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Becky Soria's "Gaia's Oracle"

7/31/2023

 
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Artist Becky Soria in her studio.
Becky Soria comes from a highly creative family; thus, she feels strongly about art and how she can visually evoke emotion in others. These are her thoughts:
 
As many of you have become familiar with my artwork throughout the years, you will recognize that I have always been interested in the archetypal, symbolic, and organic forms which have been used to produce insightful works that could capture the profound, visceral, and emotional sentiments of humanity in relation to our Earth. During the past 15+ years, as an artist I have worked with many of these concepts in mind, representing my own vision with a different theme.


​Continuing with this trajectory, I have also immersed myself into the historical, mythological, and female roles of the past while depicting females as Goddesses, but not in a realistic or religious way, rather by showing them as an integral part of Earth’s nature and depicting them in a contemporary, postmodern style. So, it seems appropriate that some of these Goddess figures will be part of my new collection.
 
My most recent body of work is about the goddess Gaia, the ancestral mother of all life on Earth. Gaia is life, the soul of Earth; she was born from chaos but as chaos receded, she gave life to Earth again. The word oracle, used in the show title, is not with the divine or prophetical meaning, but rather as a forecaster, or procrastinator of events.
 
Gaia’s Oracle came about due to my strong interest in the present environmental issues that are plaguing our planet, and their implications for all life on Earth. It was not my intention to realistically portray Earthly events. Instead, my intention was to explore these concepts in a painterly manner using strong multi-surfaces and textures, movement, and color with the hope of achieving an impact on the viewers. The artwork in this collection needs to be viewed, interpreted, and experienced rather than the viewer simply being provided with an explanation. 

We must keep in mind that humanity is being pushed towards an awareness that planet Earth needs salvation. As guardians of our planet, we should all be attentive. 
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Becky Soria, "The Last Song"
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Becky Soria, "Emanations I"

Makin' Pretty While Gettin' Dirty

5/28/2023

 

Joe Haden, metal sculptor, refines and redefines with a delicate touch.

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by Annette Palmer, photography by Chris Spicks
(this article was originally featured in The Woodlands City Lifestyle Magazine)

When you meet Joe Haden, you meet a man whose work and artistry are his life, working with the toughest of materials and dangerous tools, fire, metal and sheer grit. He is a tall gent with a beard, clad in his signature uniform of denim overalls and accompanied by his constant companion, Mrs. Jones. If you have ever visited The Houston Art Car Museum or enjoyed The Orange Show annual Art Car Parade, then you will undoubtedly have viewed some of Haden’s fantastical creations.  A pioneer of The Art Car Parade, now in its 36th year, he continues to invent creative, humorous designs with incredible artistry. He’s won “Best in Show” 5 times! This is quite a departure from Haden’s initial engineering career; originally employed in the aerospace industry, he designed components for the stealth bomber and then later worked for Bell Helicopter. Embracing his love of design, he began constructing homes. “I saw the homes as individual sculptures” he states, “it awoke my design aesthetic, I would personally design and build the homes”.  He would add character by introducing a subtle artistic detail to every project. The struggle between engineering and art is somewhat contradictory, the rigid rules and precision of engineering versus the playfulness, creativity and experimentation of the artistic journey. Eventually focusing full time on his art practice, Haden expresses “It’s always play, if it’s not play, it’s work”

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Tools of choice include a plasma cutter, oxygen acetylene torch, and blacksmithing equipment including an anvil, propane, and coal forge. With these heavy-duty means, he can create filigree designs on the most unforgiving, hard materials. Pretty florals and fragile feathers emerge, as intricate shapes are cut and formed from discarded farm equipment, oil cans, shovels, rakes and other metal utilitarian basics. Once again, we see a contradiction in his work, the softness and femininity of the patterns and designs of the lightweight subjects, borne from the hardest, heaviest and strongest elements, The “Paradox of Containment” vessels, include obsolete milk churns and oil cans, with lace like patterns cut into the body of the containers, creating holes in something designed to hold and preserve liquids, transforming these abandoned functional items into fine art pieces with a narrative. The shadows created when light shines through the multiple elegant cutouts are as beautiful as the physical item, with a play on shadows cast, and positive and negative spaces, another paradox.
Haden is inspired by the avant-garde dada art movement of the 1920’s, which explored absurdity and artistic freedom as a reaction to a global situation. As well as an acknowledgment of the upcycling movement and the fulfillment of creating something new from something old. Haden elaborates “The practice of using found objects poses its own set of problems, working around existing design features adds a whole new challenge, and it’s important to work the problem into the beauty of the piece, which ultimately adds to the end result.” 


