WILLIAM RAINEY
WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION
November 2020
118 Southwest Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64108
816.527.0823
BlueGalleryOnline.com
Bill Rainey in his studio
William Rainey WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION Artist Conversation and Opening Reception Thursday, November 5, 2020 Exhibition runs through November 29, 2020
What I Did On My Summer Vacation I stand to paint, spray, scrape, rub, dribble and dance around… to put whatever my subconscious feels like doing. I like big paintings for that reason. It is body in motion. Rather than a single moment in time captured by photography and realism, you are getting me up there or on there. That makes me a “gestural painter” too. I am a “colorist” as well. Color moves me and comes as close as I can to painting emotions on a canvas. There are a few primitive symbols and identifiable things in there. They are often deep metaphorical symbols of humanity. They can mean many things. There isn’t any central figure in my paintings. The positive and negative space, the middle and the edges of the canvas, all are important to the overall expression. Some might argue that make me an “abstract expressionist”. My art is viewer dependent. In other words, the viewer must look, think, feel and react. Many people say to me “ I see different things in your paintings every time I look at them.” I like to hear that. I don’t care what you think about my work as long as you think about it. William Rainey’s acrylic on canvas paintings grasp the imagination and transforms it to every day life, emotions, and beliefs. The paintings move into the subconscious much like improvisational jazz; melding reality and fiction with a fascinating journey of color, movement, and shapes. Describing art is about the left side of the brain. Making it represent something, philosophizing about it is all in the left side. Abstract art like mine is a right brain activity. Sensing, responding, feeling and even having a relationship. So, I invite you to get in your right mind while you experience my art. Rainey received he first art award 52 years ago and since has attended Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO and the Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts, Masters Program. Represented exclusively by Blue Gallery since 2000, William Rainey’s paintings can be found in private and corporate collections worldwide. Select corporate collectors include; Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City, MO, Data Systems International, Kansas City, MO, Restaurant Management Company, Wichita, KS, Missouri Bank, Kansas City, MO, Lanard Toys Ltd., Hong Kong, and The Conafay Group, Washington, DC.
About Blue Gallery In business for 20 years, Blue Gallery is a popular and respected fixture of Kansas City’s vibrant art scene. Its underlying philosophy reminds visitors of the owners Kelly and David Kuhn’s genuine commitment to the arts: they treat art and beauty as fundamental elements of life, and instill this mood into their gallery. But what has set Blue Gallery apart is the way Kelly and David conduct their business behind the art. “We work with our artists with the same tenants as our collectors: integrity, passion, and obsession with quality in every decision we make,” says Kelly. “Our philosophy is the result of over 28 years working with professional artists and collectors. We are deeply committed to providing an inspired and profound experience that is inclusive and transformative.” Established in 2000 at the center of Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District, Blue Gallery represents 40+ emerging to established local, regional and nationally known artists, with works placed in private and public collections worldwide. Blue Gallery holds several exhibitions a year, as well as participates in First Fridays, held exclusively in the Crossroads Arts District monthly. Blue Gallery is considered one of the premier galleries in Kansas City having won numerous awards including KC Magazine Best Private Art Gallery in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, and Ingram’s Magazine Bronze for Best Museum or Art Gallery in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2017. 435 Magazine Best Local Art Gallery in 2015 and 2017, and Visit KC Visitors’ Choice Winner - Favorite Art Gallery in 2019, and well over 20 nominations for best art gallery.
