I’ve tried to kick this art addiction before but I always find myself looking for my next score. I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself. Something clicks in my head which causes a long chain of events to happen - the cumulative result being something that one has a hard time labeling anything other than "art".
Being a bartender, folks might have their suspicions about me calling myself an artist but I do have a BFA with a concentration in Printmaking. However, these sorts of degrees make it tough for an artist to pay back student loans and earn a living without selling out. So, I learned to bartend in New Orleans. The beauty of this being that I could pay bills and still be free, creatively, to do as I wished. In my ten plus years bartending, I’ve accumulated far more art than I have walls. Wanting to spend more time with my kids, while they are still kids - now seems to be good time to see if anybody wants to hang my art on their walls. If I could sell some of my art, I’d be able to bartend less and have more time to spend with my girls and create more art. Hmmmm.....
So, what is a bartending printmaker doing showing a bunch of odd paintings without titles? Well, I’m not quite sure myself except that this must be what happens when I don’t have access to a printing press - crazy, colorful paintings on Carhartts and coffee bean sacks! Nothing at all like any of my conservative monochromatic prints, wow! When I was going to college in North Carolina, folks always said to me, "You ain’t right", and I think most of my art is a reflection of this. That being said, most folks do seem to like my art, or a least some it (myself included). With a little encouragement from friends and family, I’m having my first show.
Titles seemed redundant for these dreamy paintings but untitled art is so boring, so I’ve opted for a little audience participation. At the show, the gallery guests will have the opportunity to name my painting themselves. I’ll also include distant friends and family by posting my show on my blog site -kneelingbullmagic.blogspot.com -and letting folks name my paintings via the internet. My paintings will go from being untitled to multi titled and I expect I’ll have some interesting results.
The oddest part , for me, is telling people that I’m having an art show. I mean, I’ve been bartending here in Whitefish for over seven years and I’ve managed to keep this skeleton in my closet for quite awhile. So, I am a little anxious but also very excited. I’ve been getting an enthusiastic response as I spread the news. The opening (which is 6-10pm, Thurs. Oct. 4th) should be a hoot! I’ve got a DJ, a keg of beer (bring your I.D.), snacks and stickers! You won’t be able to miss us at
the Walking Man frame shop and gallery
305 Baker Ave
863-2787
thanks for checkin’ it out
-glenn