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Recently becoming involved in the Houston Bonsai Society has had an influence on his blacksmithing work. Applying the principles of bonsai to his sculptures has resulted in mixing organic and man-made shapes and forms to create something new. The blacksmithing sculptures he creates are not typical of regular blacksmiths, approaching the craft as an artist the results are fascinating. The joy of heating, bending, twisting and working with the metal with a thought process related to bonsai, and horticultural exploration gives us a fresh outlook on an ancient process.  The tendrils and intertwining metal pieces give Haden’s work a connection with nature, he experiences new growth as a person with every piece he makes, his most recent sculpture always being his favorite.

This heavy machinery and force with an almost industrial feel may lead us to think that Haden is a man as tough as steel, but we would be mistaken.  Constant companion, Mrs. Jones, his 9lb rescued chihuahua rarely leaves his side and Haden tends to her every need with love and tenderness. He is a master of the Japanese art of reiki, a positive technique that focuses on energy vibrations. His mother, who was an expert in the reiki field, taught him this meditative process that rests the brain and calms our thoughts. He enjoys meditation and other aspects of self-care, believing that ultimately, respect for yourself and others is what makes the world go round. “It’s all about the balance of life, like the balance between engineering and art”, he says.  Those that enjoy astrology would also find it interesting to find that Haden is a Libra, the horoscope sign represented by the scales, it’s about finding the equilibrium and seeing the lighter side of the heavier things, just like his art. Haden works from his family ranch in Crockett, Texas, the same ranch that has been in his family since the early 1800’s is a place of peace and inspiration, a tranquil sanctuary. His mother was born here and when she became unwell 15 years ago, Haden went home. The ranch years were a time of immersion, isolation and routine, when he cared for his mother, worked on the ranch, and made art. Literally returning to his roots, he could sense the earth beneath him and experience a connection to the spiritual energy of his ancestors and history, the connection with nature, the constellations, and the universe.

The Houston Art Car Museum, 140 Heights Blvd, Houston, will present “Joe Haden”, a solo exhibition, new sculptures will showcase alongside his inaugural photography collection. The opening reception for this event is between 6 – 9pm, on Saturday, June 17th, the show runs until the end of September.

Longing by the Sea

5/28/2023

 

Archway Gallery debuts Annette Palmer's pandemic painting collection "North Sea Gulf Coast"

by Nickole Bobley, photography by Chris Spicks
(this article was originally featured in The Woodlands City Lifestyle Magazine)
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How do we even begin to process our own displacement during the global pandemic? One way is to examine art produced by artists during that pivotal time. Created during the crucible of the coronavirus, celebrated artist Annette Palmer will give an artist’s talk at the opening reception of her new exhibition North Sea Gulf Coast at 6:30pm on Saturday, June 3rd at Houston’s Archway Gallery. 

Like many during the height of Covid-19, Palmer, who is Scottish-born but now resides in The Woodlands area, suddenly found herself separated by a lockdown and an ocean from friends and family (some ailing and elderly). In this new collection of painted works, Palmer explores themes of yearning, distance, and connectivity. While Covid stress-tested reality in ways we had never experienced before, this artist contemplates her feeling of finally being at home in 2 places nearly 5000 miles apart—the common water between her two coastal ports serving as both a connection point and a physical divider. 
In her semi-abstract land and seascapes, we glimpse her predilection for the beach towns of Gardenstown in Scotland and Galveston in the United States and ardency for the tempestuous sea that fills the enormous space between them. 

