ESAC - Children's Field Trip

Eastern Shore Art Center

School Field Trip Projects

Nancy Raia is Director of ABC (Arts Bridging Creativity) at the Eastern Shore Art Center. The ABC program takes arts into local schools, incorporating art into many areas of learning and giving children exposure to the arts that many schools would not have without ABC’s efforts. Member artists and interested volunteers help with field trips to the Art Center, which give students hands-on experience and exposure to professional artists at work. To read more about Nancy Raia, click http://www.esartcenter.com/NancyRaia.htm. She is amazing!

A recent 4th grade gifted class visited ESAC on a field trip. As they viewed the "EcoART" exhibit, they were asked to choose their favorite piece from the gallery. The children then created their own collage, to represent a favorite work. Here are several that chose one of my mixed media paintings. Isn't that awesome? They created a wonderful piece of artwork in their own style!

Elberta Photographs

I like to "dabble" in photography. I wish I had more time to learn about it. Here are some interesting shots I got on a recent trip to my grandmother's house in Elberta. Her name is Olive Keller (maiden name Krantz). She and my grandfather both descended from German immigrants (farmers and fisherman) that settled in Baldwin County.

"Harvester"

"Fence Post"

"Elberta Earth"


"Cotton Field"

ArtWalk Fun!

Friday night's Art Walk was so much fun! We started out at the Eastern Shore Art Center. ESAC had a piano player, great food and some wonderful "EcoART". There was a giant "found object" shrimp sculpture that was my favorite. Here is mom and me posing by one of my artwork displays. I had several patrons come up and tell me how much they loved these little florals.

Then, we walked down to Lyon's Share Gallery on DeLaMare Street. There were so many fun people there and Jesse's Restaurant was serving mini key lime pie bites and these wonderful tomato quiche appetizers. Here is me, with Trin Ollinger (my best friend since I was 4 years old) and Kristin Smith (my good friend and portrait photographer). We are posing in front of the wall of small art for Valentine's Day. Holly Irwin, Anita Westerburg and Amanda Hendrich (among many others) had some amazing small artwork at affordable prices.

Here I am chatting with the crowd. I had many people say they especially loved the honey bear and also the gerber daisy bouquet on the antique shutter.

Afterward, Trin's mother, Sabe, an up and coming potter, hosted us all for dinner at her house. We had a great time and I can't wait until next month!

Two Exhibitions This Friday! Press Releases

I have just submitted two press releases for the group shows I am involved in with that both open this Friday. I'd love to see you over in Fairhope for the openings. It should prove to be a good time - let's hope the weather warms up a bit, though!

EcoART

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s … Art?

FAIRHOPE, AL February 6, 2009 – The group exhibition EcoART will open at the Eastern Shore Art Center, at February’s First Friday Art Walk to be held in downtown Fairhope from 5-8pm. This exhibit features a unique collection of recycled and found object art.

“Going Green” means something different to everyone. Here, a new wave of recycled art and design has emerged. This exhibition of innovative and often surprising products was created from recycled and reused building materials, turning waste into eco-friendly art.

Jennifer Allen, a local mixed-media artist known best for local fish, crab and oyster subject matter, has been invited to participate. These works, created from hand-cut tin and painted in oil, are mounted to rustic antique tin ceiling tiles and vintage shutters.

In keeping with the recycled theme, the other ESAC galleries will display: Styrogami, sculpture using polystyrene coffee cups and I “Can” Do it, art pieces crafted from recycled aluminum cans.

Fairhope First Friday Art Walk is open to the public, with many galleries, specialty shops and restaurants participating. All are invited to enjoy an artsy and fun-filled night with an evening of openings, guest artists and live entertainment throughout beautiful downtown Fairhope.

First Friday Art Walk information can be found at www.esartcenter.com.

Lyons Share Gallery - Valentine's Group Show

Art is “Hot Stuff” for Valentine’s Day

FAIRHOPE, AL February 6, 2009 – Lyon’s Share Gallery has issued a call to their exhibiting artists to create small, Valentine’s inspired artwork for February’s First Friday Art Walk to be held in downtown Fairhope from 6-8pm.

Jennifer Allen, a local mixed-media artist known best for local fish, crab and oyster subject matter, has responded to the challenge with humor and creativity. She has created a “Love & Terms of Endearment” series, in keeping with the Valentine’s Day theme. These works, created from hand-cut tin and painted in oil, are mounted to rustic antique tin ceiling tiles and vintage shutters. Some of the works are an obvious nod to traditional romantic themes such as floral elements and chocolates. Others require creative thinking to decipher the endearment term: “honey”, “hot stuff” and “cupcake”, to name a few. Come test your knowledge and wit with these fun and original pieces.

