Triple Crown! Hat Trick! Trifecta!

Most of you are aware we represent artists from all over the country, and that a lot of our artists are a pretty big deal. They are in international collections. They’ve shown in the Louvre. They’ve won shows. They are seen.

But you know all that, right? After all, we wouldn’t represent them if they weren’t awesome.

So, speaking of awesome, one of our artists, Robert Caldwell, just pulled off a major hat trick. He entered and was accepted into three major exhibitions. We received an email from him late last week, went a little something like this ...

“I wanted to share with you all that I did it! Three major wildlife exhibitions entered and all three have chosen my work to be included!!! All of them graphite pieces!!!”

I did not add any of the exclamation points. I gather he’s pretty excited, even if he’s currently sick as a dog and convalescing at his home.

The first work, Margin (Lioness), was selected for the Art of the Animal Kingdom XVIII exhibition at the Bennington Center for the Arts (Bennington, VT), June 15-Aug. 25, 2013.

Personally, I always like to ask the artists if there’s a story behind the work. Sometimes, they have one, sometimes they don’t.

“These were the first lions that I had seen in the wild. We were driving on the outlying area, the margin, of Silale Swamp, which doesn't look like a swamp at all, when we saw one lion off to our left and another on our right. The one on the right was sitting up looking at the other lion, and you could sense that she wanted to cross the road and go to her mother or sister down in the tall grasses under an umbrella acacia tree.

“With my camera ready, I sat back and waited for her to cross the road. What an amazing sight; she strolled out across the dirt road and into the tall grasses, and with every step, I could see every muscle flex as she glided into the tall grass. I was amazed by how well she blended into the grass, the lightness of her fur blending into the stalks. This is what I wanted to capture in my drawing, how, moving ever so silently in the grass, the lion became part of her environment.”

The second piece, Kutokua Na Hatia (Colobus Monkey) was selected for Art and the Animal, the 53^rd Annual Exhibition of the Society of Animal Arts, Bennington, VT, Aug. 31 – Oct. 31.

“Arusha National Park lies on the side of Mount Meru, an active volcano. As we made our way up the edge of the crater wall, we could see Mount Kilimanjaro through the tree canopy. As we came around a bend on the path, we spotted a grouping of colobus monkeys. The dense trees made it tricky to capture reference material. It wasn’t until we were coming back down from the top of the road that I saw a glimpse of white. My guide, Jeremy, very excitedly turned to me and said something in Swahili and pointed up at the monkeys. Even though I had been in the country for more than a week at this point and I felt like I was getting a grasp on the language, I had no idea what he said but I looked up and saw this little innocent face looking down at us. Baby colobus monkeys, I learned, are born with pure white fur but don't stay that way for long so I was extremely fortunate to have seen this little guy.”

Last, but not least, Robert’s Custodian (Ruppell’s Vulture) won a spot in Birds in Art, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s 2013 exhibition in Wausau, WI, Sept. 7 – Nov. 10, 2013.

“We had been on a game drive in Tarangire National Park that day through two heavy rains and had just broken through the rain front coming down the backside of a hill near Silale Swamp when I saw a large bird perched in a dead acacia tree.

“At this point in the day, it’s quiet. There aren’t many animals out, and trees are sparse around the swamp. But there was this Ruppell's Vulture just perched elegantly in the upper branches of the barren tree. The backend of the rain clouds gave the sky a light even tone that stretched across the backdrop of the vulture and its throne. It just seemed like such a powerful setting for what can be perceived as such an unwanted position, king or custodian.”

Congratulations to Robert on his fantastic trifecta.

While these three works aren’t in the gallery yet, we do have several of Robert’s paintings for you to come ogle. And if that’s not enough, Robert will be here June 2014 to celebrate the release of his forthcoming book, Draw Realistic Animals Wildlife, Pets & More. It will also be the first showing of the paintings from his trip to Africa, so stay tuned. (Don’t worry. I’ll remind you when we’re closer to the date.)

I’ll see you at the Gallery. No, really. I’m here now, pretty much everyday.

Back in the Saddle

The boys returned from Santa Fe, perhaps a little tired, but also energized by the massive amounts of awesome waves they were subjected to.

