ISSUE September 2016 by The Art Studio, Inc.

THE ARTS MAGAZINE OF THE ART STUDIO, INC.

CREATIVE SPACES

PAGE 7

INSIDE: HEMINGWAY, AVATAR, LAWSON, AND MORE.

SEPTEMBER 2016

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ISSUE Vol. 23, No. 1 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Art Studio, Inc. Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Coughlan Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . . Caitlin Duerler, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick Contributing Photographers . . . . Caitlin Duerler Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Malick

A View From The Top Greg Busceme, TASI Director

The Art Studio, Inc. Board of Directors Corporate President . . . . . . . . . . Greg Busceme Corporate Vice-President . . . . . Angela Scheibel Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Winston Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Armitage Members at Large: . . . . . . . . . Sheila Busceme, . . . . . . . . . Olivia Busceme, John Fulbright, . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick, Tim Postlewait . . . . . . . . . . . John Roberts, Caitlin Duerler Tenant Representative . . . . . Elizabeth Fontenot Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth French

The A r t Studio, In c. 720 Fr anklin Beaumont, TX 77701 409-838-5393 www.ar tstudio.org info@ar tstudio.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 Hemingway in Key West . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 The Tenants Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 Avatar Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 AMSET Anniversary Gala. . . . . . . . . Page 12 Andy Coughlan at Finder’s Fayre . . . Page 12 Beaumont Art League . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Around & About. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Thoughtcrime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Cover photo by Andy Coughlan

still some trouble spots that we have to follow up on. He has been very cooperative with us and I’m sure we will get everything dry soon. We are making inroads with home schoolers, headed up by our board chairman Joe Winston. There are a lot of home-schooled children in our area and Joe saw an opportunity for us to open a new avenue for our organization to serve another need in our community. He, along with Stephan Malick and Sheila Busceme, went to a home school expo and were very well received for access to art education. It seems there is very little art being offered and we found ourselves inundated with requests for information. Still in the planning stages, we are following up with the parents and organizations that are assisting the home schoolers with lessons and state mandated requirements, one of

Hope all Have Had a wonderful summer. The Studio has been hopping this summer with a variety of activities, one being the Summer artSkool. It was well attended and we thank the artist-instructors for their expertise and enthusiasm during the two-week program. Joe Winston, photography; Neal pitak, printmaking; Sheila Busceme, painting and drawing; paisley polk for paper maché; and yours truly, ceramics. The children were very creative and we, as teachers, had a wonderful time doing this annual event. The Garage Sale on aug. 13 was a raging success. I want to thank all the people who contributed to the mass of items that we had, and the board members who manned the sale. It was hot but it was a good day! We bit the bullet and got much needed roof work done to our building. Tim Marsh, from Marsh Waterproofing, has done a good job of stopping the worst leaks but there are

See VIEW on page 14

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ART STUDIO

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

The Tenants Show Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 3

Neal Pitak Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 1

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4 • ISSUE June 2016

The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum, below, is home to almost 60 cats, many of whom have six toes, right. They are all believed to be descended from Snow White, the writer’s pet.

Volume 23, No. 1

Visiting Papa’s Place KeY WeST, Fla. — “We WIll Be IN pensacola Beach anyway, so it’s only a few more hours to Key West,” she said. oK, it’s 14 more hours, but what the heck. I had never been to Florida, let alone the Keys, and it seemed like a cool way to start our summer vacation. I am neither a fisherman nor a beach person, but I am a reader and teach english and journalism, so the chance to see where ernest Hemingway lived during the 1930s was a bit of a no brainer. There is a lot to be said for spur-of-the-moment trips as we were able to get a discounted room in the center of Key West and, more importantly, one building over from the ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. We arrived late evening and were delighted to find a pool right outside our chalet door. The hotel is in the center of town and we were quickly able to find a good meal before retiring to the hot tub right outside our chalet door with a glass of wine. The next morning we were so close that despite leaving our room at 9:50 a.m., after a nice breakfast, we arrived at the house six minutes before it opened. Besides,