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“I paint vast open spaces, and am drawn to the energy of the sea,” Palmer explains. “It is the vinculum between land masses separated by thousands of miles. The ebb and flow of the tide is a rhythm which resets the beat of the heart, the body clock. Its vastness puts everything in perspective. We are small in the universe, yet connected and integral to something much bigger.” In many of her North Sea Gulf Coast paintings, Palmer incorporates twine and feathers from the respective coastal locations. In others, she adds gilding elements which emit a quiet but profound cheer. With the sea at her center, look for the ethereal otherworldly surprises she gifts us in her water thematic pieces and notice the point of view of these paintings as if one is in the water looking for the horizon line.  When viewing the romantic celestial Dog Star, with its rich earth tones and metal flourishes, I was struck by my own global virus memory of everyone stuck in their own silos while finally having the time to go outside, gaze upward and marvel at the stars which are universal. “Distance isn’t just physical,” says Palmer. “It’s life and death, it can be lost in time, it can be spiritual.”

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Growing up in a creative environment in Falkirk, most of Palmer’s teenage years were spent in the high school art department where she designed and constructed clothing, produced fashion shows and immersed herself in the Edinburgh and Glasgow music scenes. Palmer received her Bachelor of Arts with Honors from Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot Watt University. Upon graduation, she worked as a fashion designer and eventually started her own label in Singapore. Since 2006, Palmer has focused on drawing and painting. In addition to a lengthy international exhibiting history which includes solo shows at Houston’s Jung Center and The Woodlands’ Glade Gallery, she has also showcased her work in Dallas and in Santa Fe art expositions. Her curation work includes art galleries and exhibition spaces including H&H&8 and The St. Luke’s Hospital. Later, she served as the juror for the Sawyer Yards “Dreamscapes” exhibition and most recently for The Conroe Art League’s International Exhibition. North Sea Gulf Coast by Annette Palmer at Archway Gallery is not to be missed! It runs through July 5th. ​

The Beauty of Details

1/25/2023

 
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An Interview with Archway Artist Joan Laughlin

Where are you from and how does that influence your work?
I was born in the Midwest but have mostly lived in Houston since I was 2 years old. Though Houston is a very new, urban environment filled with lots of concrete and tall, modern buildings, I am attracted to the wild beauty of the natural world that still grows in and around the city, in the cracks and in-between spaces. Although it was not intentional, this interest could probably be seen metaphorically. My mother grew up in the country in a tiny farming community, but due to the circumstances of her time, she ended up, not in the country as a farmer’s wife, but in the modern city of Houston married to an oil executive. Despite the influence of modern life, we can’t be completely domesticated or modernized. There is something feral or wild that still exists.

Describe your work.
I am an oil painter. I taught myself how to paint after I moved back to Houston from Los Angeles in 2002 after attending an MFA program in New Genres where the concentration was mostly on Conceptual Art and Critical Theory. Today, I mostly paint small-ish paintings of flowers, plants and trees, sometimes roots. They range in size from 8x10 inches to 18 x 24 inches. I use photos taken from my walks as source material. 
How do you work?
I mostly work from photos that I take. Sometimes, I will try to work from life. But that can be difficult. I have a full-time job in a field completely unrelated to art, so I have to paint around my work schedule and working from photos is more convenient. 
How has your work changed over time?  
For about 10 years (from 2010-2020), I mostly painted monochromatic landscapes in a color similar to Van Dyke brown. Many people commented that these paintings looked like black and white photos. I showed and sold many of those works, but I got tired of making them, they took forever to do, as they were very detailed. I was still teaching Drawing at this time and every semester when we got to the lessons on Color Theory, I would realize how much I really loved color. I’m drawn to artists who are great colorists. The David Hockney show at the MFAH comes to mind. And, I love the work of local artists Michael Golden and Cary Reeder mostly because they are such great colorists. When I was making that monochromatic work, I was thinking a lot about death and dying. My Dad had Alzheimer’s then and I spent much of my time caring for him. Those days, I would go to the art store and look through the beautiful colors made by Williamsburg Oils and sometimes would just buy a tube of a gorgeous color like Egyptian Violet, knowing I wasn’t going to use it, but it was so beautiful I had to have it. These tubes of gorgeous colors were like precious gemstones to me then. I knew that one day I’d work with color again. And, now I am!
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration on my walks through the Heights where I have lived for 18 plus years. I love looking at the gardens. I also find inspiration in the the wild brush and flowers that I see on the side of the road while driving.
What motivates you to create?
I believe in Beauty, with a capital “B.” During the most difficult times in my life, I have turned to art and nature for solace, hope and direction. I believe that Beauty can save the world. And, that we can find it in our simple everyday environments that we often overlook during our busy, stressful lives.    
What are you most proud of to date?  
Artwise, my one-person show at Galveston Arts Center in 2017 curated by the wonderful Dennis Nance. 
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What is your dream project?
I’m trying to work on that now. I’ve been thinking about the ideas of cycles and seasons and change as seen in our natural world. I’m going through a lot of change in my personal life right now. And, collectively, our society is experiencing change, too. I’m trying to do 12 paintings that reflect the changes seen in the natural world each month. I’m hoping that these will be in my show at Archway in April 2024.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Yes. Painting and Drawing force you to slow down and really look at things. I think this helps me to be more observant of details in other areas of my life. When I taught at HCC, I would always have students who would tell me at the end of the semester that they had become so much more observant of the world around them. This is why we need artists. Artists notice the small things that are really important that most people miss. 

​Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
Well, I’m a member of Archway Gallery which fosters a spirit of support for all of its members.  Every month during the monthly gallery rehang, I feel inspired to keep making  newer and better work after seeing the new work that the other gallery members have made.  Aside from that, my parents always supported and encouraged my art education and activities. I’m the only one in the family to be involved in the arts. It seems that this interest was important for my parents, too. My mom always tells me how much she learns about Art History by visiting the museums with with me. I have visited countless museums with my parents. It’s one of my favorite things to do. They created their own personal docent by funding my art education! For the past 3 years, I have worked in a field completely unrelated to art, and, in a weird way, this has made my practice more important to me. The little extra time and energy that I have is devoted to my art practice. I really need it, don’t know what I’d do without it.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
I don’t know. I probably didn’t listen to it. I’m not good at taking advice from people. I tend to listen to my gut and do my own thing, which has sometimes gotten me into trouble. I have several notebooks full of quotes that I collect for inspiration. I mostly get “advice” from reading the words of wise, interesting people, many long dead. I’m currently pondering these two gems, which are on my refrigerator:

“Strength comes from flexibility and inaction.” Lao Tzu

and

“ To live content with small means - to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich - to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart - to bear all cheerfully - do all bravely, await occasions - never hurry; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.” William Ellery Channing
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Collecting Art from the Heart

12/21/2022

 
by Liz Conces Spencer
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

True Confession: I’m an art junkie. If I had unlimited dollars or gold, I would spend them on Cheetos, chocolate and art, not necessarily in that order. And if you’ve ever been to my house or studio, you know it’s not a décor addiction; I really could care less about this season’s colors or that hot new trend.  I buy from the heart.
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​How Art Can Call to You
One of my favorite pieces is a largish black-and-white photograph by Fikry Botros. It depicts a dead sheep, tongue extruded, eyes barely closed. Its eerie beauty speaks to me of the fragility and finality of earthly life. I passed by it for at least two months while it was in the print bin at Archway Gallery, and each time it stopped me in my tracks. Captivated and moved by this image, I finally bought it, knowing it would likely disturb the lovely man I live with, but confident that I would over the years encounter the same hard rock of universal understanding that moved me the first time I saw it. It’s in my studio, a treasured inspiration.
​Connecting Personally with Art: Ideas, Images & Objects
Surrounding ourselves with meaning—with ideas, images and objects that move us—comes about easily to some people. Many of us have inherited objects or furniture or artwork from family members; it’s evocative and stirs memories or connections with our past. Saving a dining room set, or an armoire, or footstool, or photos is more common than we think. Memories are attached. The same can be said of inherited artwork, which evokes a sense of place and of people we may have grown up with. These pieces can be a gift, or a burden as it is not for everyone a pleasant connection. Indeed, severing ties with an inherited past can be cathartic. Buying someone else’s treasure via antique or thrift stores can be fun; these treasures have a past and may bring spirits. That’s another story, for sure. When it comes to art that is acquired, as one begins to collect outside the hand-me-downs and inherited items, a sense of intention can direct the ethic and activity… and this can happen like lightning. Finding that special item can be unexpected and sometimes casual in that at times you find things where you least expect them. Conversely, you can also expect to find treasures where you most expect them—galleries, festivals, auction houses, etc.  
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Three Frequent Intentions When Collecting Art
Being a member of a friendly artist-owned gallery for many years, I’ve encountered a lot of people who browse and shop for different reasons. I’ve noticed the casual browsers, as well as those who are shopping with a purpose… those shopping for décor, those shopping for investment, and those shopping from the heart.  It’s great when the first two reasons are informed by the third. I treasure my fellow artists and the soul-expanding wealth of their work. In our gallery, I rarely see work that is completed as a “commodity.” It is instead reflective of each artist’s inner workings, a way to communicate to me and other viewers a piece of mind.