Lovetts Gallery artists Represented (yes, with a capital R) well at the SWAIA Indian Market, coming home with 10 first or second place ribbons.

“They all had a great show,” says Jack, “and they all sold a lot of work. The artists did exceptionally well. Nocona Burgess, an Oklahoma artist represented by us, sold 15 paintings.”

 “All of our artists had that experience across the board,” says Waylon.

This year, organizers of the show introduced the Tammy Garcia Award for Excellence – the second largest prize of the Market. The inaugural award went to a Lovetts artist – Susan Folwell.

LIST of Awards/Winners

Classification I: Jewelry
IC: Pins and Pendants: First place, Liz Wallace
IC: Miscellaneous: Second place, Liz Wallace

Classification II: Pottery
IIC: Carved in the Style of Santa Clara, any form – Red: First place, Linda Tafoya-Sanchez
IID: Sgraffitto, any form: Second place, Jody Naranjo
Best of Division E: Contemporary Pottery, any form or design or firing technique using commercial clays and/or glass: First place, Jody Naranjo
IIE: Sgraffitto, any form: First place, Jody Naranjo
IIE: Painted, any form: Second place, Susan Folwell
IIE: Miscellaneous: First place, Anita Fields

Classification V: Sculpture
VB: Wood: Second place, Nathan Hart

Tammy Garcia Award
Susan Folwell

In addition to the accolades and positive experiences, Jack and Waylon came home with 22 new pieces of art (which you can see in the Gallery, of course), and more are on the way.

“We have the second place piece by Susan Folwell,” says Jack, “and we have three nice pieces by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez. We brought back collaborative work from Doug Miles and Susan Folwell. It’s like skate-art graphitti and traditional pottery.”

Two of the pieces have already been sold, so … you might want to think about coming by the Gallery this weekend.

They also returned with a handful of new artists, including a painter and a stone carver, which is unusual. Some years, they don’t find anyone they think is up to the Lovetts standard.

“We look for artists who’re very technically proficient, or are doing something entirely new or doing something that’s not new, but better than anyone else,” says Waylon. “When you’re talking about pottery that has 200 years of history behind it, a lot of it looks the same. You have to find someone who’s doing something totally new, or someone who’s doing something so unbelievably well that their work stands above everyone else’s. That plays out at the market. The judges, who came from all over the states, they see the same thing we see. Their work is either entirely unique or stands out above the rest.”

Trip Post Script

First, Waylon may have returned in a somewhat befuddled state. He actually said this:

“Dad and I saw a rainbow at Clines Corner and saw a rainbow that actually touched the ground,” says Waylon. “Walked to the rainbow, and then we were levitated into the heavens and brought back all this work.”

... right. Moving on. Here are a few more snapshots from the weekend:

This one is Jack and Kevin Box outside of Kevin's studio:

Then we have one of Jack and Jeff Ham at a live paint:

This would be Jeff's mess at said live paint:

If you missed out on any of the SWAIA Indian Market updates, you can find them here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

See you in the gallery! 

Gone to Market III

As of now, Jack and Waylon are still at the SWAIA Indian Market, but today is the last day (you can see the previous updates from the market trip here and here). They drive home Monday and the Gallery reopens Tuesday. The photos from yesterday did not feature any food shots, so apparently the guys had their hands full meeting with artists and hunting down new pieces to bring to the Gallery. They've also had a busy Sunday thus far. Check it out more photos from the market ...

Also, they said they saw comedian Dennis Miller out and about, to which we'll retort, "pics or it didn't happen."

Total Sell Out

The first collector showed up to Jody Naranjo's booth at 4:30 yesterday morning. This is the scene at said booth before it opened. She sold out instantly.

Artists of the Day(s)

I don't think it's hyperbole to say they encountered more cool artists an awesome art than they could handle. We'll hit a few more highlights.

Here's a pic of Jack with award-winning turner Nathan Hart. You can expect to see more of Hart's work in the gallery soon.

Here's a snapshot of award-winning artist Anita Fields:

We keep mentioning Summer Perspectives, but with good reason. The artists we had in, this time Marla Allison, keep showing up with awesome stuff. Marla did this piece on circuit board, and because she's awesome, sold it at Market.

