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Sandy Page guest blogs on the November Art Walk. . .

Friday evening from 6 - 9pm, the 3^rd Friday Art Walk expands the art experience to include not only new artists, but a special viewing of Pop Culture artwork from Alex Faber Smith’s high school art students, and live music by classical guitarist, Brent Bassham.  

This is the featured evening at the Opening Night reception of the Keyring Gallery.

The Pop Culture-2011 high school exhibition will be juried with cash prizes for the winning students.  

The Arts District received a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts to help underwrite this high school art presentation, and has worked with WISD to highlight the students’ art.

New to the Gallery is the work of Woody Starkey, Barb Richert and John Hill.  Starkey’s images of people, objects and nature deal with light and time.   

Woody’s work in photography has trained his eye to use light to model a mood and establish a sense of space.  His work on gesso prepared wood panels are breathtakingly beautiful, making the viewer reach out to connect with the image. 

Barb Richert embraces color.  Her technique adds depth and richness to her delightful subject matter, making the viewer want to become a part of the delicious scene.  To, at one time, be rich and complex, yet, simple and straight forward is a rare talent. 

Her medium of choice is pastels, some with color washes.  Barb uses the directness of drawing, and her single “Iris” portrays this directness with sublime, but simple, colors to bring about a rich “conversation”.

John Hill of “Tree on the Hill Pottery” in Greenville, brings to the Gallery some of his new tall pots.    There is a dancing rhythm, along with a primitive stateliness that will bring a smile to the viewer’s face.  The glazes are varied and rich, adding to the overall beauty of his pottery.  John has taken routine shapes and recombined various pot structures to achieve interesting new avenues of work.

Brent Bassham will present an evening of classical guitar music, including jazz, flamenco and folk tunes.   Brent is from Heartland, Texas and has received “outstanding” recognition for his playing.    Invitations to participate in various “Master’s Classes” have added even more to his musical abilities, and, in turn, he passes these on to his students.

The Winnsboro Arts District’s monthly Art Walk continues with many downtown merchants remaining open with art on display, additional music, festive Holiday sales, and refreshments.

On Saturday, November 19, the Texas Pistolaros will perform downtown from 10 am - 2 pm.   Also, on Saturday,  Art & Espresso presents Caleb (7 - 9 pm) and the “Double C” features Christen Sawyer & Jake Shaffer (8 - 10 pm), and Randy Lindsey & Heather will be at Brewbaker's on the Patio (8 pm - 11:30 pm).  Come join the fun, shop for gifts, and support the arts.

Hi art fans!

The Fine Art Market was a hit - again - and artists, musicians and art lovers alike mingled for a couple of terrific days.

We'll be doing a full wrap-up blog post as quickly as we can.  In the meantime here's the instant overview:

Friday - the Set-Up Day.  Artists arrived and put up their booths.  At 3 pm, an open house was held at the Keyring Gallery.

Friday night was a truly memorable evening with fantastic surf and turf entrees and a sinfully rich (quoting from the printed menu) Decadent Southern Pecan Pie Trifle.  But as good as the food was, the Silent Auction and music by the popular duo, Enola Gay ad Kurt Bittner brought a special energy to the event.

The dinner took place in the newly redone City Auditorium which now has better acoustics, a much more inviting look. (More upgrades on the way).

Saturday dawned and the early morning was cool, but the sun was out and soon warmed up.  Artists got their booths set up and visitors and art buyers began filling Market and Elm Streets.

With fine art reflecting many different style and media, shoppers spotted and bought "finds" from under $10 to several thousand dollars.

Sunday was a repeat of Saturday with a number of people returning to reconsider purchasing a favorite painting, sculpture or piece of jewelry.  The threatened rain passed right by Winnsboro and people lingered in front of the art booths as well as the music tent at the Depot.

At the end of the afternoon, the art community literally folded its tents, packed their gear and headed home.

Top Photo: Alder Moore Best of Show, Georgia Moore, Second Runner-up
Bottom Photo: Brenda Roberts, First Runner-up

This update on the 3rd Friday Arts Festival and the Friday Night Art Walk from Sandy Page, Director of the Winnsboro Cultural Arts District. . .

Friday evening from 6 - 9 pm, the 3^rd Friday Art Walk  keeps a “fresh face” and moves forward as it continues to feature new artwork from local artists. 

