Please pass the parabolic art and conversation. Come explore with us through childlike creativity this graceful, physical and abstract form found all around us. We plan to play with the themes of art inspired by sound, sight, movement and light. Bring yourselves, possibly a pertinent work, your creativity, and a bowl of food. Art lovers are welcome. We will provide noodles of all sorts to eat and to sculpt. Contact us for details.
click image for invite
We were blessed greatly yesterday to have the opportunity to sit down with the wonderfully enjoyable Saralyn Reece Hardy the director of the Spencer Museum of Art who in our humble opinion has done wonders for the museum as well as the art and artist’s of Lawrence, KS. Her no nonsense approach, quick smile and charm but even more importantly her true love of the arts, has quickly positioned her as a liaison between the museum world and the artists in the world. I would love to go more into our meeting, but we hope that this is an interview waiting to happen, as this was not the purpose of this visit. During our discussion which ranged all over the board from the down and out of the world and how we as artists can assist them rather than use them, to ways how the Spencer is positioning itself in the community, to kids with their joys and trails and of course art. Besides being an amazing resource of individual artists, Ms. Hardy suggested that we attend the opening of Stephen Johnson’s new show “An Abstract Alphabet: New Work by Stephen Johnson” which is tonight May 21, 2007 at 5:30pm at the Spencer Museum of Art.
Don, the artfully knowledgeable security guard showed us to “The Prints of Roger Shimamora” (which I highly recommend as well) and afterwards to the Stephen Johnson show.
I was struck, by Mr. Johnson’s since of humor and love of resin. The basis of the pieces are from abstract descriptions of the alphabet. Amazing landscape type paintings with a physical ladder, wrapped items that start with “w” to french fries flung on to a colorfield. Perhaps the most intriguing piece to me was one I got right away without having to look at the title, which was entitled M – Meditation on the Memory of a Princess. I asked Don where the pea was. He promptly responded that it was hanging above the pink 8 layered blow up mattress. We hope to see many of you tonight! Below is the article reproduced from the Spencer Museum of Art website.
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An Abstract Alphabet: New Work by Stephen Johnson
May 19 – August 5, 2007
Central Court
Expanding on Robert Rauschenberg’s playful curiosity with new materials, Marcel Duchamp’s concept of the “ready-made,” and Jeff Koons’ modus operandi of art as readily accessible, Stephen Johnson’s An Abstract Alphabet explores new ways of pulling abstractions from the real. Originally developed as a concept for a children’s book in 2001, this alphabet series has evolved into a body of work that uses a range of materials and interchanges collage, painting and sculpture. For each letter of the alphabet, Johnson has taken an ordinary object and made it unfamiliar, removing functionality to reveal the metaphorical associations that lie within. The Spencer is delighted to present the public debut of this work. The accompanying book, A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet, will be published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Children in fall 2008.
Press:
original article________________________________________________
At the End of May Darin & Shannon were invited to come speak to 23 people about the value of art and balm at a gathering in Grove, Oklahoma located in a quaint restaurant called Tiramisu in conjuction with Blazon Studio.
After the talk, we went next door to the gallery to discuss our work. We want to thank Larry Cole the owner of the gallery and Joan Ramsey the gallery manager as well as all of the people that helped pull this gathering together. We look forward to seeing some of you in Lawrence to create together soon.
We were also thankful to stay at a relative’s lake house on Grand Lake which had a beautiful view and was very peaceful. Thank you Dave & Ann! We saw red foxes, pelicans, woodpeckers, ducks, geese and many other species of birds outside our windows. All these things fed our artist souls. We were certainly refreshed and excited to be a part of the arts in Oklahoma. You can view our art in the gallery on the Oklahoma television news syndicates three times from the last several months, as well.
If you are interested in having us speak at a gathering or gallery please contact us at balm-.-org-at-wordpress-.-com (remove the dashes and replace at with the symbol).
A group of artists, all works in progress, enjoyed sharing our workmanship with one another over the Cinco de Mayo festivities. We celebrated our freedom to create and gather together at Jane’s wonderful Lawrence studio over margeritas and delicious Mexican food.
Then we settled into a critique of works in progress. The large colorful Japanese inspired paintings belong to Jane. The artwork inspired deep conversation, as Brad shared of his recent trip to Hawaii playing music with Jack Johns and worshiping here. He mentioned how landscape and region inspire style. Ingrid showed us her spontaneous painting of a local prairie fire at night, and Jay talked about his stone work and guild, as well as issues of figuration in art. Congratulations to Jay on becoming a fire chief, by the way. Marc invited us to discuss his revised film script narration on a father and son relationship before his last editing session – what a privilege. Shannon shared new figurative works in a series of assemblages for dialogue, and a two life portrait panels with text. There was so much to see and discuss, food for thought. Darin and Janea declined to share their pieces to make way for others, as we could have talked all night. We thank all the people who came and contributed to the conversations. Artists love to talk about their’s and others’ work! Several artists expressed interest in visiting each others’ studios to talk about life and work one on one on a regular basis. Let’s keep encouraging each other to create.
We enjoy seeing you all around town and at these gatherings. A few places we have seen artist friends around town are shown below (Farmer’s Market, Art Togeau Parade, downtown, SEED lectures):
b.a.l.m 
