Barbara Olsen's charming folk art at Anne Irwin Fine Art

From the Buckhead Art Stroll on May 6: Barbara Olson's "Play a Simple Melody" at Ann Irwin Fine Art.


It was kind of "wawm" as we say; our faces were getting a little shiny in the heat, a hint of Atlanta's summer evenings to come. This was just our first stop.

Here is Barbara Olson in front of her "Alone in the Park," one of my favorites.


Not quite so alone after all with Katherine, me and "Savannah Queen."


"Bird Bouquet" is the backdrop to Barbara and her fans.


I'm afraid I caught Barbara in mid-blink but I wanted to show you her "Two Hats Are Better Than One" "Bon Jour" and "Bird Bouquet."


A book about Martin Luther King used "I Have a Dream" as a full page illustration. There were a number of smaller works. You can fit Mrs. Olsen's charming work into your home on a budget.


I find Southern folk art irresistible: great colors, clever themes, sentiment. It rewards looking closely. It has emotional depth. I hope you will see these in person. Barbara's craftsmanship and skill with her media amazed me.

Anne Irwin Fine Art has blog so we can find out what new. Here is a feature on Barbara Olsen's studio so you can see how it's done.

This was just the first stop on our First Thursday stroll, more to come in another post.

Thanks,
Terry

Thornton Dial reception pictures

Thornton Dial Reception, Tinwood, Tanner Hill Gallery at White Provision, Atlanta, GA, January 14, 2010. Mr. Dial was not there in person. Click on the pictures or slide show to make them bigger.

I'm no critic: I loved the show. The longer I stayed, the more I enjoyed the work.


Thornton Dial's art works. You don't have to understand, you don't have to study, you don't have to have words for it, you don't have to like it. You are not being sold a bill of goods by cynical art critics.

Big works from clothing, building materials, car parts, sticks, wire and who knows:


Watercolors, I think:




Friendly birds


Sticks and wire




A human figure emerges, maybe a soccer player:


Nice folks.






Detail from the painting above:






Thanks to David Lewis (left). But for browsing a book about Thornton Dial in David's office, I'd have never known.


It was great seeing Julia Hale again, but where is Drew?


Some of our Morningside neighborhood cronies.


Denise Jackson from Emerging Art Scene is everywhere.


Architecture Tourists: Katherine and Terry (your blog host)


If you have time, here are all 37 of my pictures.


Thanks so much to Thornton Dial for the art, to Tinwood for promoting southern self taught artists, and to Tanner Hill Gallery for presenting the work and hosting the reception.

Terry
terry@surf303.com

Westside Art Walk, September 19, 2009, Atlanta

I did a brief solo run, hitting Emily Amy Gallery, Bobbe Gillis Gallery, Sandler Hudson Gallery, all showing original work offered by the artist/gallery. Kiang Gallery showed works for sale from collections billed as "Art Wants a New Home."

Kaing Gallery had an impressive variety but what caught my eye...well I thought something looked like Kathy Yancy's work and - sure enough - it was her Queen of Hearts Bowl. Kathy's work charms and haunts. It deserves a better picture that I can take.



I couldn't take my eye off Ida Kohlmeyer's Semiosis, 1984, the colors really appealed to me.



I can't resist Howard Finster, these are early works, considered most valuable of his 1000's of works.



Howard Finster, Angel is 15" x 50"



Howard Finster, Camel



Howard Finster, Cadalac



Howard Finster, left - Bust of Woman, right - Mona Lisa



Howard Finster Bust of Man



Howard Finster, The Messenger



Then to Sandler Hudson Gallery featuring Holle Black and her exhibition "an exaltation of larks". She was kind enough to pose with her humming birds, my favorite. Her eye-open picture was out of focus. I apologize.



Mario Petrirena was also showing at Sandler Hudson: "my mother's house and other struggles"





Then to Bobbe Gillis Gallery where I didn't take decent pictures. This is leftover from the last stroll, you'll need to hunt a bit to find it. I love it, I love the shadows too. Don't know the artist.



Finally, Emily Amy Gallery. I was there for the Collage Opeining last week. In the meantime Gary Bibb who is in the show sent me an email so I went back to photograph his work:



Which is from a set of 5.



This took less than an hour, from a single parking place. Not bad.

Here is the whole thing in a slideshow:



Thanks so much,
Terry
nest