THE ARTS MAGAZINE OF THE ART STUDIO, INC.
MAY 2019
REINAUER’S ALLEGORIES
PAGE 8
INSIDE: TASIMJAE WRAP UP, AMSET CURATOR, AND MORE
WANTED
Live models needed for Life Drawing, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Contact Sara Tuell at saratuell@gmail.com
ISSUE Vol. 25, No. 8 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Art Studio, Inc. Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Coughlan Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick Contributing Photographer. . . . Meghan Fleming Distribution . . . . . . . Olivia Malick, Elijah Malick
A View From The Top Greg Busceme, TASI Director THIS MONTH HAS BEEN very productive in regard to our ever-developing infrastructure and activity programs. We reconfigured the pedestal storage area, creating an additional supply area and expanding the pedestal storage room to include a place for our folding tables and surplus lumber. In the kiln area, we sorted and organized the kiln posts and shelves, and added a new worktable in the glaze room that offers more room to move about. We also provided additional shelving in the classroom for the increase in clay intermediate students. These and other improvements are in store as funds and time permit. Our future tasks are to improve our outdoor kiln area, repair the leaking fan box upstairs and sort through the myriad of tables, flat files, desks, frames, stretchers and assorted useable items.
The Art Studio, Inc. Board of Directors Corporate President . . . . . . . . . . Greg Busceme Corporate Vice-President . . . . . Angela Scheibel Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Logan Murphy Members at Large . . . . . . Stephanie Chadwick, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Busceme, . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Kainer, Jessica Prince, . . . . . . . . . . . . Sheila Busceme, Sara Tuell, . . . . . . . . . . . John Rollins, Laurie Gordon Tenant Representative . . . . . Elizabeth Fontenot Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . Marilyn Tennissen
The Art Studio, Inc. 720 Franklin Beaumont, TX 77701 409-838-5393 www.artstudio.org info@artstudio.org The ISSUE is a monthly publication of The Art Studio, Inc. Its mission is to publicize The Art Studio and its tenants, and to promote the growth of the arts in Southeast Texas. ISSUE is also charged with informing TASI members of projects, progress, achievements and setbacks in TASI’s well-being. Further, ISSUE strives to promote and distribute the writings of local authors in its “Thoughtcrime” feature. ISSUE is provided free of charge to members of TASI and is also available, free of charge, at more than 30 locations in Southeast Texas. Regular features include local artists of note and reputation who are not currently exhibiting at TASI; artists currently or soon to be exhibiting at TASI; Instructional articles for artists; news stories regarding the state of TASI’s organization; and arts news features dealing with general philosophical issues of interest to artists.
Contents TASIMJAE 2019 Wrap Up . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Summer ArtSkool Sign Up . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 Lisa Reinauer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 AMSET’s Mariah Rockefeller . . . . . . . . Page 10 AMSET Family Arts Day. . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Sandy Walker Café Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Around & About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Thoughtcrime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Cover photo of Lisa Reinauer by Meghan Fleming
MAY
We are pleased to announce that we began a new art program with Girls Haven. It is an ongoing activity delving into a variety of classes the young ladies will definitely enjoy. We had our first session last Saturday and it was a big hit with the students and the staff. We would like a benefactor to fund the project, but, no matter what, we will continue. Either way we felt it was more important to have a long-term, ongoing program that would benefit the youths at Girls Haven. We are also working on the logistics with another youth program and we hope others will follow. Our focus has always been to offer assistance to programs wishing to expand their art activities and, fortunately, we have the facility and personnel to do it. Speaking of classes, we are looking for
See VIEW on page 12
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ART STUDIO JUNE
Lisa Reinauer — Winner TASIMJAE 2018 Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 4
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ART STUDIO
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TASIMJAE 4 • ISSUE May 2019
Volume 25, No. 8
THE ART STUDIO, INC. MEMBERS JURORED ART EXHIBITION
TASIMJAE 2019 winner Sajeela Siddiq with her entry “Zhalay.” The win earned her a solo exhibition at The Art Studio in May 2020.