We are always enamoured by the works of Kevin Box, and not just because he's from Oklahoma. His sculptures demand attention. After all, how do you do oragami out of metal?

And then there's this one, a life-size buffalo, which Waylon claims he rode for some German tourists ...

All Good Things Must End

And so here's the end of the photos from the field. There'll be an entire post-trip wrap-up in Thusday's blog, so be sure to check back for Jack and Waylon's impressions on what and who they saw, and probably what and who you can expect to see in the Gallery in the coming months. For now, we'll part with this shot of Jack and Philbrook's curator, Christina Burke, at the St. Francis hotel. Tulsa, represent!

Gone to Market II: Photos from the Field

The guys have been sending in photos and reports all day from the SWAIA Indian Market (which we detailed on yesterday's blog post), including, for some reason, pictures of their awesome looking lunches and cocktails. Apparently, they've been "working" hard.

Without further ado ... 

Scenes from Last Night

"Here's an awesome figurine from Lisa Holt and Harlan Reno at the opening last night with Jody Naranjo," says Jack.

Jody, by the way, is featured on the cover of this year's SWAIA Indian Market guide. Jack says she'll be sold out by 10am Saturday morning. 

The Calm Before the Market

The Indian Market, as we mentioned in yesterday's post, completely takes over downtown Santa Fe. Here's what it looks like on the Friday morning before filling up with the more than 1,000 artists.

Food Interlude 1

Would you look at the size of this quiche?

Hanging with Jamie

At the Summer Perspectives show, badass Wyandote potter Jamie Zane Smith worked on a piece of pottery live in the Gallery. This morning, he delivered the finished piece to Waylon and Jack. It's pretty spectacular.

Hanging with Other Artists, Too!

Here's Jack and potter Susan Folwell. Word is there'll be a forthcoming show, demonstration and lecture with Folwell.

Waylon, not wanting to be left out, poses with Oklahoma's most well known potter, Jane Osti.

Food Interlude 2: The Lunchening

Pretty sure these pics are meant as some sort of taunt. Whatever their purpose, it is not making the case for "working hard." The accompanying message said, "We told you to come!" Touche.

An Afternoon with Paul Rhymer

We had Paul on the blog a couple weeks ago discussing the new series he's producing exclusively for Lovetts. The guys hung out with Paul today, and also Paul's dog Buzz, who looks pretty chilled out.

Here are Paul's clays for a Red Tailed Hawk commissioned by one of Lovetts' clients:

Annnnd that's all for now, folks. Not sure if there'll be any more tonight, but there will definitely be more tomorrow. Until then...

Gone to Market

You might notice, should you drop by the Gallery this weekend, that there’ll be a perhaps inconvenient “closed” sign hanging behind the front glass.

Rest assured, everything is okay. The Gallery will reopen Tuesday. And no, the proprietors have not gone off for some much needed R&R.

It just so happens it’s time again for Jack and Waylon to sojourn to the more arid climes of New Mexico for the 91^st Santa Fe Indian Market. For fans and connoisseurs of Native American art, there is nothing that compares in the world.

The Indian Market is produced by SWAIA – the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts – a non-profit that strives to “bring Native arts to the world by inspiring artistic excellence, fostering education, and creating meaningful partnerships.” (If that sounds suspiciously like a mission statement, that’s because it is.)

What you need to know is that more than 1,100 Native artists travel to Santa Fe to display and sell their work. The market covers more than 14 downtown city blocks and features more than 600 booths. It’s as much a celebration of Native art and artists as it is a market.

The Summers boys will not be celebrating, however. It is very much a working event.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” says Jack. “You’re basically up every day at 5:30, and you go to bed at 11. And then you do it again until it’s over. It’s a lot of walking and gallery openings. When we get there tonight, we will basically drop our suitcases and go straight to an opening that Jody Naranjo is in. And there’s another one we’re missing at the same time.

“We have a lot of artists who’re in galleries and shows, and they all want us to stop by.”