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​An Art Collection as a Personal Legacy
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I buy art that knocks me over or touches my heart. It can be ceramic, steel, paint, or collage. I find personal meaning in works by others that send me on an internal journey of understanding and connection. My children and grandchildren will have first dibs on a wonderful collection if they survive me, and I hope I have raised them to collect with the same fire and passion.
I wonder who will end up with the dead sheep.

The Value of Owning Original Art

12/12/2022

 
PictureArchway artist donna e perkins creates an orginal work of art.
by donna e perkins
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)
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Why Surround Yourself with Local Art?
Let me tell you why I love living with my collection of original art. Before I get up in the morning, I enjoy seeing the morning sun, as it rises, play across three artworks on my bedroom wall. One is a cast of a torso covered in strips of musical notes, one is an oil painting of a woman bound by a string of Christmas lights, and one is an explosive abstract with lots of energy and texture. In another area of my living space, the large electrical box located near my front door is covered by a joyful young nude with a tattoo proclaiming, “Happiness is Free.” This image always lifts my mood. All these works have their own emotive energy.  All carry memories. I live in a work/live studio which has fewer walls than a house, but my celling is extremely high. So, in the area I’ve designated as my sitting room, I’ve hung works salon-style, fitting paintings, drawings, prints, and photos together like puzzle pieces far higher than I can reach. My furniture supports the sculptures in my collection.


It’s a Pleasure to Live with Original Art
Every painting, drawing, print, photograph, and sculpture that embellishes my environment brings me pleasure. Each one has emotional content. Each one has a story; a story about when and where I first saw the piece, and what attracted me to it. I enjoy remembering what I know about the artist, and the artist’s story. I’m fascinated with how everything is made. I have all sorts of questions about how the artist created the piece, so it’s a bonus to meet the artist and learn more about the specific artwork. 

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Body Music
How Do You Determine the Value of a Collection of Original Art?
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I’ve lived with some of my collection for decades while some artworks are newly acquired. When I moved to my new place, during the bleakness of the COVID-19 lockdown, I was so overwhelmed and isolated. But once I had some of my art on the walls, this strange space began to feel like home. Being surrounded by my collected art made me feel less isolated as these artworks are my friends. The value my collection has for me is that it makes my life incredibility richer. 
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Abstract by Becky Soria
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"Bound" by John Slaby
The Pursuit of Specific Works, or the Work by a Particular Artist, May Suit You Some people invest in art for a future financial profit. For this to be successful, it takes more money than I have. It takes a lot of knowledge about the art market. It often takes working with an art consultant who keeps up with what is currently available or coming up for auction. If you can play that game, good for you. To me it sounds like as much fun as actually reading all those reports my mutual funds send.  
How Do You Want to Invest Your Time, Your Energy & Your Money? What makes sense for you? Did the pandemic change how you feel about your home? Were the walls closing in on you? A seascape might remind you of being at the beach. A landscape may enlarge the feel of a room, acting like an added window. Perhaps, you would prefer some totally abstract artwork that adds color and motion and energy to your space. What emotive experience do you desire? What objects do you want to see as you let your mind and eyes wander? You may find, as I have, that by adding original art to your environment, you enrich your life.

How to Start an Art Collection for a Loved One

12/9/2022

 
PictureArchway artist Harold Joiner with his work "Bonito by Air"
by Harold Joiner
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Looking for a unique holiday gift for that person on your list who might not appreciate a new pair of socks or a new kitchen gadget?
Among all the gift ideas you’ll read about this holiday season, here is one that’s an absolute stand-out: gift them a starter piece for an art collection.