Story and photos by Andy Coughlan

this is Key West. Things are relaxed and if it takes five minutes to open up, so be it. prior to the tour starting we strolled around the lush gardens where the house’s cats are the kings of their own particular jungle. Hemingway was a given a white cat by a ship’s captain which he named Snow White. Many of the cats are descended from her. Key West is a small, enclosed island and it is possible that all the cats on the island are related in some way. all the cats at the house carry the polydactyl gene, meaning they have six toes, whether they display the physical characteristics or not. The cats are not one particular breed. Currently there are almost 60 cats that live at the house. Hemingway named all his cats after famous people and the tradition continues today — Bogart follows the tour where he is fed treats by the guide. previous cats have been named for luminaries as diverse as Marilyn Monroe and Simone de Beauvoir. Hemingway first visited Key West in 1928 on the advice of John dos passos. He was on honeymoon with his second wife pauline. The couple had been in Cuba and were planning on returning to paris. pauline’s Uncle Gus had bought a Ford Roadster for the couple to use, but de-

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September 2016 ISSUE • 5

livery was delayed, so the couple took up the offer to stay in an apartment above the Ford dealership. The couple spent three weeks in the apartment, with ernest writing in the morning — he finished “a Farewell to arms” there — and exploring the island in the afternoons. ernest met Charles Thompson, the owner of a local hardware store, who introduced the writer to big-game fishing. ernest was hooked. They fell in love with the island and in 1931, pauline’s uncle bought the house at 1301 Whitehead Street for $8,000 at a tax auction. The Spanish Colonial house was built in 1851 and required major restoration, which the Hemingways, especially pauline, took on throughout the 1930s. The house was one of the first on the island to have indoor plumbing and the first to have an upstairs bathroom with running water. on display in the museum is the king-size bed ernest made by putting two twin beds together with a mattress built to cover both (king-size beds were not made during that period). The headboard was made from an old gate that the couple purchased in europe. Thompson, Capt. eddie “Bra” Saunders and Joe Carroll, known as “Sloppy Joe,” as well as visiting friends, became known on the island as “The Mob.” as mob members have a nickname, ernest was given the name “papa,” which stuck with him the rest of his life. The house features the first in-ground pool built on the island, and for a long time was the only pool for 100

See HEMINGWAY on page 6

The polydactyl cats have free rein of the Ernest Hemingway house and gardens. Various rooms in the house are devoted to different periods of Hemingway’s life, not just his Key West years, and the tour guides are well versed in their subject.

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HEMINGWAY from page 5 miles. pauline had the pool put in while ernest was off with Martha Gelhorn covering the Spanish Civil War. pauline was not happy with the relationship and the construction cost $20,000, more than $328,000 in today’s money. When ernest came home to the construction he took a penny from his pocket, pressed it into the wet cement of the patio, and announced, “Here, take the last penny I’ve got.” The penny is still there for tourists to see. Much of the decoration in the house was dictated by pauline. She replaced the original ceiling fans with her chandelier collection. She used a 17th-century Span-

Volume 23, No. 1 ish chest, made of Circassian walnut, as a writing desk. as well as finishing “a Farewell to arms” in Key West, ernest also wrote “To Have or Have Not,” which is about Key West during the depression and many of the locals appeared in some form in the book. He also wrote “death in the afternoon,” “Winner Take Nothing,” “Green Hills of africa,” and the play “The Fifth Column,” about his experiences in the Spanish Civil War, and “The First Forty Nine,” a collection of short stories which contained “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and “The Short Happy life of Francis Macomber.” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was published the year after he and pauline divorced and he married Gelhorn, so it is

likely he at least started it there. The walls of the house are covered with posters and information about movies based on Hemingway’s books, as well as historical information that covers his whole life, not just the Key West years. one room features photographs of the paris set from the early 1920s. The Hemingways lived in the house from 1931 to 1939, and after the couple divorced, pauline continued to live in the house. ernest visited the island until his death in 1961. In 1937, ernest’s fame had grown to such a point that the Hemingways had a wall built around the house to keep tourists away. While in Key West, one should visit Hemingway’s favorite watering hole, Sloppy Joe’s, where he met Gelhorn. The author claimed to be a “silent partner” in the bar and spent a lot of time hanging out the “the mob.” one of the reasons Hemingway loved Key West was for its quiet and privacy. Today’s Sloppy Joe’s become exactly what the writer would have hated. It is loud and packed with tourists, but a quick beverage is a requirement for the Hemingway fan. one of Hemingway’s most famous novels is “The Sun also Rises.” In Key West, the sun also sets, and there is nothing better than sitting in a quiet bar, of