As ever, Jack and Waylon are looking for new artists, new art and new perspectives on running a gallery in order to provide the best possible gallery experience for everyone.

“We have to get into as many shows and as many doors as we can while we are there,” says Waylon. “We have to seek out what is new. You can’t expect all the good art and artists to come to you. You have to be active in recruiting. You have to be active in making sure your gallery is being represented in the right way. This has to be done in person, so we have to be there.”

Past trips have resulted in new relationships with artists like Jody Naranjo, whose pottery seems to vanish from the Gallery as soon as it arrives, and Natalie Featherston, whose trompe l’oeils are masterworks of technical expertise and wit.

However, finding the “new” is not the only reason they attend.

“We go for several reasons,” says Waylon. “It gives us a chance to see the newest Native American artwork, and to meet up-and-coming Native American artists. It also lets us touch base with our artists, both Native and non-Native, and clients who live in that part of the country.

“It also gives us the chance to check out all the other galleries in Santa Fe that aren’t Native American. Santa Fe is one of the few international art markets in the country. It’s a destination for national and international artists and collectors.”

They are also on the lookout for galleries they can get Lovetts’ artists into.

“We look at other galleries to see if they’re good fits for some of our artists who are not represented in Santa Fe,” Waylon says. “It’s a really good market, and there are a handful of well established, good galleries there.”

This year, Jack and Waylon are planning to report in with updates from the market, though as of yet, we can’t quite say what form those updates will take. There will be pictures, for sure, and possibly hastily composed text messages that will transcribe and dutifully upload, so stay tuned. Could be for an exciting weekend.

Next week, we’ll have a recap of their trip, which will hopefully include new art, new artists and perhaps a tale or two of the experience of Indian Market.

Update 1:

Here's what the guys looked like at dark 30 this morning. Waylon does not appear to be overjoyed at the start time of the trip.

New Works for July

Another month, another batch of mind-blowingly fantastic works from our partners in art … You saw the new works from June, right? If you haven’t yet, you’re a month behind.

We didn’t include all of the pieces from our Summer Perspective exhibition in last month’s New Works, but the fact of the matter is that the works from the exhibition are new, but  also temporary. The exhibition ends July 16.  Oh! And then there is our newest gallery video!

When I check in with Waylon and Jack to see what we’re going to feature, they typically give me a giant list of all the new arrivals. Sometimes they include technical terms in the descriptions of the pieces. I’m not sure, but I think when I see phrases like “Did you see this!?!,” it means they think that particular piece is pretty good.

There were a lot of such terms in this month’s descriptions.

In addition to the previously mentioned Summer Perspective pieces, we have new stuff from J. Chester Armstrong, Brian Koch, Jody Lyle, Keri Ataumbi and Jeff Ham. Like the artists themselves, this month’s new stuff is an eccentric mix; we have paintings, sculptures and jewelry. If there’s not something you like … well then. 

Without further ado (and in no particular order) …

Hairpipe Stole, 11" x 16", Oil on Board

Brian Koch

Of the three new Koch works we’ve just received, two of them have already been sold, which means that you still have an opportunity to get your hands on the last one, if you’re so inclined. No doubt many of you remember Koch from his visit to the Gallery in June of 2011, and if you don’t here’s a taste. He’s one of our favorite young painters.

The as yet unsold is entitled Hairpipe Stole, and it depicts a girl from the Quinalt tribe of the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington.

"My favorite part of the painting is the quiet confidence and beauty in her face," Koch says. "I like to think that comes from the hairpipe breastplate or stole. The natives believed a hairpipe breastplate could bring them spiritual protection. Her eyes drew me in from the start. My hope is that as the viewer looks into her face they are welcomed into her world and connect with her on a higher plane than that of the painted surface."

 

Puma on the Move, 50" x 35" x 19", Black Walnut

J. Chester Armstrong

Here’s where Waylon starts throwing around hyperbole. Not that it’s unwarranted. But he specifically said stuff like, “insane,” and “just awesome.”  I tend to take his word for it in these matters. The new one is called Puma on the Move, and it’s one of those things you need to experience for yourself. A picture on the internet is no way to view sculpture. You’re missing the scale of the thing, and the way the warmth of the wood brings instills the animal with life.