ISSUE photo by Andy Coughlan
Siddiq wins Studio members show, earns solo exhibit Volume 25, No. 8
THE ANNUAL TASIMJAE ART show saw 35 works accepted out of 122 submissions. First place was awarded to Sajeela Siddiq from Lake Charles, La., for her charcoal drawing “Zhalay.” As part of her prize, Siddiq will present a solo exhibition of her work in May 2020. Second place went to Keri Stinnet for “Disillusion. Gabriel Sellers earned third place for his photograph, “Through a Glass Darkly No. 2.” Honorable mentions were awarded to Chris Presley for “Contrast” and Grace Chadwick for “Being Here.” In her juror’s statement, Caitlin Clay, registrar at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, said she was aware of three themes in the works she chose — Identity, Persona and Figure. The following is her juror statement: “As I walked around the Art Studio on a cool, overcast Sunday morning, studying the artworks before me, these themes repeatedly crossed my mind. Nearly three-fourths of this year’s 122 entries included or alluded to the body. Before my arrival, I was filled with excitement to be this year’s juror for TASIMJAE, and I had not resolved to create a thematic show. However, the most outstanding works this year involved the above themes, resulting in a cohesive exhibition that examines local artists’ interest in the figure. Many realistically depict the human figure, while some deliberately obscure the physical body, and even others subtly examine form through their assemblage. “Since the beginning of humankind’s ability to ascertain form and individuality, we as a species have been interested in recreating our physical likeness. This likeness is often linked to the abstracted soul, that which gives us personality and animation. It is interesting that both the words image and being are so intertwined, and that they are both defined in abstract and physical terms. Image can refer to both the physical likeness of an individual, as well as their reputation, while being alludes to both our physical state of existence and our very essence. I believe this year’s TASIMJAE is not just an exhibition of the human figure, but also a showcase of local artists exploring the relationship between image and being. “In this year’s exhibition, we are presented with many exam-
May 2019 ISSUE • 5
Jonathan Bagley’s “Graceful Enigma,” left, joined the surreal images of Nathan Jones, below left, in TASIMJAE 2019.
6 • ISSUE May 2019 ples of these explorations. We see the individual artist considering his or her position in our local community. We reflect on the meaning of the headless nude body, while also pondering the emotive face. We recognize the beauty in an abstracted line for a hand, a foot, a breast, while equally appreciating the purposeful omission of the human form in exchange for the symbolic allusion to it. The artists in this year’s show insist that we the viewers consider how we construct our identity through imagery and subsequently, what it means to be a person in our complex, contemporary world. “I would like to thank several people who were key to the success of this exhibition. First, a great thanks to Dennis Kiel who suggested my name as a possible juror for this year’s TASIMJAE. Thank you also to Greg Busceme and his team at The Art Studio for being so welcoming and encouraging. And of course, a great big thank you to all the artists who submitted artworks for the exhibition. It was a joy seeing all your pieces, and I encourage those who were
Volume 25, No. 8 not selected to apply again next year.” Clay is a Beaumont native who received her bachelor of arts in art history degree with a business concentration in 2016 from the University of Dallas. Her undergraduate thesis focused on Roy Lichtenstein’s use of appropriation throughout his career, with an emphasis on his interest in Cubism and Picasso. In 2018, she graduated from Texas Christian University with her master of arts in art history degree with a specialization in modern and contemporary Art. Her master’s thesis explored glassblowing as an art practice and examined our contemporary definition of sculpture through a comprehensive study of Dale Chihuly’s artworks. Clay has presented papers at Ohio University, the University of Texas at Tyler, and Southern Methodist University. She has also interned at the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the National Heisey Glass Museum, and The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology.
Keri Stinnet’s “Disillusion,” above, earned second place at TASIMJAE 2019. Gail Binagia’s “Self Portrait No. 99,” far left,” and Christopher Troutman’s “Paths Upward,” left, were among the 35 works selected from 122 entries.
