blew me over. There were 4 tables in the middle of the room, and 3 people were sitting around the table in the center. An older fella dressed in overalls, a middle-aged lady and another gentleman. Clearly by the looks on their faces...I interupted an important conversation...or at least their morning cigarette. Anyway, my friend followed me inside and informed me they could cook anything from the grill, so what did I want? I ordered an egg and cheese sandwich (which is one of my personal favorites). I immediately proceeded to the coffee maker and poured myself a cup of coffee. The pot was about 1/4 of the way full, so I wasn't too sure how this cup was gonna turn out. (You always take life into your own hands with "old coffee" at any gas station slash convenience store). I hadn't had any coffee yet at this point of the morning...so any coffee would be good. Actually, it really was pretty good...so enjoyed every sip of it while turning and taking in the full flavor of the place.
There was a small cd/stereo playing country music in the corner, a pool table to my left, and of course the usual snacks, beer and other food items scattered around. There were 3 photos on the wall by the front door that looked sort of historical and very much grabbed my attention. So I walked over to investigate them further. COOLEST PHOTOS I've seen in a LONG TIME! Turns out...they were photos of old horse-pulled wagons full of cotton lining the streets of downtown Dyersburg. I'd never seen photos of horse-drawn wagons full of cotton. I was standing smack in the middle of Cotton Farming country (in Dyer County, TN) so of course there'd be some memories of this way of living. This little convenience store provides just the service that these American farmers requires during a day's work. Food, cold drinks and a touch of local flavor.
My egg sandwich hit the spot too. Only needed to add a little mustard and it was just what I needed to help me on my way. I'm going to chaulk this up to another great adventure in the heart of everyday America.
One just never knows...keep your eyes open...you'd be surprised what you'll find.

it's in everyone....Brilliant!!

A very dear friend of mine delivered this quote to me by Nelson Mandela which now hangs prominently in my office. I was absolutely blown away by the truth of it! ....I trust it will inspire you as well. Thank you Mr. Mandela for inspiring me!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."