50"h x 35"w x 19"d, Oregon Valley Black Walnut, JUST AWESOME

 

Cuff – Wide, 22k Gold, Oxidized Silver

Keri Ataumbi

Here’s what you need to know about Ataumbi’s striking jewelry: there are 12 new pieces of it in the Gallery, and they are only going to be here for the next two weeks (less, should you decide you have to have one of them). Anything we have left at the end of that time will be moving on to a major exhibition somewhere … else.

We, of course, would rather you have them.

The allure of Ataumbi’s pieces is the whole "fine art you can wear" aspect. It is a different experience than hanging a painting on the wall of your home, or displaying a sculpture in your foyer. A piece of artisan-crafted jewelry is wearable. You take it with you, and like fine clothing, it helps you to express yourself, and perhaps shapes a bit of who you are that day.

Her work is not on the website, however, so you'll have to make a trip to the Gallery to see it. 

 

Cersi, 43” x 52”, Oil on Canvas

Jeff Ham

When I hear the name Cersi, I immediately think of Cersei on HBO’s Game of Thrones. Ham’s new work isn’t based on thes show, though it is named Cersi. It does depict a beautiful woman, which Cersei on the show is, and it does so with a mix of color and black and white that seems to resonate with energy.  She is definitely not dressed for a night on the town, and you have to wonder who’s on the receiving end of that expression. Cersi, as a name, is starting to manifest an archetype of “ladies with whom you do not wish to trifle.”

As with all of Ham's huge works, she is a must see in person.

 

 

Moody Blues, Saphire, Dark Blue Labradorite, Forged Argentium Silver and 18k gold pendant, on fancy sterling flat oval cable chain

Jody Lyle

Lyle recently opted to pursue crafting jewelry full time, and has opened a studio in California. Fortunately for you, we have her work right here in Oklahoma. Lyle’s no stranger to the Gallery and we’re happy to offer you more of her.

The work we have in the Gallery has a serious case of the blues – sapphires, blue labradorite and tanzanite, in particular. Her Moody Blues necklace features a large, dark blue labradorite set into orbit around a sparkling sapphire with silver and gold, and strung upon an elegant sterling flat oval chain. And the Moonlight in Lavender necklace features a delicate silver hook inset with a large rainbow moonstone and topped with natural tanzanite.

Both works are eye-catching, and we didn’t even get to the earrings …

So why all the blue? It's Lyle's favorite color, for starters, but also ... "Sapphires are probably my favorite gemstone," says Lyle. " It's a stone that mixes beauty, color, diversity and practicality. It's a resilient stone that does not break easily so you can wear it every day. It looks good when worn with casual clothing and great in very formal settings.  I love working with every color sapphire and they play off other stones nicely.  

But it's not just about the blue. She also enjoys her metalwork.

"When I see the amazing things that people have made with silver, gold, iron, steel and brass, things from our history some of which are mechanical wonders, I'm definitely drawn to the material and impressed by how it was made," she says. "I think silver and gold are beautiful in look and feel and I like how the different finishes changes the overall effect.  Metals have a nice, permanent flexibility. You can shape it into whatever you want and it will hold that design.  Jewelry needs to be worn and these particular metals interact well with the body.  It's a great material for  showcasing stones and objects  and for making little statement about how people feel."

 

Summer Perspectives Redux

Most of the works that are part of our Summer Perspective exhibition have been spoken for already, but we still have a number of great pieces from Marla Allison, K. Henderson and Jamie Zane Smith available.

Orange Blossom Special, 40" x 20", Acrylic on Canvas

Allison’s Orange Blossom Special is still hanging in the gallery, lucky for you. If you haven’t seen it yet, you have yet to experience the calming effect it induces. The cubes of reds and oranges seem to undulate in the late evening summer heat, the leaves of the trees swaying in the wing. Well, that’s what I get anyway.

Double Walled Platter with Stand, Clay, 19" x 19"

I know we keep harping on the “you’ve got to come in and see it for yourself” thing, but Jamie Zane Smith’s Wyandot pottery features a level of detail that just doesn’t come across in pictures. When you see this stuff in person, it makes you wonder how he does it. Amazing isn’t a word we throw around lightly, but … this work is amazing.