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Volume 25, No. 8
Make plans for TASI
ArtSkool Minis
July 15-19 A new program this year for 5-7 year olds 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Limited class size $100
Session I July 22-26
Session II July 29-Aug. 2
Ages 8-15 Printmaking, drawing, paper mache, photography Morning, afternoon or all-day classes available $200 all day $100 morning or afternoon only 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont Call 409-838-5393 for information
Mornings 9 a.m. to noon Afternoons 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
8 • ISSUE May 2019
Allegorical by Nature
Volume 25, No. 8
LISA REINAUER, 3-TIME TASIMJAE WINNER , ‘ MAKES ART ’ FOR M AY EXHIBIT
AS PEOPLE, WE GENERALLY live in multiple identities. We have our home life, our identity as friend, spouse, love, parent and so on. We also live in professional identity and, more specifically, what we do that makes us who we are. Photos by TASIMJAE 2018 winner Lisa Reinauer is Meghan no stranger to this polychotomy of identities Fleming of artist, teacher and interpreter of texture, composition and metaphor. As a three-time winner, her experience broadens the knowledge for all that come into her world. “My history with The Art Studio goes back to 1992, and I treasure the many friendships formed and experiences shared around its existence,” Reinauer said in an email interview. “I look forward to the TASIMJAE exhibit each year and constantly encourage both students and colleagues from Louisiana to enter and engage with our art cousins to the west.” Her solo exhibition, “Allegories, Symbolism, Metaphor & Light,” which opens May 4, is a continuation of her relationship with The Studio and the development of her work and ideas. An additional caveat to her wisdom is that 2019’s TASIMJAE winner, Sajeela Siddiq, is a colleague and protégé of Reinauer. “I was visiting Sajeela in her studio about two months ago and urged her to enter work in the exhibit,” she said. “I told her, ‘First prize is a one-person show. Wouldn’t it be great to have the goal this year of an exhibit to fill? She entered and won.” Reinauer, professor of art at McNeese University, began her 28th year teaching this spring and is compelled by both the classroom and the studio. “Most artists would prefer spending their time in the studio making work,” she said. “When students speak of all the things of life competing for their time, I often respond, ‘One day you will wish for someone to tell you that you must go into that studio for the next two and a half hours and draw.’ So, studio time is precious — but we have to exit the cocoon of the space from time to time and place our work along with others to look and to consider and study.” Reinauer said the same may be said about visiting museums, exhibits, and street art fairs in the region. Whatever feeds a person’s creative self must be nurtured.
Story by Stephan Malick
May 2019 ISSUE • 9
Volume 25, No. 8 “I believe it was Kiki Smith who likened exhibitions to little utopias we can create,” Reinauer said. “Allegories” is the newest exit from the cocoon for Reinauer beginning in 2015 with her “Sticks and Stones” series. “This series grew directly from the last show at The Art Studio in 2014, an exhibit composed of diptychs, mostly smaller works in both acrylic and encaustic,” she said. “There was an image with a small twig paired with an abstraction of rings. That image brought me back to nature as subject matter.” Her images are acrylic on canvas, and Reinauer said the imagery is both collected and found, adding that her studio is a repository of materials, sticks and other matter. “I may arrange and photograph to capture a particular type of light and character of shadow,” she said. “Other times, nature presents itself, as when an unexpected tree removal literally dumped 11 tons of subject matter on my front lawn last fall. “Still-life painting has a long history of serving as a vehicle for symbolism and meaning. The Vanitas painters used certain subject matter to represent to the viewer of the fragility of life. Combining interests in allegorical imagery with a love for painting nature, color, and light led to this series. “The process of painting is meditative for me, and these images are intended to invite the same. There is gesture is the way branches fall or are felled by wind, water, or chainsaw; ends may be broken, torn, severed, or burned.” Reinauer said the “sticks and stones” adage appears in the Cambridge Idioms Dictionary with the following note, “Something that you say which means that people cannot hurt you with bad things they say or write about you.” Viewers can refer to her work, current and previous, on her website www.lisareinauer.com for the larger series. “If ever there was a time or society in which language is used to cast stones and create fracture, the present is evident,” she said. “Answering to the vitriolic noise of the 24-hour news cycle is the quiet of this art — large canvas textural fields invite contemplation within the structural fabric of nature. “The act of painting — of art making — is something I experience as a meditative process. Getting lost within the patterns of color, texture, and light allows for stillness within the chaos. The images may be first absorbed as studies in light, and an aesthetic response speaks to my interests as a colorist and painter. Within the sometimes seemingly disordered arrangements are also purposeful symbolic compositional decisions.” Reinauer brings this sense of art making to not only her own work but to her teaching environment. “Teaching is as much a part of my identity as is making art — the two are inseparable at times,” she said. “I am fortunate in that I teach mostly foundations, including color theory. While the students explore each concept within the necessary constraints of
Lisa Reinauer, TASIMJAE 2018 winner and May exhibiting artist, works in her studio, eft, and poses with one of her paintings, above. projects, there is not a theory taught which I do not actively employ with every painting.” Teaching art, Reinauer said, should come from a place of knowledge, practice, and caring. All of her art studio courses fall under the larger umbrella of general education at McNeese and means course student composition may be equally major and non-major. “This does not impact the rigor of the course, however, my approach must take into account the firsttime art student who may have never drawn or painted or been exposed to art history,” she said. “Not all students learn in the same manner, so I am mindful to approach all concepts through lecture, reading, and demonstration.
“Art can be a powerful bridge in learning, no matter the content. Students come into the subject with various abilities, challenges, language barriers, and backgrounds — art is often where the learning field broadens rather than narrows, is more inclusive than exclusive, and invites conversations between people with radically different perspectives.” Reinauer said course content remains the center of a given course and that affords the opportunity to help students find different pathways to expression and understanding art.
