Downtown Gallery Crawl Returns June 3 with a Full Roster of Artists
DOWNTOWN GALLERY CRAWL RETURNS JUNE 3, FEATURES WORK OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS
(MONROE, LA) The Downtown Gallery Crawl, held in downtown Monroe/West Monroe on Thursday, June 3 from 5:00-9:00 p.m., will feature a diverse showing of fine art across multiple mediums. The featured galleries and artists for June are as follows (in alphabetical order):
ARENDER studio + gallery (131 N. 2nd St, Monroe)
"Repose" (c) 2010 Cliff Tresner
Cliff Tresner will show “Fleeting Glimpse,” a collection of the artist’s recent drawings. Tresner, an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, has been teaching drawing and sculpture since 1997. He is the recipient of multiple grants and awards including the Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship and the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Artist of the Year (2007). About “Glimpse” Tresner said, “In this body of work I have done multiple studies of the figure in various poses and gestures…They are creative works that contain and present that which I cannot get in sculpture. The immediate response on paper to a specific time, place and subject. They contain that spontaneous and ephemeral quality of the artist hand moving through space and time that is in itself very sculptural.”
Becton Gallery (130 North 2nd St., downtown Monroe) Contact: Margaret Becton, 318-267-1634 or Polly Spence, 318-547-0153
Featuring new mixed media and series of paintings from owners/artists Margaret Becton and Polly Spence.
Livaudais Studio (122 South Grand St.) Contact: Joli Livaudais Grisham, 318-791-0307
"Four" will be on exhibit at Livaudais Studio during the June 3 Crawl
Livaudais Studio will be showing the fine art photographs of four emerging artists during the upcoming Downtown Gallery Crawl and during ArtFest on Saturday, June 5th. “Four” will showcase the work of Ashley Feagin, Caleb Clark, Joli Livaudais and Dan Snow, who are currently earning their Master of Fine Art degrees at Louisiana Tech University.
“What I find the most intriguing,” said Joli Livaudais, participant and gallery owner, “is that the work is similar in its examination of our private lives and thoughts, but the expression is as unique as we are. Photography is really a wonderfully expressive and flexible medium.”
Mystic Art Gallery (137 N. 2nd St, Monroe)
Mystic Art Gallery artist/owner Andrea May is celebrating her 1st Anniversary during the Downtown Gallery Crawl. May recently remodeled Mystic with a new wall and colors and will display new works from herself and other guest artists. The new “Young Artist” wall was recently completed and will feature new up and coming talent during the June 3 event. May said, “I would like to thank all those that have come to support the gallery in the past year and have made it a complete success. Also, thanks to Brian Ragan and the Ragan Builders team for donating the materials for the new “Young Artist” wall and Chris Snellenberger for finishing it out.”
Ouachita River Art Gallery (308 Trenton St., West Monroe, LA 71291) Contact: Charlie Heck or Brenda McDaniel, 318-322-2380
Ouachita River Art Gallery (ORAG) is featuring the works of T. A. Roberts of Grayson, Louisiana. Roberts was raised in the small sawmill town of Clarks, Louisiana and learned from the local residents to be industrious and ingenious, making needed household items when possible. Lumber was plentiful and inexpensive and everyone had woodworking tools and basic carpenter skills. As his furniture making skills improved and better equipment became available, his interest expanded to include woodturning on the lathe.
Retired from his own oil business, Roberts holds a Masters in History, reached the rank of Captain in the U. S. Army and has studied with well-known woodworkers. He attended woodturning classes at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and went to Provo, Utah this spring for further woodturning studies.
Roberts said of his work, “In woodturning your only limiting factor is your imagination and the size of your woodturning blank. I generally begin with an idea of what the finished result will be, but sometimes it changes during the turning process. God has created a multitude of beautiful woods. Every piece is different, making working with it a challenge. I strive to enhance the intrinsic beauty of the wood in a form which is pleasing to the eye.”
Roberts work will be on display the entire month of June, in addition to being featured during the Downtown Gallery Crawl. ORAG is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Gallery member’s work can also be seen at ORAG’s extension gallery located in the lobby of Ouachita Independent Bank/Bankers Mortgage Plaza at 18th and Louisville in Monroe.