You’ve seen K. Henderson’s work in the Gallery before. You know the crazy amount of realism she achieves in her paintings, be they of the Native American variety or trompe l’oeil variety. We still have a couple of hers left from the exhibition, in particular her sepia toned Daughter of the West, which is based on a 1920s’ era silent screen cowgirl. It’s a throwback painting of a throwback topic.

 

That’s sort of a sneak peak of the new arrivals this month. As always, we encourage  you to stop by the Gallery and take a look for yourself. Art is meant to be experienced in person, after all. Also, we’re here, and we’re meant to be experienced in person as well. If you know what I mean. And I think you do.

So. Gallery. New Stuff. You. Us. Soon. See you … there.

 

Best of Trompe L'Oeil Award - International Guild of Realism

Congratulations to Lovetts Gallery artist and collector favorite K. Henderson for receiving the Best of Trompe L'Oeil award at the prestigious annual International Guild of Realism Show.  With hundreds of submitting artists, only 70 were juried into this year's show.  See the winning piece, Key to My Heart, to the right.  This piece combines two elements that many of our collectors are very familiar with: the Americana Western toys/paper dolls and the cellophaned candy.  A sweet combination!

In addition to this great win for K. Henderson, Lovetts Gallery is pleased to represent contemporary realist Camille Engel and realist wildlife artist Rebecca Latham, who were also juried into this annual international exhibition.

  
 
  
On a side note, both K. Henderson and Camille Engel are originally from Oklahoma...so in a way, we can claim them as Oklahoma artists!

K. Henderson - Still Life Finalist for ARC Salon, 2011

Congratulations to Lovetts Gallery artist K. Henderson on having her painting, Strawberry Reflections, chosen as a finalist in the very presitgious international Art Renewal Center Salon, 2011.   This piece is available at the gallery.

 
A note from ARC Salon Chairman Fred Ross:

This year's ARC Salon Competition continues to demonstrate the boundless potential of the human spirit and of the Realist paradigm's vocabulary to express the infinite creative spirit of the human soul. Please encourage every fine artist that you know to enter next year's ARC Salon™. We know that there are a number of top quality artists, including several ARC Approved Living Master's, whose lives, careers and commissions are doing so well that they did not have time to enter the salon. This is a mistake. Traditional Realism needs to always have the best of the best competing if we are to once again see Traditional Realism reach the heights achieved in the past. It takes the pressure of the most skilled, the most talented and the most creative minds competing for the top prizes, to achieve the kind of advancements that only can come from continuous feedback and cross pollination of skills, methods and brilliant ideas.

K. Henderson, a contemporary realist, is represented in Oklahoma exclusively by Lovetts Gallery, which is a Tulsa Art Gallery that represents over 90 artists from across the nation.

 

"Wars and Rumors of Wars" at Philbrook Museum

Check out this great intro to one of Philbrook Museum's newest exhibits, "Wars and Rumors of Wars," curated by the brililant Christina Burke, Curator of Native American and Non-Western Art.  The exhibit runs through October 9th.

Wars and Rumors of Wars @Philbrook from Philbrook Museum on Vimeo.

Through October, 9 2011

"For many Native people, combat was not only a way to defend one’s family and territory it also served as a way to gain status within the community. Warfare was not undertaken lightly; councils were held to discuss the matter, men fought bravely in battle, and relatives celebrated their victories upon their return. This exhibition features scenes of various phases of warfare, from initial community discussions, to intense combat, and commemorations of battles fought and won."

Native American Art’s Disputed Boundaries - Responses to Respsonses to Respsonses

If you haven't already, check out this on-going digital dialogue (if you want to call it that) at Hyperallergic.com.  The title of the article is "Native American Art’s Disputed Boundaries" and it is duscussing a recent exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, a critic named Ken Johnson’s NY Times published take on the exhibit, a Native artist and blogger named America Meredith's response to that critique, and so on.  It makes for an interesting read and a great companion piece to our previous post, "Smiling Indians, Edward Curtis, NPR, & National Museum of the American Indian."