See REINAUER on page 13
Curatorial Conversationalist
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Volume 25, No. 8
AMSET’s Mariah Rockefeller excited to showcase museum, community MARIAH ROCKEFELLER’S LOVES TO talk about art, and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas’ curator loves to hear from visitors as well.. “I love talking about it — I learn something new every time I talk about it,” she said. Rockefeller gave as example February’s “Enigma Variations” show, which featured a large collage by Marilyn Lanfear that was entirely made out of buttons. “A visitor (pointed out) that the title was at the bottom of the piece in different colored buttons. I hadn’t noticed it before — and I did the condition report,” Rockefeller said, with a slightly sheepish smile. “So I learn things from people.” Talking to visitors and artists helps Rockefeller develop programming to challenge and excite the community, she said. “I want to know what people like about the museum, what people don’t like about the museum,” she said. “I want to know what they want to see, what kind of art they make or their grandma makes. “It’s the best way to get to know a place — talk to the people. I think I’m still listening to what people really want here. I am getting out and talking to people as much as I can to listen. “We can put on exhibitions and bring artists here, but if it’s not for people to see, then it’s not really worth doing. If it’s not something that challenges people and it’s not something that speaks truth to art and truth to life then it’s not worth doing. It’s really basic.” The Houston native attended the University of St. Thomas before transferring to University of Houston where she graduated in 2012 with a studio arts sculpture degree and a minor in art history. Rockefeller no longer makes art of her own, she said. “Work is my first love,” she said. “I think, right away in college, I found I enjoyed talking about and working with other artists more than I enjoyed creating my own work, which I think was really telling at the time.” Rockefeller worked at the Harris Gallery while she was in college and continued to work there for 10 years before working as a gallery manager in Austin. She returned to Texas to work at William Reeves and Sarah Foltz (now just Sarah Foltz) Gallery which specializes in Texas art. Rockefeller said Texas art has always been her focus. “It’s what I know the best — it’s what I’ve worked with for so long,” she said. “There are a lot of contemporary Texas artists. The historical Texas is something I’ve been growing to learn and love over the past couple of years. Predominantly because of my professional career, that’s what I’ve been focusing on.” Rockefeller joined AMSET as a registrar in November. She said was made aware of the museum when previous curator
Story and photos by Andy Coughlan
May 2019 ISSUE • 11
Volume 25, No. 8 Sarah Beth Wilson joined the museum. The pair had met professionally in 2011 when Rockefeller organized Art Houston, an event featuring commercial galleries in Houston. “I love the programming and the collection — it’s just unparalleled here,” she said. “When I saw the opportunity to come here as registrar, I was really excited about that because it was the best way to get to know the collection and exhibitions.” After three months, Wilson left to take a job in Houston and Rockefeller moved to the curator position. “When it happened it seemed like a natural transition,” she said. As curator, Rockefeller is responsible for a diverse range of museum duties, including organizing and programming of exhibitions, including touring exhibits, as well as anything related to the permanent collection. “(I) make sure other institutions aware of our permanent collection,” she said. “We really focus on making our collection available for other institutions to borrow.” Rockefeller also looks to acquire works for the permanent collection, to build the best collection possible. There are several ways AMSET acquires new works. “One of the ideas is that we exhibit work by artists we would like to have included in the collection,” she said. “For example, we are acquiring a work by Steve Brudniak who was in the ‘Enigma Variations’ show. Sometime works are donated by artists. From that show, Angelica Paez’s collages, she donated three to the collection. Some are donations, some are purchases — it’s a mix.” Rockefeller said she is most exited to use her skills here to bring works out of the collection that haven’t been seen for a while, to really focus on what’s so strong about the museum already. “The folk art collection here is something I have a lot of interest in,” she said. “I have a dedicated interest in doing research and programing related to that. Rockefeller said that she is slowly discovering Southeast Texas is fertile ground for the arts. “It’s amazing how many people I’ve met, they don’t say right away that they’re an artist, but you get talking and they will let you know in some way, be-
cause they’re very proud of it,” she said. “It’s been kind of a pattern. I’ve seen some of the work that people have shown me and it’s been fantastic. It’s not a crafty town and there are a lot of great artists here — and a lot of great artists that have come from here.” Rockefeller said her original understanding of Beaumont was through some of the well-known artists from the Southeast Texas — Paul Manes, John Alexander, Richard Stout, Maudee Carrón. “These artists that have come from here and talk constantly about the area and the richness — everything that made it so magical to them,” she said. “Keith Carter I’m just getting to know. I’m really looking forward to getting to know people like that. “It seems to me there’s a really solid
support system of artists supporting other artists, putting the onus on me to get around — you’re not going to find it if you don’t look around.” The role of a curator is to represent AMSET to the local community and the arts community at large, Rockefeller said. “It’s really not about me,” she said. “I think a curator’s job is to elevate the museum and the artwork in it, and the people that make it what it is. My job isn’t very tough here, with the (quality of) work and the people.” Rockefeller said she enjoys all aspects of the job, especially AMSET’s emphasis on art and the artists. She said she encourages people to attend the opening receptions to not only see the show, but also hear a gallery talk, often from the artists themselves.