This is a replica of a statue of a cat made by Pablo Picasso. Ernest Hemingway traded a case of hand grenades for the piece when the pair met through Gertrude Stein in Paris. The sculpture was stolen in 2000 and the statue was broken some time during the apprehension of the thief and is no longer displayed. The replica was designed by Bob Orlin, a Key West artist and former winner of the Papa Hemingway Look-Alike Contest.

which there are many, and raising a glass of rum in toast to “papa” as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico.

Ernest Hemingway made the king-size bed, left, by putting two twin beds together. The headboard is a gate acquired on his travels in Europe. The display above documents Hemingway’s boat and his fishing exploits.

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Volume 23, No. 1

Tenant photo by John Fulbright

In-house creativity annual tenants show kicks off TaSI season THe aRT STUdIo’S 33-year history reads like the roadmap of any successful, surviving institution. It is a story about people — who they are and what did they do. people, specifically, artists, of Studio course, are the story and the history of photos by The Studio. Andy The 2016 Tenant Show, that runs Coughlan Sept. 3-23, is another part of the roadmap of artists that have made The Studio what it is today. The exhibition showcases the work of TaSI’s 23 current resident artists ranging from 32-year Studio tenant Sandra laurette to recently settled Renee McClain. every tenant you talk to will give a history lesson of how they came to The Studio. Story by Stephan Malick

“There is no better way for the community to see art alive than seeing the tenants work every year,” Greg Busceme, executive director, said. “everyone can really see these artists and their work progress, year after year.” Busceme said that originally the show began with apprentices showcasing their efforts, but as The Studio moved to larger buildings and it became evident that tenant artists were the future of the organization, a need was created to revamp the show. “The apprentice shows and the tenants shows became one,” he said. “The need to have a cohesive, community space to exchange techniques and get

See TENANTS on page 8

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Volume 23, No. 1

Whose space

Every artist creates the perfect environment for their creativity. Does the space match the work? TENANTS from page 7

feedback is what is most important, and the show represents that.” The local community’s growth in art exhibitions and events is evidence of The Studio’s long tradition; from pop-up art shows on First Thursday’s to galleries large and small, more frequent opportunities are coming into existence, Busceme said. Tenant artist Yolanda perez said that camaraderie drew her to The Studio after taking one of Busceme’s ceramics classes shortly after moving to Beaumont from a teaching stint of english and art in South Korea. “I love the sense of community at The art Studio,” she said. “It’s a positive and optimistic environment with the support of sharing ideas and critiques. Working at The Studio allows me to focus on my future goals to get to the next stages in my career.” perez earned a BFa in visual arts, concentrating in Fibers and Ceramics, from armstrong State University in Savannah, Ga. In addition, she has shown in local venues such as Finder’s Fayre antiques, The Beaumont art league and High Street Gallery.

“The Studio is a welcoming place and it plays a vital and tremendous role in the community,” she said. “There is no other place that gives a voice to such a diverse group of artists, or a place where they can congregate and make art of any genre.” Ceramic artist Stephen derrick graduated from lamar University in 2006 with Ba in Studio art concentrating on sculpture. after graduation he moved to austin to be near family before deciding to return to Beaumont and focus on making art full time two years ago. “I had spent a few years not really doing what I wanted and not making art,” he said. “I returned to Beaumont already knowing that I wanted to do my work at The Studio. Ceramics requires a lot of space and equipment. It’s dirty work.” derrick said he studied under the tutelage of teachers and artists that would, over time, become his mentors; Greg Busceme and the art department faculty at lamar — linnis Blanton, lynne lokensgard, Kurt dyrhaug, Butch Jack and others. So returning to Beaumont was a natural choice for him. “My goal is to be a better artist than I was the day before — to make better art than I did

Volume 23, No. 1

is whose?????

