blog.fluxartists.com

Flux Gallery is living up to its name this summer. Three more members are moving on—two to larger markets, one to another country. Carol Ann and Shirley Wagner will be refocusing their efforts on larger art markets outside of Tucson. Katherine Minott will be heading south to Mexico for a few months.

Although we will miss our sister artists, Flux’s future looks fine. We have three new artists to fill our space and your homes. Sheryl Holland, who was a guest artist at Flux in February, joined us as of June 1. Her colorful acrylic abstracts are already gracing the gallery.

"Wings of Desire" by Sheryl Holland

On July 1, CJ Shane and Mary Vaneecke will officially join us. Shane, as she likes to be known, paints abstract landscapes and makes prints and artists’ books. Mary is a fiber artist who uses surface design techniques such as paint and pencil on fabric, discharge dyeing, decorative stitching, and machine quilting to create fabric wall pieces.

"Kayenta" by CJ Shane

Each has her own web site, so click on their names in the previous paragraphs to link to their individual web sites and learn more about each of them.

"Wilderness Trails I" by Mary Vaneecke

Next month, we will be rehanging the gallery to create a “Spotlight on the Artists,” with a reception Friday, April 8th, from 5 to 8 p.m. Come by between April 8 and 30, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., to see new and selected work by Carol Ann, Lee Roy Beach, Peter Eisner, Katherine Minott, Shirley Wagner, and Lynne Yamaguchi.

Flux Gallery is hosting the U of A’s Female Art Club/Education (FACE) “In This Moment” exhibit. This is the second annual juried exhibition of contemporary work by women artists, and a celebration of Women’s Herstory Month 2011.

Please join us Saturday, March 19, 5 to 8 p.m., for the opening reception.

The show will be on display from Friday, March 18, to Saturday, April 2, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Paintings, sculpture, photography, and turned wood vessels by Flux Gallery’s regular artists will be on display as well.

OPENING RECEPTION at FLUX GALLERY, Saturday, March 19, 5–8 p.m.

Guest artist and abstract painter Sheryl Holland had a well-attended show on February 18 and 19. One patron said of her work, “Sheryl’s  love affair with color leaves no room for beige.” Indeed.  But it did leave room for wall space, as her work sold quickly.

On Monday, February 7th,  Flux’s artists joined with the Invisible Theatre’s Project Pastime, an educational theatre program for the mentally challenged, to celebrate the theatre’s four decades of serving and celebrating the Tucson community. The actors enlivened the gallery with song and spread the word about honoring diversity. Attendees also admired the fantastic creations of Flux’s artists, and 30% of their art sales were donated to the Invisible Theatre.

On Jan. 21 and 22, Flux Gallery had the honor of hosting events to help raise money for the Ben’s Bells Project and the Primavera Foundation. Over 250 attendees helped make the events a raving success.

On February 18 and 19, Flux Gallery will host a special exhibition by guest artist Sheryl Holland. Sheryl is an abstract artist, specializing in acrylic paintings of intense color and large shapes with vibrant movement, often with a sense of deep space. Learn more about Sheryl at her web site: SherylHolland.com.

There will be a reception Friday evening, February 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., and an open house Saturday, February 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also featured will be the work of the Flux Gallery artists.

For further information, call Sheryl at (520) 749-3829 or email her.

On Monday, February 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Flux Gallery will host a reception honoring the Invisible Theatre’s 40th anniversary and the “miracle” of the Pastime Players—a performance troupe that focuses on ability rather than dwelling on disability.

The Invisible Theatre (IT) of Tucson, currently staging Miracles, is dedicated to producing quality theatre and arts education experiences for all facets of the community in an intimate setting that showcases local professional talent and guest artists. IT takes its name from the invisible energy that flows between a performer and audience, creating the magic of theatre. Started in 1971 as an arena for local playwrights, the theatre has expanded its programs to include adaptations of classics and recent off-Broadway plays and musicals, while continuing to encourage new playwrights through both full productions and stage readings.

IT is strongly committed to community service and outreach programs. Project Pastime is an educational theatre program for the mentally challenged. Started as a workshop in 1984, it has grown into a prototype of innovative arts education programming. The project is centered at Catalina High School in the Tucson Unified School District. The students (aged 15–22) receive instruction from IT artists in music, drama, and tap dance, and perform in an original musical montage called The Me Inside of Me that showcases their special skills and helps to increase understanding and acceptance of the diverse qualities and gifts of mentally challenged individuals. This year’s production will be on Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at Catalina High School.

Come meet the artists of Flux Gallery, the cast of Miracles, and the Pastime Players on Monday, February 7. Thirty percent of all sales that evening will go to IT to support Project Pastime.

Simpatico, by Katherine Minott

After having to bid adieu to three of our artists in 2010, Flux is adding a new artist with the new year: photographer Katherine Minott. Visitors to our small-works show in December got a preview of some of her work. As of January, she will join us full-time. Come by, welcome her, and see her work. Her official debut will be our benefits for the Primavera Foundation and the Ben’s Bells Project, Friday, January 21, and Saturday, January 22, respectively.

Learn more about Katherine at her web site: PhotoPoetics.

451 Degrees, by Katherine Minott