“What better way to understand the work and decide whether or not you liked and why,” she said. “Just by coming to the opening, or family arts day, or just coming to the front desk and asking if you can talk to the curator. “I think that’s something that I wish people would do. If I could stand at the front desk and give tours all the time I would.” Rockefeller said it is a serious offer for people to ask if she is available. “I think that’s my job, to make sure that a conversation is started — and there is a conversation to be had,” she said. “We don’t just put stuff out for us or for preservation — museums are not mausoleums.” AMSET is located at 500 Main St. in downtown Beaumont. For more, visit www.amset.org.
Mariah Rockefeller, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas; new curator said she is excited to highlight the museum’s collection.
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VIEW from page 3 qualified instructors in various disciplines of art to offer classes independently, or through our current programs and future programs, and even for a referral for private lessons. We’d like to know who is out there, when you are available and what your qualifications are. We have had a lot of requests for classes in art and would like to address those requests. Send info to The Art Studio, Inc. to gregb@artstudio.org. A special thank you to Caitlin Clay for being our TASIMJAE 2019 juror. Caitlin is the new registrar at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and I felt it was a good way to introduce Caitlin to the arts community of Southeast Texas. She selected a beautiful collection of art and we appreciate her openness and enthusiasm in interacting the artists and patrons at the opening on April 6. The exhibition was well received by the public. The artists work, selected and not selected “raised the bar” once again. Each year I am impressed, but not surprised, at the volume of good work, and to see the work
Volume 25, No. 8 of returning entrants get better and better year after year, The Studio deeply appreciates the effort the arts community puts into their creations and the progress I have seen over the years. It is important to note that Southeast Texas has become a place to watch for up-and-coming artists, and The Art Studio, Inc. has developed a good reputation for our work in supporting art and culture in this part of the state. Keep up the good work and don’t give up. You can only become better at your art by continuing to create it. Summer ArtSkool is coming up fast. Don’t forget to enroll your little ones — and not so little ones — in this wonderful adventure. Early registration for Studio members has started already. Non-members registration begins May 1. To sign up in April, simply fill out the members form and send it in or sign up at registration. $35 a year is a great deal and you can keep up with all the upcoming events you won’t want to miss. May 4’s opening reception will feature the TASIMJAE winner from last year, Lisa Reinauer, painting professor from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. Lisa has the distinction of winning more
first place awards than any other participant in our 34 years of putting on this show. Each time she has presented work it has always been impeccable exhibition worthy of her reputation. Lisa has always encouraged her students and fellow faculty members to enter our annual event and they have earned their fair share of the awards and entries. Again, the small communities have incredible skill and ability (I don’t like to use the term ‘talent’) beyond their own expectations through hard work and discipline, and these communities have always been the source for artists in the big cities. On Lisa’s application this year she indicated that she didn’t want any awards or shows but simply to enter the exhibition. In a twist of irony, this year, she didn’t make the cut, but one of her students did. First place went to Sajeela Siddiq from McNeese, second place to Keri Stinnett, third to Studio resident Gabe Sellers and honorable mentions went to Studio resident Chris Presley and Grace Chadwick. Lastly, volunteers are always needed for specific tasks and general support. Come by and lets talk about what you would like to do to make the Studio a better place to serve our community.
IT’S COMING
TH E A LTER N ATI V E TASI’s first-come, S H OW first-served art exhibition Submissions accepted in person, noon to 5 p.m., May 28-31
N O F E E S , N O EX C U S E S 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont.
