Arts Alive! - Saturday, July 4, 2009

Here's the complete listing.

This month, as well as telling you about the receptions that are, I thought I'd better tell you about the receptions that aren't. At least not on Saturday night. Several of the galleries are going to be closed for the holiday. The Morris Graves Museum and the First Street Gallery, for starters. FSG, however, will be having a reception a day early, on Friday the 3rd from 6 - 9pm. The show, called ANIMALIA ALUMNA ARTISFABRICUS, features nine alumni who graduated from HSU's art department and are currently working as professional artists. The press release states that there will also be a "special memorial section dedicated to the work of the late Nancy Finch-Halliday." Unfortunately, they never tell us the details of this esteemed lady, so although I'm assuming she also was an HSU graduate, I can't be sure. I hope you'll pardon my ignorance.

The tireless Connie Rose will be exhibiting her textile work at Cochrane and Associates, 402 E Street. But again, don't try to go see the show this Saturday - they'll be out watching the fireworks. You'll have plenty of time to see it though. It goes through August, and that's when she'll have her reception.

That about does it for those who are taking the night off. As for those who will be opening their doors this Saturday, Piante Gallery will have a duo exhibit of the late Richard Case and his daughter Regina Case. Richard's career spans his time as an illustrator for Walt Disney, his work for McDonald Douglas sketching airplanes and "thuderous rockets blasting off into space," through his later years when he was able to quit his "day job" and spend his days making abstract paintings. He died at the age of 93 last year, and painted up until his last days. I'm hoping to talk with Regina about the show a little later, and will post my interview with her after that happens.

And Eureka Books will also be open for Arts Alive!, featuring some local mural luminaries, to celebrate the release of Large Art in Small Places, by art historian Kevin Bruce. The book is an art book, a history and a tour guide all in one, featuring walking tour maps and pictures of some of the most striking murals in obscure places. I especially like the fact that Kevin focused on small towns. He told me that he did that specifically to highlight the unique nature of public art in out of the way places, and to stimulate the curiosity of potential tourists. Our own Duane Flatmo shows up in the book numerous times (of course) as well as Thao Le Khac, Augustus Clark, Randy Spicer and others. Some of these folk will be at the bookstore signing copies of the book, which is a must have if you like public art. You can plan your summer vacation with it! Give me a couple of days and I'll edit and post my interview with Kevin. Actually, give me a week - I'm taking the holiday weekend off too!