Lost On Moffet (Again) acrylic on canvas 76” x 90” fr. $15,750
The Last Slice of Humble Pie acrylic on canvas 66” x 60” fr. $9000
Plus Or Minus acrylic on canvas 54” x 62” fr. $7500
See No Evil acrylic on canvas 62” x 54” fr. $7500
Above The Fold acrylic on canvas 52” x 60” fr. $7000
Ruby Red Grapefruit acrylic on canvas 42” x 52” fr. $5000
If It Looks Like a Duck, and Hangs Around with Other Ducks, It’s ? acrylic on canvas 48” x 44” fr. $4750
Summer Vacation acrylic on canvas 42” x 42” fr. $4250
Divided We Fall acrylic on canvas 36” x 50” fr. $4000
I Know You Know acrylic on canvas 48” x 38” fr. $4000
The Last Mulligan acrylic on canvas 38” x 48” fr. $4000
E•I•E•I•O acrylic on canvas 42” x 38” fr. $3500
Fire In The Hole acrylic on canvas 42” x 38” fr. $3500
First Thing In The Morning acrylic on canvas 38” x 32” fr. $3500
It’s A Mouthful acrylic on canvas 42” x 38” fr. $3500
North Town acrylic on canvas 32” x 38” fr. $2750
The Royal Kingdom Redo acrylic on canvas 26” x 42” fr. $2300
Ghosts of the 66 No. II acrylic on canvas 32” x 32” fr. $2250
Jitter Bug acrylic on canvas 32” x 32” fr. $2250
Homemade Granola acrylic on canvas 26” x 32” fr. $1750
Nothing Matches II acrylic on canvas 32” x 26” fr. $1750
The Last Red Painting from 3rd Street acrylic on canvas 28” x 28” fr. $1650
1950’s Friday Night acrylic on canvas 24” x 30” fr. $1500
Contemplating the First Tomato acrylic on canvas 30” x 24” fr. $1500
Thank you, May I have Another? acrylic on canvas 24” x 30” fr. $1500
Look But Don’t Touch acrylic on canvas 26” x 22” fr. $1100
Random Thoughts In Order No. I acrylic on canvas 26” x 22” fr. $1100
Random Thoughts In Order No. II acrylic on canvas 26” x 22” fr. $1100
Going Along To Get Along acrylic on canvas 16” x 30” fr. $950
Backyard No. I acrylic on canvas 14” x 14” fr. $600
Backyard No. II acrylic on canvas 14” x 14” fr. $600
Backyard No. III acrylic on canvas 14” x 14” fr. $600
top Gerbera Daisies acrylic on canvas 17.5” x 14.5” fr. $600
bottom Red Flowers / Green Vase acrylic on canvas 17.5” x 14.5” fr. $600
top Sunflowers acrylic on canvas 17.5” x 14.5” fr. $600
bottom Dana’s Peonies acrylic on canvas 13.5” x 10.5” fr. $500
top Never Use An Expensive Brush with Acrylic Paint No. I mixed media on panel 11.25” x 15.5” fr. $400
bottom Never Use An Expensive Brush with Acrylic Paint No. II mixed media on panel 11.25” x 15.5” fr. $400
top Never Use An Expensive Brush with Acrylic Paint No. III mixed media on panel 11.25” x 23” fr. $450
bottom Never Use An Expensive Brush with Acrylic Paint No. IV acrylic on canvas 22.5” x 23” fr. $550
“William Rainey’s canvases are like maps of human experience or thought process, where all of the input and reactions are mixed and meshed, then organized and synthesized into bite-size chunks. It is wonderful to see an artist who shows such strength in abstraction and takes such original joy in the act of painting” – Dustin Johnson, REVIEW Magazine, Dec. 2005 Born
Joplin, Missouri - October 21, 1943 Education
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992 Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts, Masters Program, Santa Fe, NM, Selected to study with Nathan Olivera, 1992 Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, 1990 Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, 1965-67 Jasper County Junior College, Joplin, MO, 1963-64 University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 1962 Business Experience
1989 - present: Full-time artist 1969-1988: Owner and operator of mens and womens clothing stores. Select Exhibitions
November 2020, William Rainey, What I Did On My Summer Vacation, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2018, William Rainey, An Exhibition Of Paintings About Nothing, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2016, William Rainey, Shampoo Rinse Repeat, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2014, William Rainey, DANGER: Don’t Try This at Home!!!, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO October 2012, William Rainey, Featured Artist, Ariodante Gallery, New Orleans, LA October 2011, William Rainey, All the Colors in My Paintbox, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2010, Homecoming: William Rainey Retrospective, Spiva Center For The Arts, Joplin, MO November 2009, William Rainey, Magic Show, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO August 2007, William Rainey, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO August 2005, William Rainey, Carnival, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO October 2002, William Rainey, Mary Kline-Misol, Wonderland, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO December 2000, William Rainey, Paintings From The Land of Oz, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO Juried Shows