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Volume 25, No. 8
Step into a new world at AMSET’s Family Arts Day THE ART MUSEUM oF Southeast Texas will present its spring Free Family Arts Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 18. Art activities are inspired by AMSET’s current exhibitions. “Jooyoung Choi: Big Time Dreaming in the Age of Uncertainty” features soft sculptures, mixed media paintings, and a video station, and “Jules Buck Jones: Future Fossils” includes large-scale, mixed media paintings, drawings, and an installation featuring a 36-foot suspended sculpture of a Mosasaur, influenced by biological concerns, mythology, fact and fiction. Children and their families will create their own innovative
artwork such as Felt Flowers, Mosasaur Mask-Asaurs, Nature Silhouettes, Puppets, and Potato Rocks. Complimentary cookies and punch will be provided as well as live entertainment. A concession stand serving ballparkstyle food will be available, as well as free face painting. Admission to this event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit amset.org or call 409-832-3432. AMSET is located at 500 Main St. in downtown Beaumont. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
REINAUER from page 9 “My beginning drawing class started their final drawing this morning, and I have been moving around the studio as each faces their ‘giant’ blank sheet of Rives BFK before a challenging still-life,” she said. “By the end of class, each has overcome any initial hesitancy and at least loosely established a composition.” Reinauer emphasizes her awareness, knowing that most are not art majors, and finishes the thought with a wry, “yet.” “Entering exhibitions is something I encourage among my students from the first term,” she said. “Student exhibitions are great first steps to learn about everything – from selection to presentation to installation. This actually begins with foundation students as I have them mount work for critique. It is important on so many levels.” The opening reception for “Allegories, Symbolism, Metaphor & Light” is May 4 at 7 p.m., at 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont. For more information, visit www.artstudio.org or call 409-8385393.
SANDY WALKER’S CAFÉ ARTS
EXHIBIT FINDS INSPIRATION IN NATURAL WORLD
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is hosting “Sandy Walker: Nuances” through June 23, in AMSET’s Café Arts Series for Local Artists. Walker is an artist directed by her own sense of color, form, and light inspired by the natural world. Although she studied drawing at the University of Houston under Beaumont native John Alexander during her college years, Walker dedicated her career to social work and retired after 45 years as a curriculum developer and director of community services programs. She has always incorporated drawing into her daily routine, sketching interiors and design elements that come alive in her newest paintings. She also spends time in Sanderson, Texas, where she is constantly inspired by the landscape and sky colorations that call so many artists to the west Texas region. Her work has been exhibited at the Beaumont Finder’s Fayre, and is included in private collections throughout Texas. Her paintings evolve much like children to Walker – playing with one another, becoming disobedient, learning from and teaching lessons to the artist as she nurtures them into their final realized compositions. The paintings in Nuances are abstract revelations of Walker’s search for truth in natural beauty, and her dedication to studying the processes and interactions between paint and the canvas. To her, abstract art is “total freedom,” and she enjoys allowing the paintings to tell her where they want to go. For more information, visit www.amset.org or call 409-8323432.
“Tropicale” by Sandy Walker
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Volume 25, No. 8
Around & About
If you come across any interesting exhibitions, museums or other places on your travels, share them with us. Call 409-838-5393, or contact us through our website at www.artstudio.org. Be sure to include the location and dates of the subject, as well as any costs. MIKE CACIOPPO will present an exhibition of his work, WEISS PARK: NATURE’S HOMELESS SHELTER, May 2, at 1357 Broadway in Beaumont. The restored home is located around the corner from the Mildred Building, in back of the Laurel’s Event Center and next door to Darrel Troppy’s art studio. Cacioppo’s paintings, along with artwork by CATHY BRESHER JEFFERS, will be on display upstairs. Bresher Jeffers, a native of Dayton Ohio, is a former art educator at AMSET. She creates fabric art/decorative quilts. “These are not your grandma’s quilts,” Cacioppo said.” These are amazing works of art meant to be displayed on the walls of your home or office.” Beaumont artists LAURA SCOTT and SAM DALEO will also display their art. Sam rarely shows his incredible works. __________ THE MOON AND STARS COMMITTEE, in conjunction with the Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs, presents
the fifth annual MAYPOLE FESTIVAL, May 11, at the TYRELL PARK GARDEN CENTER, located at 6088 Babe Zaharias Drive in Beaumont. “Everyone should attend,” Sandra Hammerling, Maypole Festival cofounder, said. “The games, performers and vendors are fun for the entire family.” The festival features live music, local performers, area vendors and regional cuisine. Patrons may stroll through the gardens — the oldest public gardens in Southeast Texas — rest by the koi pond or visit the nation’s first September 11th Memorial. “The Beaumont Botanical Gardens is such a relaxing and beautiful piece of Beaumont,” Hammerling said. “We make new friends every year.” The festival opens at 9 a.m. and continues to 6 p.m. Local musicians Westbrook High School Jazz Band (9 a,m.), Jimmy Kaiser (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.), Ariel Bush (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) and Pug Johnson (3:30 p.m.-6 p.m.) will provide live music.