In addition to new works from Jennifer and all of the Lyon’s Share Gallery artists, enjoy catering from Jesse’s restaurant for an artsy and fun-filled evening.

Fairhope First Friday Art Walk is free and open to the public, with many galleries, specialty shops and restaurants participating. All are invited to celebrate a “love” for the Arts and Valentine’s Day in downtown Fairhope with their “honey”.

For more information on Lyon’s Share Gallery, please visit www.lyonssharegallery.net. First Friday Art Walk information can be found at www.esartcenter.com.
To view Jennifer’s artwork online, please visit www.southernoilportraits.com.


OF NOTE: My last press release, "Three Generations of Artists" got picked up by the Living Arts Section of Sunday's Press-Register. Pretty neat!

Barber Boys

I just completed this portrait of two brothers. Their mother took the reference photograph at a family home. Aren't they handsome??? What makes it more special is that the older son was very ill last year and, through much prayer and fabulous medical care, he is doing great.

Notice that the stong light quality makes this portrait come alive.

Three Generations

Here is an excerpt of a recent press release I sent out to the local papers and magazines...

Three Generations of Artists on Display in Fairhope, AL

Stemming from the historical nature vs. nurture debate, is artistic talent part of your DNA or is it something that is learned? If you ask Ana Hodgin, Suzanne Hodgin Fox and Jennifer Fox Allen, mother, daughter and granddaughter, all local artists, they would say it has been passed down through the generations and it’s ingrained in who they are.

FAIRHOPE, AL – January 1, 2009 – March 31, 2009 – Ana Hodgin, Suzanne Hodgin Fox and Jennifer Fox Allen, three generations of local artists, are all showing their work in conjunction with the Outreach Program of the Eastern Shore Art Center. This Outreach Program provides ESAC members a venue to display and sell original artwork while, at the same time, offering local businesses an opportunity to enhance their office spaces and support local painters. Ana and Suzanne’s work can be viewed at Fairhope Physical Therapy and Jennifer’s work is displayed at Bay Shore Dermatology.

Ana Hodgin received her degree in Advertising Design from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women's University) in 1947. After living in Louisiana, Atlanta and Vidalia, GA, she and husband Stan Hodgin (a musical instrument craftsman and founder of the local musical group. The Jubilee Pickers) settled in Fairhope in 1992. Although she has worked in many artistic mediums, she currently paints in acrylic. Her work has been shown in numerous juried shows and galleries, including Eastern Shore Art Center and the Bay Rivers Art Guild.

Suzanne Hodgin Fox lives and works in Mobile, AL where she is a special education teacher at Corpus Christi School. She has been involved with art all her life. After art education in Pensacola, she moved to Mobile and becoming a prolific local potter, participating in local shows and accepting private commissions. As she became an educator and then received her Master’s in Special Education, her choice of medium turned to watercolor. Suzanne’s work has been displayed in juried shows at the Mobile Museum of Art, The Eastern Shore Art Center and through the Mobile Art Association, where she serves on the Board of Directors.

Jennifer Fox Allen is a full time oil artist working out of her studio in Theodore, AL. Jennifer paints portraits, mainly of children, as well as other works on canvas including still life, abstract and landscapes. She also creates mixed media works, utilizing found and antique architectural elements, hand-cut tin and oil paint. Her work has been shown in Mobile Art Association member shows, ESAC exhibitions and local galleries such as The Lyon’s Share Gallery in Fairhope, AL.

For more information about the ESAC and its Outreach Program, visit www.esartcenter.com/OutreachProgram.htm.

Eco Art Exhibit

I just found out (and am totally thrilled) that my mixed media work is to be included in the upcoming "Eco Art" exhibit at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, AL.

An excerpt from the artline quarterly (ESAC's newsletter):
"Going Green" means something different to everyone. Here, a new wave of recycled art and design has emerged. This exhibition of innovative and often surprising products was created from recycled and reused building materials, turning waste into eco-friendly art."

The exhibit runs from February 2 through March 2. Check it out, if you can, as well and the fabulous art center facility in Fairhope.

Click this link for more information:http://www.esartcenter.com/UpcomingExhibits.shtml