Everyone appreciates art of some kind, so don’t give any thought to the idea that this is not practical or that it’s risky. Embrace the idea that it’s a unique gift that no one else will give!

How to Choose an Art Gift for a Loved One
Having made the decision to gift an art collection starter, here are a few points that will make the shopping easier. First, draw on what you know about your gift recipient’s interests and passions. Do they like fashion, interior design, or cooking? Do they like the outdoors, carpentry, or photography? For the first, the best art gift might be a drawing of the human figure, an abstract painting, or a beautiful piece of pottery. For the second, it may be an animal sculpture, a landscape painting, or a work made from wood. Now, consider what you know about your love one’s home, and how your purchase will fit into it. Maybe you have an idea where it will look best or the space you’re looking to fill. Consider how much you are willing to spend and let this guide you to the places to start your search. Set a price range, but be flexible so you can find the perfect collection starter. Lastly, think about your recipient’s ability—financial or otherwise—to continue collecting this kind of work. As you present your gift, make the point that it is intended as a starter; something to build upon. You may even include a short personal note to this effect and indicate your desire to know about future additions to the collection.

Where to Find & Buy an Art Gift
You might ask yourself, “There are so many galleries and other venues selling art, where do I start?” It’s a reasonable question, so survey the local galleries online first to see which ones sell the kind of works you’re seeking.  Art-collecting.com is a good place to browse art gallery websites. Most art galleries do not list artwork prices online, but you can usually inquire about the price via the website. Beyond that, look for venues that do have published price—including our own Archway Gallery. Art gallery websites that sell directly make it easier for you to see how the available works fit within your price range and to make the purchase the very moment you spot the right piece. That said, it’s also a good idea to see the artwork in person before purchasing. That allows you to see it in its frame, for example, or to view all angles if it’s a three-dimensional piece like a sculpture.

Giving Authentically
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Keeping in mind that this is an original work of art, you should insist on a Certificate of Authenticity with your purchase. Indicate to the gallery that it will be a gift, so that the price will not appear on the Certificate. Presenting the Certificate with your gift underlines its unique nature and the depth of your feelings for its recipient.
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Work by artist Silvia PintoSouza
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Work by artist Carol Berger
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Work by artist Terry Crump

How to Build an Art Collection Like a Pro

12/9/2022

 
 by Barbara Able
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Passion… Not the first word that comes to mind when considering collecting art. Most serious collectors surveyed said they did it for the love of the genre and not financial reasons. Most started collecting early in life. “It is said that collecting is a disease; I think I had it from childhood,” said Ima Hogg in 1973. “In Austin, the streets were not paved and were covered with beautiful pebbles. When wet, they sparkled like jewels… pebbles and flowers formed my first collection.”

Dive In & Get Started
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Obviously, the best way to learn any business is to get into that business. You may not want to jump in by opening a gallery, but you have a myriad of choices in Houston, the third-largest art market in the U.S. Do your homework. Talk to everyone and find out everything you can. Go to galleries and get on their mailing lists. Attend artists’ talks at galleries and museums. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has a vibrant docent group, so sign up for a tour.
Find a Focus that Speaks to You
Secondly, establish a focus for your art. Concentrate on a few artists or a genre such as landscape or photography. Use your personal preferences as your guide. Think like an artist. This is going to be your unique collection, and it should reflect you. Build and read a library of books on the type of work you are interested in. Buy only what you love, what moves you. In the beginning, it helps to narrow your focus. As an example, my collection contains about 75% paintings and 25% photography. In my painting collection, I have mostly figurative work, and in my photography collection, I have landscapes.
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"Flood" by John Slaby from Barbara's personal collection.
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"The Greek Goddess" by Barbara Able
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Artist Barbara Able creates an original work.
Create a Budget
Set an annual budget or decide how much you will pay for an individual piece. But know that even the most assiduous collectors admit to going over budget. According to one, who owns a large collection of Texas art, “Everything I bought required a sacrifice.” But fear not, some very rich collectors are also bargain hunters. Joseph H. Hirschhorn, a uranium magnate whose collection formed the basis of the Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C., liked to buy groups of subjects at large discounts. Many galleries offer at least 10% off just for asking—it’s called a “collector’s discount.”