MOAK 4 State Regional Exhibition; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO - November 2002. Juror: Marcia Manhart, Executive Director; Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK Watercolor U.S.A. 1997 National Competitive Exhibition; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO - June 1997. Juror: Thomas R. Toperzer, Director; Fred Jones, Jr., Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma Dinnerware Contemporary Art Gallery 7th Biennial 7-State Juried Exhibition, Tucson, AZ – Feb. 1997. Jurors: Debra Hopkins, Curator of Photography, Scottsdale Center for the Arts; Jeffrey Moore, Director, Bluestar Art Space, San Antonio, TX Tubac Center of the Arts Winter Juried Exhibit, Tubac, AZ–Jan. 1997. Juror: Lee Karpiscak, Asst. Director, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ 11th Annual Juried Competition: The Fine Arts Center, Lubbock, TX–Nov. 1996. Juror: Frances Culpitt, Assoc. Professor Art History, University of Texas 46th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; George Spiva Center For The Arts, Joplin, MO–March 1996. Juror: David Turner, Director Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Cheekwood National Contemporary Painting Competition, Nashville, TN, Nov.–Dec. 1995. Jurors: Inge-Lise Eckmann, Deputy Director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – Robert Ryman, Artist, New York 13th Annual River Market Regional Exhibition, Kansas City, MO – June 1995. Juror: Marti Mayo – Director, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, TX 12th Annual Art in the Woods Juried Exhibition, Overland Park, KS – May 1995. Juror: Christopher Brown, Artist and Educator, San Francisco, CA 53rd Annual Juried Exhibition; Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA – April 1995. Juror: Sheila Stewart-Leach, Director of the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL
45th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive: George Spiva Center for the Arts – March 1995. Juror: Warren Rosser, Chair; Department of Painting-Printmaking, Kansas City Art Institute 44th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1994. Juror: Warren Rosser, Chair; Department of PaintingPrintmaking, Kansas City Art Institute River Market Regional Exhibition; Kansas City, MO – June 1993. Juror: Susan Sterling, Curator Contemporary Art, The National Museum of Women in the Arts 14th Salina Art Center Annual Juried Body of Work Show; Salina, KS – 1993. Juror: Inge-Lise Eckmann, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art MOAK 4 State Regional Exhibition; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO – Dec. 1992. Juror: Thomas R. Toperzer, Director; Fred Jones, Jr., Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma Re: Members ‘92 Kansas City Artist Coalition; Kansas City, MO – Oct. 1992. Juror: Dr. Novelene Ross, Chief Curator, The Wichita Art Museum Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI – July 1992. Juror: Carole D. Barnes, Artist New American Talent National Competition; Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Austin, TX – May 1992. Juror: Madeleine Grynsztejnm Curator, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art Aesthetics ‘92 Juried National Exhibition; McPherson, KS – April 1992. Juror: Linda Faw-Light, Artist 42nd Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1992. Juror: Martha Gerlarden, Director, Ford Gallery, Eastern Michigan University Re: Members ‘92 Kansas City Artist Coalition; Kansas City, Mo – March 1992. Juror: Ree Schonlav, Director, Bemis Foundation, Omaha, NB The Delta Art Exhibition; Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR – Oct. 1991. Juror: George Adams, Frumkin/ Adams Gallery, New York City River Market Regional Exhibition; Kansas City Mo – June 1991. Juror: Neal Benezra, Curator Twentieth Century Painting, The Art Institute of Chicago 41st Spiva Annual Juried Competition; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1991. Juror: Deborah Jordy, Associate Curator Contemporary Art, Denver Art Museum Springfield Art Museum Biennial Exhibition; Springfield, MO – Dec. 1990. Juror: Harry Krug, Chair Art Department, Pittsburg State University 40th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1990. Juror: Gary Coulter, Artist Spiva Art Center May Competitive, Joplin, MO – May 1967 1st Annual Missouri State Student College & University Art Competition 1967 Awards and Honors
Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society Purchase for the Museum :Collections, June, 1997 Watercolor U.S.A. Awarded 3rd Cash Award, June, 1997 11th Annual Juried Competition, The Fine Arts Center, Lubbock, TX. Awarded Juror Choice Award, Nov.–Dec. 1996 MOAK 4 State Regional Exhibition, Springfield Art Museum. Awarded 1st Cash Prize – Dec. 1992 New American Talent National Competition, Austin, TX. Awarded inclusion into traveling show – May 1992 Aesthetics ‘92 Juried National Exhibition, McPherson, KS. Awarded 2nd prize – April 1992 42nd Spiva Annual Juried Competitive, Joplin, MO. Awarded 3rd prize – April 1992 Spiva Art Center May Competitive Awarded 3rd prize and purchase award – May 1967 1st Annual Missouri State College & University Art Competition. Awarded 2nd prize. – May 1967 Member, Delta Phi Delta Honorary Art Fraternity – 1966/67 Select Corporate Collectors
Foland, Wickens, Eisfelder, Roper and Hofer, PC – Kansas City, MO Lanard Toys Ltd. – Hong Kong Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP – Kansas City, MO Data Systems International – Kansas City, MO Restaurant Management Company – Wichita, KS Missouri Bank – Kansas City, MO The Conafay Group – Washington, DC
118 Southwest Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64108
816.527.0823
BlueGalleryOnline.com