Visit The Studio during the Tenants Show opening reception and see who works where. the day before,” he said. “Nowhere else could I find a better source and place for that than The Studio and Beaumont. “I learn so much every day, when I work with clay. There are so many people around here that I can discuss throwing techniques, or glaze formulas or chemical combinations.” derrick said the thriving community at The Studio and in Southeast Texas provides proof of the area’s vitality. “There are so many people at The Studio and at lamar that are so generous with their knowledge to me and many, many others over the years,” he said. “You can’t just find that anywhere. This opens possibilities to take my work as far as I can take it.” Spouses Beau and Karen dumesnil have both been tenants at The Studio for almost 20 years, and no surprise, it is where they met. Both are multidimensional artists that employ a variety of media from sculpture, ceramics, calligraphy and mixed media, to create diverse and, at times, whimsical work. Both are constantly and consistently working on a variety of projects. Karen is repurposing kitschy, old, commercially produced ceramic figurines into “diá de los Muertos” (day of the dead) themed pieces, while Beau

is stretching and tanning deer skins to make parchment for his ongoing heraldic calligraphy project. “Having a space at The Studio forces me to focus and to get out of the house to work on my art,” Beau said. “otherwise I would sit at home and probably watch Tv and not get as much work done. It also forces my work to be seen and for me to get feedback. If no one ever sees what you’re doing, you’re working in a void. You won’t progress the way you need to without feedback.” Beau works full time as a tug boat captain and the flexibility of having a large space with all-hours access to work is essential for his downtime. “There are very few places in the country that offer what The Studio has, and there is no way I could do this work without having a lot of resources at home,” he said. “It’s just not always practical. The Studio provides artists a place to progress with their work and helps the community progress as well because they can see the work, too. In the end,

See TENANTS on page 10

September 2016 ISSUE • 9

10 • ISSUE June 2016

TENANTS from page 9 maybe they also say, ‘I would like to do that, too.’” Both the dumesnils said making art can be a complex process and having an in-house community to provide feedback is key to developing their art. “It would not be possible for me to have progressed to where I am today as an artist (without it),” Beau said. “I’ve learned a lot from many people over the years that have helped me make my ideas come to fruition. I have ideas every day, but I haven’t always known how to make them come out. Being at The Studio and around the people here has made that happen.” other tenants due to be represented in the

Volume 23, No. 1 show include Renee Mclain, Barbara allamon, Cynthia Grimes, Rhonda Rodman, Sandra laurette, Suzanne Garrett, Rhonda McNally, Sue Wright, andy Coughlan, david Granitz, alex Murphy, Juliana Rutledge, Kailee viator, elizabeth Fontenot, Gina Garcia, Stephen Scales, Nathan Jones, Maurice abelman, lisa Baumer, Monica Cuccia, Rachel Hiser, elizabeth French, and darkroom Friends Joe Winston and John Fulbright. The opening reception of the Tenants Show is free and open to the public beginning Sept. 3, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., in the main gallery at 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont. The event is also the inaugural event to kick off The Studio’s exhibition season. For more, call 409-893-5393 or visit www.artstu dio.org and Facebook, The art Studio.

Volume 23, No. 1

Avatar Update

September 2016 ISSUE • 11

aBelMaN’S oNGoING pRoJeCT TaKeS WING WITH MoTHeR NaTURe SINCe laST apRIl, MaURICe abelman’s avatar archetypes project has transformed from sketches on paper to paper on the human form. after casting the six avatars, two Mother Natures, Monte Crisco, vitamin d, Wal Mart and the olympian, the next steps are working with the actors in developing both their character and costume. “Mother Nature is the first costume we are making for the project,” abelman says. “We are working through the process and seeing what we can improve upon. once that gets a little settled, it will be easier to put together the other costumes because we will have a better understanding on how to construct articles of clothing using wheat paste and prints.” Melody ann Boyd, singer in local eclectic rock group Good Grief, has been cast as the creative Mother Nature, with her costume taking the shape of a tree with her arms extending like branches and the skirt of the dress resembling tree roots. While there are two versions of Mother Nature, abel-