Make a Purchase
Your next step is actually buying a work of art. Know what to look for. The visual and emotional impact the work has on you, as well as the composition, quality and condition of the work, and reputation of the artist should all be considered as you evaluate the price. Buy from a reputable gallery. Houston has dozens of excellent galleries: Moody, Inman, Hooks-Epstein, Anya Tish, Barbara Davis, McClain, David Shelton, Archway Gallery, and many more have all been around for decades! 
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Get on the Houston Art Gallery Association’s mailing list. Visit Glasstire’s list of exhibitions and look for those that interest you. When you visit a gallery, sign the guest book, and ask to be on their mailing list—most will email you details about their upcoming shows. Like their pages and accounts on social media. And if you find something you like, keep in mind that most galleries will let you make payments over time. Some will even allow you to take the work home to see how it looks on your wall. 
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Document Your Collection
Keep a record of your art collection. Include all the pertinent data about the piece, including title, date, medium, size, place of purchase, and price. This is for insurance purposes, but it’s helpful over time. Look into a rider on your homeowner’s insurance to cover your art collection.
It’s also important to maintain your collection. Research art restorers in case a piece gets damaged. Sarah Balinskas Fine Framing and Art Preservation is an excellent source. 

​Keep in mind that it is very difficult to resell artwork unless the artist is nationally or internationally known. There are very few galleries who resell art (known as the secondary market); Heidi Vaughan Fine Art is a reputable one.
Take Your Time & Have Fun
Finally, take your time building the collection. A good goal would be to have a certain number of pieces in five years. Then, after five years, you may want to change your direction or increase the amount you are willing to spend. Enjoy the process! Regular contact with artists, art dealers, and fellow collectors often lead to friendships with people of different personalities and backgrounds.  Most collectors still own the first work of art they bought and can recall the circumstances of that purchase—such is the emotion associated with collecting. So, congratulations are in order. You are taking the first step on a lifelong journey that will enrich your home and your life. Follow a few basic guidelines, and you will be on your way to creating your collection.
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"Pioneer Pass" by Larry Garmezy from Barbara's private collection.

Where to Find Affordable Local Art

12/8/2022

 
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Tracey Meyer creates an original work of art.
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Archway gallery
 by Tracey Meyer
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Houston has long been known as a great art city—literally and figuratively. Not only are there the big-name art galleries on Colquitt and Montrose, but there are lots of other places to find truly spectacular and au courant art. And of course, 
Archway Gallery is at the top of that list in my opinion.
If you haven’t heard of Archway Gallery, it is the longest-running artist-owned and operated gallery in Texas. It is special because it showcases 34 varied artists who work in all sorts of media. These gallery artists come from all over the world—Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, France, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Scotland, as well as the USA. Additionally, many of these artists have lived and worked all over the world. What gives Archway an advantage in terms of affordability to the buyer is that overheads are low in comparison to the big-name galleries, allowing the artists to pass that advantage on to you! It also means you are buying directly from the artist. The other thing to note is that each month there is an opening reception for the current featured exhibition usually taking place on the first Saturday of the month; newly installed paintings and sculptures each month means that there’s constantly something new to see.
PictureBayou City Art Festival
Art Markets, Shows & More Events Around Houston
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In addition to art galleries, Houston provides lots of events for art lovers to buy local art. For example, there are great outdoor festivals like the twice-a-year Bayou City Art Festival which showcases a wide variety of artists displaying their work. Also, once a month or so, there are various studio complexes all over the greater-Houston area which host Open Studio events; artists open their doors and welcome the public into their individual studios. These events are great because you not only meet the artists, but you learn about their art and what inspires their creativity. You can buy directly from the artist, which is special. There’s nothing like forming a bond with the artist whose work adorns your walls! White Linen Night in the Heights is another art event which is fun; this street festival takes place in August each year. At this event everyone wears white and comes to see all sorts of things including artists showing their work, live music, and street performers.

In addition to the art festivals and special events, there are various exhibitions sponsored by local Houston art associations such as Visual Arts Alliance, which hold juried shows once or twice a year. The art in these exhibitions is high quality and usually for sale. Sometimes you may even see artwork displayed in cafes and bars; these works of art are also reasonably priced. One more place to find affordable art is the Glassell School of Art’s student show which takes place in December. Student participation is approved by professors to ensure quality and the variety of work is astounding. The variety of work is plentiful —something for everybody’s taste.