The Sugar Gallery (135 2nd Street, Monroe) Contact: Lou Davenport Kavanaugh, 318-243-3092 or Damon Adcock, 318-557-6113
"Acid Cows" (c) 2010 Otis Lee Tugwell, IV
Sugar Gallery artists, who have recently named themselves the “Sugar Babies”, are committed to bringing Downtown Monroe back to life with the arts. Artist Lou Davenport Kavanaugh says of Sugar’s collective philosophy, “We believe art should be accessible, enjoyable, not intimidating and most of all, fun!” For the June Downtown Gallery Crawl, Sugar Gallery will have a “ALOHA!” Hawaiian theme complete with Elvis singing “Blue Hawaii.”
The featured artists and collections are:
“Sweet Surprises!,” a collection of acrylic paintings on shaped canvas, silkscreen works and black and white photography from artist Damon Adcock. Adcock, a versatile artist working across a variety of mediums, is also the owner of “Portraits by Damon.”
Artist Adam Davenport will display works from the series “60 Paintings in 60 Days,” a project which was completed in and around Ruston, Louisiana. Davenport, an accomplished artist and portraitist, was chosen by Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice to paint his official portrait while he was still a student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Jewelry from Diane Rosenberg will be available at Sugar Gallery June 3.
“Homely…Places Where We Put Our Stuff,” a series of acrylic paintings on paper by Lou Davenport Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh, a mostly self-taught artist describes her work as colorful and whimsical.
"House of the Rising Sun" (c) 2010 Lou Davenport Kavanaugh
New Bali ornate sterling silver jewelry with real turquoise and semi-precious stones and bracelets made of African trade bead and leather from jewelry maker and artist Diane Rosenberg will be on display. Rosenberg, who is noted for her handmade and handcrafted jewelry, offers something for
"If the Trailer's Rockin', Don't be Knockin'" (c) 2010 Lou Davenport Kavanaugh
every taste from classic pearls to funky jewelry made from rhinestones, clay and dominos.
Otis Lee Tugwell, IV will display “New Fun Work,” a collection of photography and screen prints in vivid colors as well as black and white. Tugwell’s work is noted for detail and vivid, sometimes day-glo, colors.
UPSTAIRS (135 North 2nd St., Monroe)
"Drown" (c) 2010 Jason Byron Nelson
Featuring a retrospective of works including paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, prints and shirts from Jason Byron Nelson, Anna Schriefer, Liza Kidd and Emily Caldwell. UPSTAIRS will also feature the works of guest artist Sneker One with an exhibit of urban, tattoo and street art as well as fine art portraits, paintings, sculptures and design by Sean C. Powell. Originating from Atlanta, Georgia, Powell’s works drape the walls of many galleries and homes in the US and Europe. Powell now lives in the West Monroe area and works from his studios in West Monroe and out of Atlanta when he travels. He works with many different mediums and will be showing examples in portraiture, baroque paintings & other original works. Extensive online galleries can be seen at www.PortraitPainter.com. Guest artist Jan Thibault will exhibit paintings at UPSTAIRS. Originally from Ruston, Thibault grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. She started painting ten years ago, attending workshops and experimenting with acrylics on paper, canvas and tar paper. Thibault loves the energy of colors and just the sheer fun of painting. Her works include abstract and expressionist works. UPSTAIRS will also feature live music from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The Downtown Gallery Crawl is sponsored by the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Sunny 98.3, Delta Style, Delta Business, Sir Speedy, KEDM, Monroe Transit System, Marsala Beverage and Lamar Outdoor.
The Downtown Gallery Crawl, held bi-monthly in Monroe, is hosted by the non-profit organization Downtown Art Alliance, a community of artists working together to culturally
enhance and revitalize Monroe’s historic riverfront commercial district.
For more information, contact a participating gallery or visit www.DowntownGalleryCrawl.com, add us on Facebook @Downtown Gallery Crawl or view photo galleries at tinyurl.com/downtowngallerycrawlpics.
"Swordfighter" (c) 2010 Jason Byron Nelson
"Flowers in the Attic" (c) Jason Byron Nelson