Performance art will be sprinkled throughout the festival by The Belly Dance Studio and the wrapping of the Maypole will take place at 4:30 p.m. by Bonnie Cokino’s School of Dance. “We wrap the Maypole to bless the crops, so our farmers and community do well this season” Hammerling said. “This festival is also a memorial to a dearly missed friend, Paula ‘Torchy’ Salter. “She left us with the memory of her ‘feel good’ spirit in our community. We, The Moon and Stars, wanted to memorialize Torchy’s spirit with the raising of a Maypole which will benefit our community for years to come.” “Torchy touched many of us in so many ways.” “The Annual Maypole Festival event brings the community together in love and spirit and leaves us with happy memories, as Torchy did, for all who attend.” For information and vendor booth registrations, email torchymaypolemoon andstars@yahoo.com, or visit the Facebook page.
NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS Collin Adams Barbara Allamon Gonzalo Alvarez Marty & Laura Arrendondo Matt Beshears Gail Binagia Erick Birrueta Bryan Castino Heather Champagne Charlotte Collins Brittney Drinkard Kristen Drinkard Jacob Dugas Sandy Edelen
Joe & Rosemary Elwell Angie Ferguson Ryan Ferrell Meghan Fleming Cynthia Fontenot Elizabeth French Verne Funk Suzanne & Lee Roy Garrett Brandi Gonzalez Laurie Gordon Victor Higginbotham Misti Hill Nathan Jones Shannon Jordan
Megan Landry Presley Landry Robert Lawson Ken Mallon Tad & Terese McKee Melody Montero Ortiz Steve Moore Anna Myers Faye Nelson Jim Oakes Craig Odle Chris Presley LisaReinauer Lynn Reynolds
Kelli Scofield Gabriel Sellers Sajeela Siddiq Walter Sieffert Society for Creative Anachronism Suzanne Staudt Andrew Strange Jackie Stubblefield Chris Troutman Samantha Vandeman Betty Voh Felisitie Williams
Mission Statement Founded in 1983, The Art Studio, Inc. is devoted to: providing opportunities for interaction between the public and the Southeast Texas community of artists; furnishing affordable studio space to originating artists of every medium; promoting cultural growth and diversity of all art forms in Southeast Texas; and providing art educational opportunities to everyone, of every age, regardless of income level, race, national origin, sex or religion. PURPOSE The purpose of The Art Studio, Inc. is to (1) provide educational opportunities between the general public and the community of artists and (2) to offer sustained support for the artist by operating a nonprofit cooperative to provide studio space and exhibition space to working artists and crafts people, and to provide an area for group work sessions for those artists and crafts people to jointly offer their labor, ideas, and enthusiasm to each other. GOALS 1. To present public exhibitions 2. To provide educational opportunities 3. To provide accessible equipment for artists 4. To provide peer feedback through association with other artists and crafts people OBJECTIVES 1. To present nine art exhibitions per year 2. To maintain equipment for artists in a safe working environment 3. To provide better access to artists for the public 4. To offer regularly scheduled adult and children’s classes 5. To develop and maintain public activities with all sectors of the community 6. To develop and maintain equipment to aid artists in their work 7. To provide a display retail outlet for artists 8. To expand programming and activities with increased facility space
Volume 25, No. 8
Thoughtcrime Submission Guidelines and Disclaimer ISSUE solicits and publishes the work of local authors. Poetry, short fiction, scholarly works and opinion pieces may be submitted for review. All works must be typed and may be sent to TASI by email or by messaging the ISSUE Facebook page. The opinions expressed in “Thoughtcrime” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TASI, its Board of Directors, ISSUE’s editorial staff, or donors to TASI. Send typed works to:
God’s Juggling Act
Two spheres hang in the morning sky, grandiose in their own way. One is slowly sinking down. One begins its day. You rarely view the both at once, a fete brought forth by God. Delighting all who’s blessed to see the sun and moon. That’s odd. Before me is the full pale moon a vision, calm and clear. Behind me is the blinding sun. My eyes create a tear. Imagine this a daily sight. Both, wondrous to behold. Together in a gorgeous sky. As rare as finding gold. Dorothy Sells Clover Living Life
I sniff the smell of the onion Sliced for the chicken sandwich. Spreading the mayo without a knife Squeezed from the no longer jar. Licking it off my finger. There is joy in slicing the tomato And sliding it on the bread. Salt and Pepper make me sneeze As I look at the meal’s pills. Resurrection at a hospital ahead A day I will refuse, hopefully afar. Just wave at me when we’re dead. DJ Kava
Girl in the Advertisement on the Vending Machine Succubus ex Machina
ISSUE 720 Franklin St. Beaumont, TX 77701 or e-mail info@artstudio.org
She has fixed her coffee eyes upon my afternoon at the Alcatel Training Center in Madrid, under 24 fluorescent lights reflected in their recessed mirrored housings.
