This Weekend and beyond...

From now until (at least) the end of December, Lakeside Village is having live music outside in their main courtyard for free every Wednesday night from 6-9pm. Go to Fish City and eat outside or shop and listen to great free music!

Here's what's going on this weekend:

Oct 30 - Music Under the Stars

Pipkin Bandshell, Florida Southern, Lakeland

7:30PM, FREE

Featuring FSC Symphony Band, Jazz Band & Wind Ensemble.

Oct 31 - Halloween at the Museum

Polk Museum of Art

4-6PM, $5

Oct 31 - Boo! Bash. 

Explorations Children's Museum

4-8PM, Admission price

Oct 31 - Imperial Symphony Orchestra

Lake Mirror Amphitheater

8PM, FREE

Nov 1 - Day of the Dead Celebration

Polk Museum of Art

12-4PM, Admission Cost

Nov 3 - Artgroup

Black and Brew

6:30-8PM, FREE

Have a great holiday weekend! 

A Melancholy Thursday

So yesterday I learned that my favorite store, Mama Bleus is closing. She said that not enough people were buying and so she has to close her doors. I will continue to have some artwork in Moxie, her hair salon and hopefully she'll reopen again one day. Until then, everything in her store is 50% off! Go stock up on some great christmas presents.

In better news, I found out about this:

If you want to sign up for a space, it's $25. You can contact the Polk Leisure Services to get an application at 534-4340.

More to come...

An art-filled weekend...

Friday night I gave the "View and Review" a chance and signed up to have my artwork critiqued at the Polk Museum of Art. The host was Vilas Tonape, a teacher at PCC. My expectations of the critique were that I would take something that I wasn't very happy with, get some feedback on how to improve it and go from there. Apparently Mr. Tonape's expectations were drastically different. He started out by putting us on the spot, opening with questions like, "What is learning?" and "How do you define art?" The artists were asked questions about why they do art and he said that he saw no individuality in anyone's piece and called everything that wasn't done in the renaissance, "Drive-Through" Art. He evaluated all of us as if we were applying to get into NY museums and calling ourselves the next Picasso... when I think all we really wanted was some useful feedback. At least, that's what I wanted. I believe there's a difference in critiquing and insulting and what Mr. Tonape did was the latter. To place salt in the wound, I was told that there would be appetizers served and about half way through the blood-bath, PMOA placed baskets of chex-mix out, to which, Tonape had no qualms about claiming a basket for his own, placing it by his chair and munching on handfuls throughout his rant. Lovely. I'm so glad I paid $15 for that. I'd go again only if another artist was hosting and I think I'll sit this one out in the audience.

So the Car Festival was fun on Saturday. Even though I didn't sell much, it was good exposure, the weather was beautiful and I met some great people, one of which was Larry Becker, the director of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Here are some pictures from the day:
















I am grateful for all the things that Lakeland does to give people out in the community something to do and for all the ways that they support the arts.

Saturday night I got to visit with my Aunt Saelon, who is an artist in San Fransisco. To see some of her fabulous artwork, visit www.saelon.com.

Hope all of your weekends were great as well!
-Jordan

Ideas...

So I just made a new stencil of Jimi Hendrix that looks great! I'm excited to paint it. I'm definitely going to use some bright color this time because of his character. It should be a fun painting!

I'm experimenting adding things onto the canvas as well... like the buttons on Audrey Hepburn. I'm considering adding things like strings onto guitars, newspaper... i'm just not sure. I guess whatever I'm inspired by at the moment. I want to add interest into the art and make it different. Plus, I love working 3-D.

On another note, I've been thinking about new artwork and a series that I want to start. I'm trying to decide what medium to use in the series or if I should maybe try a little of everything. Basically, I am interested in how we all tend to think of ourselves as higher than others... or we think of certain people as higher than us and how that can be skewed in our lives, and how that translates physically to the people around us. It's something that I know I've done and also see in friends or family around me. It's perplexing and frustrating at the same time. I want to capture all of this in a painting, photograph or mixed media piece. Right now it's just figuring out how to put it on paper, so-to-speak. At first I was thinking photography would be best, but I'd need to find willing models.

I'm also entering a show that is titled, "Old Florida" so I want to take some photographs for that. I may go down to Ybor and see if I can find some shots down there. I haven't decided if I want to go rural or urban... I think we'll see what I can scout out and what turns out better.

On another note, I am a big fan of Project Runway. The big finale was last night and I was in love with Leanne's line. I love that her whole line was an inspiration of waves and movement, taken from sitting by the river in Manhattan. Here's some of the fabulous clothes she made:

Car/Art Show this weekend!

So I just found out that there's a massive classic car festival downtown this weekend... and as an artist at the J.Rowan Gallery, I'm allowed to set up a tent for free. So I'll be showing some work there this Saturday from 10-4pm. It will be less intense than Platform but 30,000 people are supposed to come out so hopefully it will help me gain some great exposure. Plus, the weather is supposed to be GORGEOUS so hopefully it will be a great day to be outside by Lake Mirror. (I'll be set up in the park area near the train station).

Here's some more info about this FREE event: http://www.lakemirrorclassic.com/content/

Come on out!

New Art.

Available at Mama Bleus!

Audrey Hepburn

12X12

$95

Available at J.Rowan Gallery!

James Dean

32X32

$325

J. Rowan Gallery

So I'm in! I took several pieces down to the J.Rowan Gallery today and they will be up for tomorrow's opening and then I'll have an official space on Saturday. You should definitely stop by! They are unveiling the sculptures in the park, then having a Jazz band, h'or dourves and a 100 foot canvas for people to paint on along Kentucky street. Arts on the Park will also be having an opening for their new show, "Cutting Edge". One of my friends, Kristen got in that show and art vendors will be all along the streets. Yay for Arts in Lakeland!!!



Also:

Women's Show

A friend told me about this... I wanted to pass on the info, so here you go:

http://florida4art.blogspot.com/2008/09/florida-museum-for-women-submission.html 

It's a show accepting submissions for art by women. The deadline is Nov 1st!