tweettucson.com

Fowl Play!

Chickens, Dogs, and Pandas take over Gallery 801

For Carolyn Anderson’s Solo Show.

TUCSON, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009- What do the No-Tel Motel, The Buffet, fighting roosters, and a bunch of hens have in common? They are all subjects in a series of paintings titled “Pollos del Pueblo” which feature chickens and iconic Tucson landmarks. The poultry paintings are on display at Gallery 801 as part of a show featuring the artwork of Carolyn Anne Anderson.

Steven Derks and Gallery 801 present Carolyn Anne Anderson’s first solo exhibition on view September 26 through October 17, 2009.  This retrospective of a Tucson emerging artist covers her work from 2005 to the present. An opening reception will be held Saturday, September 26, 6-9 PM, at Gallery 801, 801 North Main.

Anderson’s introspective acrylics on canvas and water color paintings explore humans/animal relationships. Drawing on her personal experiences, imagined urban interactions and her own quirky and whimsical style; the show features paintings of critters of all types in familiar and surreal locations. Subjects including dueling roosters fighting in front of the Buffet tavern, a Panda, Swan and Weimaraner dancing in a grove of birch trees, and a beloved Black Labrador running into a misty forest provide the viewer with much to consider, as well as insight into the artist’s imagination. Anderson’s paintings explore influential animal relationships, the search for life’s meaning, hidden mystery alongside the mundane and finding humor and joy in everyday situations.

Earlier this year when David Aguirre of Dinnerware Gallery put out a call for artists to create chicken inspired art for an event called “Pollos del Pueblo”, Anderson responded with a painting of hens en route to the iconic Hotel Congress. This inspired a series of paintings with chickens that feature favorite Tucson landmarks including the Buffet Tavern, The Rialto Theatre, The Loft, and the No-Tel Motel.

Here’s what local critics have had to say about the series.  Erl Kimmich, a documentary film maker comments on the painting Why Did The Chicken? "...this painting makes me think of Edward Hopper. While striking a certain nostalgic nerve in me, an unresolved brilliance seems to bleach the Congress side of the street as would the Tucson noonday sun.” Tucson Art Blogger Rachelle Diaz of Tuscene.com called Anderson's series "a charming, quirky mixture of classic painterly cityscape meets comic strip panel." The series recently appeared on MOCO the Blog of Modern and Contemporary and will be highlighted in the Tucson Lifestyles November Issue.

The retrospective will also include many of the paintings Anderson is best known for: her large scale images of dogs with deep soulful eyes. In 2005, Anderson began a series of paintings with canine subjects. Using a wheelchair for mobility after an SUV roll-over accident caused a paralyzing spinal cord injury Anderson acquired a service dog to help her cultivate more independence. The close relationship with “Tyler”, a Black Labrador Retriever, inspired a series of over 30 paintings featuring dogs.

Chickens, dogs, and other creatures will accompany Gallery 801 visitors on a journey into the unpredictable and quirky world of Anderson’s imagination. The show runs through October 17^th with gallery hours Tuesday through Sunday 10-5pm. Gallery 801 is located at 801 North Main at the corners of Main and University. Visit Gallery 801’ website www.artinarizona or call 520-370-1610 for more information. You can see Anderson’s artwork online at  www.muttbutt.com . 

Show Events:

Opening Reception

Saturday, September 26, 6-9 PM: music provided by Kevin McCalix and Cinder Bridge, hors d’oeuvres and samplings of award winning wines by Mutt Lynch Winery (www.muttlynchwinery.com). Free and open to the public.

Art and Wine for the Weimaraners:

In celebration of Anderson’s series of canine inspired art, Gallery 801 will host an event as part of the show entitled “Art and Wine for The Weimaraners”, Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 3-6 PM.  Chris and Brenda Lynch, the dog loving, wine making couple who own Mutt Lynch Winery in Healdsburg, CA; will be providing guests tasting samples of several of their award winning wines. Kevin McCalix and Cinder Bridge will be performing live music. The event is open to the public with a $5 donation to Arizona Weimaraner Rescue.

GALLERY INFO

Gallery 801

801 North Main

Tucson, AZ

Owner: Steven Derks

Gallery Phone: 520-370-1610

Gallery Website: www.artinarizona.com

Additional Websites:

Carolyn Anderson’s Website www.muttbutt.com

Steven Derks’ Website www.stevenderks.com

Mutt Lynch Winery www.muttlynchwinery.com

Cinder Bridge www.cinderbridge.com

Arizona Weimaraner Rescue www.azweimrescue.org

Tucson Revivalist Artist Collective www.tracartists.com

Tweet Tucson (A Blog of Gallery 801 and TRAC Happenings)

www.tweettucson.com

-End-

Tucson Revivalist Artist Collective (TRAC)

Member Profile: Jo Valandry

See Valandry's work currently showing at Gallery 801, 801 North Main, Tucson, AZ

Dog People Artist Statement

 Last summer I painted my first animal portrait of a friend’s dog named Max who had died. The work stirred up Pat’s tears as much as if the Jack Russell terrier had been her child. It was the first time my artwork had sparked such emotion in a person and I began looking more deeply at human/dog relationships. I have discovered them to be funny, connective, raw and often profound.

"Portrait of Max"

When I moved into our new neighborhood and began walking the dogs the connections I made with neighbors came solely through our dogs. Conversations were initiated by introducing, not us, but our pets to each other. Eventually, we humans got around to exchanging names, but the neighborhood became my community through sharing our animals. We are dog people. We laugh while sharing personal dog stories, discuss pet food and veterinarian costs, relate how our dogs lick away tears, destroy furniture or witness lovemaking. Typically we have very grey distinctions between our treatment of dogs and humans.

In Your Face, is one painting from a new series titled, “Dog People,” which explores the deep abiding love that people have for their animals, and how that emotion often manifests in the absurd and frequently comical ways we treat them. Even more the series suggests that our connections to dogs offer us an avenue to relate to other people. It pokes fun at our own behavior and looks at the lighter side of living with pets who move us to emotional peaks and valleys. 

L. Jo Valandry