Authors must submit a daytime telephone number and email along with all submissions. Pen names are acceptable, but authors must supply real names for verification. All printed works are protected by copyright. The author retains rights to any published work. ISSUE does not notify rejection by mail or telephone.
A confusion of powder-puff snow has (tensely) hold his thighs, in such suspended disbelief, that I (but for a moment, you realize) debate if he is there at all, or just, figmentally imposed.
I’ll Rise Up
I’ll rise up. I will rise up. I feel hopeless. My knees tremble. I’ll rise up. Tears trickle down my face. Soon I hear these these three words from heaven. “You’ll rise up.” I stand up with pain and pride. in my body. Then I say, today is the day. I’ll Rise Up With No Fear. I’ll Rise Up!
Alivia Carey Monuments & Moments
Flames rise from the old lady of Paris, The permanent unthinkably losing its permanence. We take for granted that there are things That simply exist, have always existed. But, they are, in fact, as ephemeral as we. There once was a world without the Mona Lisa, Without Puccini, without the Bard of Avon, Without Strummer and the last gang in town. There once was, and will again, be a world without me. I can fathom the idea that I will be lost to time Easier than the idea these icons will fade from memory. Yet all things must disappear eventually. When my spire falls, thousands will not weep. There will be no clamor to reassemble my weary bones. But for a few moments, I exist — and that’s enough. Andy Coughlan
May 2019 ISSUE • 15
Pallid-blue (behind, beyond) illuminated mountain, and some young hunk schussing along in Day-Glo pink. (How effeminate and wrong, I think.)
The hose, leading to the back of her burgundy mountaintop retreat, gives a deeply internalized pulse. It wriggles and beats, like an athlete’s arterial lust. Her verging insides whir and girlishly unwind in some mechanical response to all this throbbing going on behind her. (Or is it in front of her?)
A burnt-blue, unusual sun (directly over its very own vertically-installed fluorescent tube) seems, at the moment, to be a good idea that has finally come. You know, she hasn’t stopped smiling since I sat down. Nor has she sipped her coffee once, and she certainly looks like she’s getting cold in front of the mountain.
Her right eyelid is about to wink, or it could be that she’s as sleepy as I am. (Even though I have had a cup of her coffee and I am thinking of depositing another 30 pesetas, trying it again.)
She is oblivious to the pink-proud boy of glistening loins. She is entranced by the sleepy English teacher scribbling a lesson plan under 24 fluorescent lights. Behind an empty, milky, plastic cup, I reach deeply into my stretched-out trouser pocket, searching, tenderly, for another Spanish coin.
I stand, approach her coffee eyes and cool fluorescent smile. The hot, pink boy, and his turgid ice dust, both fade (in some preposterous way) into the purply mountain base. The lights above buzz on and on. I move, imprudently, toward the girl and her machine. Select: café con leche 30 pesetas extra de leche 5 pesetas Jesse Doiron
720 Franklin, Beaumont, Texas 77701
Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit #135 Beaumont, TX
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INSIDE • LISA REINAUER’S ALLEGORIES • THOUGHTCRIME: MUSINGS FROM AREA POETS • TASIMJAE 2019 WRAP UP • ROCKEFELLER NEW AMSET CURATOR
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Elizabeth Fontenot Bryan Castino Heather & Adam Butler Rhonda Rodman Sue Wright Rhonda McNally John Roberts Beau Dumesnil Karen Dumesnil Sheila Busceme Kailee Viator Stephan Malick Michelle Falgout Stacey Haynes Joe Winston John Fulbright Mark Jacobson Nathaniel Welch Gina Garcia Jack Hays Aslinn Garcia Paisley Polk Zoe Williams Rana Matthews Caroline Badon James King Madison Rose Stuckey Dawn S. Fischer Madison Bonds Chris Garcia Taylor VanDevender Jaycie Henderson Nathan West Kay O'Neal Olivia Busceme Chad Barrows
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This project was funded in part by the B.A. & E.W. Steinhagen Benevolent Trust through the Southeast Texas Arts Council.
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