Story and photos by Caitlin Duerler

man says they are thinking about how this archetype is conveyed today in the media as both this destructive force and as nurturing and life-giving. “I’m young Mother Nature and in a way I am embodying all of the things in nature that deal with newness, hope, life and light,” Boyd says. “We have used mostly reptilian scales, feathers, leaves and tree bark designs because it envelops the different elements in the pureness of Mother Nature.” When starting the construction of the costume, Boyd was unclear of her role in the process and a little intimidated to work under adelman because of his years of experience in printmaking. “I didn’t even realize until I actually got into the studio with Maurice that he was wanting me to a part of the process too,” Boyd says. “My original thoughts were that he is the artist and this is your canvas and he was like,’ I have a cup of paste for you too!’” abelman says that it’s been a learning process and a new experience for me too. “Rather than do a project all by myself, I wanted to open it up and do a more interactive and performative art to have a closer connection with the audience,” he says. “What better way to get the actor to understand the character than help create the character from the costume to the back story to the expressions.” The graphic designer and printmaker enjoys working with the different volun-

teers who drop in at the art Studio and are interested in lending their hand to expedite the process of making the avatar skins and discuss next steps in the project. “I have benefitted more from other people’s involvement,” he says. “With my education and background — sure I could get have gotten the job done. But along the way, I have been working with people who are not professional artists per se but still have some type of knowledge that can benefit the project.” after the day’s prints have been pasted, abelman and Boyd take advantage of drying time to brainstorm how she will be performing as her avatar in future performances and appearances as well as other possible mediums in which to convey her backstory. “In the beginning, there was a lot of momentum, abelman says. “Now, the project has been spread out over the time period we have set up for ourselves— developing the project week by week and making a schedule so everyone can participate rather than falling on one person. We want to motivate more people to be a part of it and come down and check it out and make some artwork.” abelman will hold casual, drop in sessions on Sundays for anyone interested in collaborating with the project. after Mother Nature, they will start developing the costume for another avatar, the warrior archetype vitamin d. Want to stay up to date with the project? like avatar archetypes on Facebook. Maurice Abelman applies a layer to Melody Ann Boyd’s Mother Nature avatar costume at his space in The Art Studio.

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Coughlan to map out new art at Finder’s Fayre, Sept. 1

Volume 23, No. 1

aRTIST aNdY CoUGHlaN WIll unveil a new collection of artworks beginning 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sept. 1, at Finder’s Fayre antiques, located at 1485 Calder in Beaumont. The show will be on display through oct. 6. “I have been working over the summer to create a series of 24 drawings that are inspired by the idea of ancient cartography,” Coughlan said. “The idea is that the abstracts are actually old maps that plot spiritual and burial sites from ancient times — these sites form the foundation of civilization.” Coughlan said the work incorporates images and symbols that he worked with more than 20 years ago. “I had the idea that I if I was going back in time, then maybe I should dig up some artistic ‘bones’ of my own,” he said. “It has really been a wonderful experience to mix the old with my current style. I think the work is very clearly my current style, but it has strong nostalgic elements as well. “I am excited for people to see it.” Coughlan will also have a few paintings, and all of the work will be on display for the first time. “There is nothing here that anyone will have seen before,” he said. “So I hope people are intrigued and want to see the latest work.” For more information, call Finder’s Fayre at 409833-7000 or visit the Facebook event page.