The Keyring Gallery will have an “Opening Night” reception and serve as the base for the Winnsboro Art District’s monthly Art Walk.    Many downtown merchants will be open for an evening of art, music, refreshments, sales, and festivities.

Sherry Callender is showing new images with her amazing drawings. . . John Wayne walks tall during “Autumn Trails.” 

A composite of “Lonesome Dove” scenes brings more Western flavor to the gallery.  Another composite drawing features Steve McQueen and “movie takes”..Sherry’s artwork “dances” with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers.

Bobbye Koncak has new abstract work featured at the Gallery.  Realism is conveyed, with an exciting color palette, in her images of water lilies.  This watercolorist brings not only stellar execution to her artwork, but an amazing ability to convey a depth of color rarely seen in watercolors.

Ellie Taylor has many new expressions of her impressionism.  Familiar scenes of everyday life take on new dimensions as she depicts quick takes in an energetic and exciting style.  Whether it is a “Cloudy Morning”, a “Retreat to the Mountains” or “Home at Last,” the viewer quickly arrives there.

Paula Renee Ridgeway’s realism reaches out and brings home the beauty of birds, or equally, the power of human emotions.  Charles Conner’s photography shows a central focus of serene balance and a centrality that portrays beauty in the natural world.  The work highlights the simple, but important, role of form in portraying an artist’s message. 

Barbara Sudik brings a varied and colorful style to the exhibition.   Scenes form a travelogue for the viewer, whether it be a European visit or a trip to the rodeo.    The colorful masks of Craig Royer delight as they contrast with the carved, sculptural beauty of his chairs.

View the organic sculpture and the exquisite hand tinted photographs of Bonnie Sir Kegian.  Efton Edwards presents serene beauty contrasting with an edgy air of mystery.  Bart Soutendijk’s wire sculptures contrast the medium of wire as it moves to form soft organic forms.  Many more artists are featured in this new Artists’ Exhibition.

The Winnsboro Emporium will have their “Live Poets Society” meeting at 6 pm during the Friday evening Art Walk. 

Other Art Walk Stops include Liefie , SayADream Studio, Beauweevils, Main Street Antiques & Collectibles. Silhouette Dressmaking, & Jan’s Antiques.  Art & Espresso will feature classical guitarist Brent Bassham (7 – 9 pm). You'll find art, refreshments and wine at select locations.

Saturday, October 22, Crossroads presents  Ann Armstrong & Steve Hughes at 7:30pm, $15 adv/$18 door/$20 reserved.

This just in from Sandy Page, Director of the Cultural Arts District. . .

The “3rd Friday” Art Walk will feature a new “Artists’ Exhibition” and the music of Shannon Monk (vocals) and Kurt Bittner (guitar) at the Keyring Gallery (107 Locust) on Friday evening, August 19th, from 6 pm - 9 pm.   

The exhibition is funded, in part, by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.  The public is invited and there is no charge.

The  Friday evening Art Walk continues to be a part of the “3rd Friday” Arts Festival and it includes several downtown merchants featuring art displays, individual sales & events and refreshments for this 6 pm -9 pm “art stroll” around Winnsboro.   

Some of the participating shops include Art & Espresso, Liefie, the Winnsboro Emporium, Ladles to Linens, Silhouette Dressmaking, Main Street Antiques & Collectibles, Beauweevils, and SayADream Studio. 

SayADream Studio is featuring additional new artwork, especially in ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, and works on paper.   Other shops, also, continue to feature new artwork and some are featuring new artists.

Music fills the evening, with not only Shannon Monk and Kurt Bittner at the Keyring, but Debb Brasket (7 pm - 9 pm)will be featured at Art & Espresso on Friday evening.  The Live Poets Society is also participating on Friday evening with a poetry reading at the Winnsboro Emporium form 6 pm - 7 pm.  Admission free.

On Saturday (7-8:30pm), August 20th, Randy Lindsey & Heather, with Fred Howard will be at Art & Espresso.
Saturday, as a part of the “3rd Friday” Arts Festival, the Texas Pistolaros return to the streets of downtown Winnsboro for some “wild west” frolicking fun.  

The Arts Festival runs from 10 am - 5 pm, with the Pistolaros performing in various locations about the downtown from 10 am - 2 pm.