While there are a multitude of options to find that special piece of artwork, you don’t have to wait for a specific event to see and experience good quality art at reasonable prices; consider visiting Archway Gallery. The gallery is open six days a week, as well as by appointment; so, call today or go online to immerse yourself in the painting, photography, prints, ceramics, fiber, found objects, glass, metal work, and more you will find awaiting you. In addition, you will meet one of the artists each time you visit… who knows, perhaps, I’ll see you there!

How to Choose Art for Each Room in Your Home

12/4/2022

 
PictureVisual Artist Cecilia Villanueva
 by Cecilia Villanueva
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Greetings art enthusiasts! If you are planning to buy art to decorate your home and you are not sure if it should match the couch… here are a few tips to guide you. We do not experience art only through color. We experience art mostly because of its content, even if the painting or sculpture is abstract. So, it is mostly about choosing what emotions, memories, or thoughts the art evokes in us due to its colors, shapes, theme, or rhythm. Art inhabits a house with great force, and it is the second most interesting thing in a home… humans being the first. Pick your art thinking of yourself rather than the furniture (and pick your humans well also). It is easy and fun to include art in every room if we understand basic design fundamentals. Once you learn them, I am sure you will feel more confident and will soon become an ace in choosing art for yourself, your family, and friends.
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Three Components of Every Room
Every room has essentially three components.
  • Verticals – Doors and walls
  • Horizontals – Floors and ceilings
  • Furniture –Tables, chairs, lamps and other accessories
And what about art? Most of the time, art pieces are verticals. If the art piece is hanging from the ceiling; it’s a vertical. If it is a sculpture on a pedestal in the middle of a room; it’s a vertical. If it is a painting; it’s a vertical. The only time art becomes a horizontal is when it is attached, or semi-attached, to a horizontal. For example, a mural painted on the floor or the ceiling, a structure such as a shallow pool, or an art piece meant to be walked on. With this knowledge, you can be confident in following a simple design rule.

One Simple Rule of Thumb
Simply put—pair verticals with verticals and horizontals with horizontals. Furniture does not have to pair with anything, whether it be the horizontals or verticals. Breathe deep; most of the time, art is a vertical. So, when buying art for a specific room, think how one piece of art will converse with another. Art does not have to match art, but a painting will certainly influence a sculpture nearby, or vice versa. Choose art pieces that can become friends and harmonize—like different instruments in a concert playing together to make a statement or to quietly flow with no sound.

Troubleshooting Tips with Colors, Textures & Spaces
It can sometimes get tricky if your doors or walls are colorful (red, purple, yellow, green, blue, and the like) rather than neutral. Remember that black, gray, brown, and white are neutrals; wood is a texture, but we will classify it as a neutral just for this case. Design for doors and walls can also be easy to tackle if you consider the following: 
  • A vividly-colored door will strongly influence an artwork nearby.
  • Drapery, no matter the color, is an accessory. So we do not need to take it into account for art acquisition.
  • A colorful wall or wallpaper will become the painting’s frame.
As for actual, physical frames, try to harmonize the frames used in the same room or area. For example, use black frames for the art that hangs in the library or home office space, no frames for the dining room, Victorian frames for the master bedroom, and chunky frames for the kitchen. Also, if your space is small, check this counterintuitive rule: A big painting will make a small space look bigger.

Trust Your Emotions
Ultimately, what has worked best for me is to acquire art that resonates with me. My collection matches myself, my world, and my humanity; I try to use this same philosophy with my clients. Dear friends, I hope that with this simple advice you feel confident to plunge into the deep waters of the art world. Above all, I hope you enjoy collecting and surrounding yourself with artwork you love! But… if after reading this article you are still in doubt and want more advice, just call Archway Gallery at 713-522-2409 to find out when I will be there so that you can come chat with me about design questions you may have. No costs involved… but you can bring donuts, if you want.

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Archway Gallery patrons explore work created by local artists.
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Tue-Sat 10-6, Sun 1-5
713.522.2409

Location

2305 Dunlavy
Houston, TX 77006

Artist Owned Since 1976

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