SEPTEMBER 9 TO BE A ‘HAPPENING’ NIGHT AT AMSET’S 29TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

THe aRT MUSeUM oF Southeast Texas invites Southeast Texans to join in a night of interactive celebration of the arts at its 29th anniversary gala, “an art Happening,” at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 9. “This neon glowing affair will be overflowing with cocktails, delectable dining, fabulous entertainment and many exciting surprises, all while highlighting one of aMSeT’s most vital missions: to provide creative vision throughout Southeast Texas,” a release states. “an art Happening” will honor arts patron, amelie Cobb, and her son, artist John Cobb. Chaired by Keely and Craig Kinsel, and with support from Gala committee members Judy Black, Sandra Clark, Sandy Fertitta, lori lockwood, albert Nolen and Janey phelan, guests will have the opportunity to join in aMSeT’s largest fundraiser of the year. “The art Museum Gala of 2016 is going to be an

One of Andy Coughlan’s “Cartography” series on display at Finder’s Fayre Sept. 1 through Oct. 6.

‘art Happening’ experience for all involved. We are honoring a longtime friend and very talented artist, John Cobb, and his mother, a devoted patron of the museum, amelie Cobb,” said Gala Chairs Keely and Craig Kinsel. “The guests will be circled with performers, surrounded by fabulous music, delicious food and cocktails for all. please join us for a night of spherical and theatrical twists!” Cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 p.m., during which guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in interactive and multidisciplinary “happenings” throughout the museum, followed by a dinner served at 7:30 p.m. prepared by Two Magnolias Catering, the dinner menu will feature a selection of the finest cuisine. Following dinner, guests are invited to dance the night away to the innovative sounds of Southeast Texas dJ, Mark Fiorenza. a silent and live auction featuring an overnight trip

to New orleans, priceless artwork, lavish parties, sports tickets, stunning jewelry, and other tempting items will round out the evening. Reservations are $250 per person for Hoop Seats (swivel in your unreserved individual seat(s)), $1,600 for a disc-o table (“on the beat” reserved seating for 8), $2,500 for a Neon Circle table (“enlightening” reserved seating for 8), $5,000 for a Global Force table (“plush” reserved seating for 8), $10,000 for a Silver Spherical table (“performance” reserved seating for 8), or $15,000 for a Glowing Golden orb table (“premier happening” reserved seating for 10). dress is artistic casual, with neon and black garb highly encouraged. Seating is limited, and tables are selling quickly. visit www.amset.org or call 409-832-3432 to reserve a table. proceeds will support aMSeT’s exhibition and education programs.

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Beaumont Art League to host Celebración del arte Latino CeleBRaCIóN del aRTe laTINo, hosted by the Beaumont art league, will feature artwork celebrating the rich and multifaceted cultures and traditions of the latino communities in Southeast Texas. “The City of Beaumont has a thriving latino community that makes up close to 15 percent of the city population,” Bridget Johnson, Bal president, said. “The Beaumont community is infused with such rich cultures and traditions spanning from descendants of Mexico, Cuba, puerto Rico, dominican, Brazil and numerous other heritages. “This exhibit will highlight artwork by members of our latino community and artwork by artists of our community whose work portrays related cultural experiences.” participating artists do not need to be a Bal member to participate, however, membership is encouraged. entries will be accepted Sept. 21 through Sept. 24, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by special pre-arranged appointment, with a limit of three entries per artist. The exhibition dates are oct. 1 through oct. 28,

witha reception set for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., oct. 8. The show is open to any visual media. all participating artist must provide original artwork completed within the last two years and not previously exhibited in a Bal show or any juried shows in Jefferson, or-

ange, or Hardin counties. Work must be original, not reproductions. For photography, limited edition prints are accepted. artists are responsible for special installations and all accompanying equipment for the task. Work must be ready for display and securely fastened to any base required for display. Wall or hanging artwork must be gallery wrapped or framed, not to exceed 72 inches in any dimension nor exceed 50 pounds in weight. No saw tooth hangers will be accepted. Fragile works, such as drawings on paper and photographs, must be framed, or securely mounted under glass or plexiglas. all works should be ready for installation upon submission. artwork must remain on view at the Bal during the entire show. Bal retains a 30 percent commission on the sale price of artwork sold during the exhibition. Bal will collect payment and state sales tax. artwork purchased during the exhibit must remain on display until the end of the show. For more details, call 409-833-4179 or email info@ beaumontartleague.org.

League presents Robert Lawson’s ‘The Way I See It’ THe BeaUMoNT aRT leaGUe is currently presenting, “The Way I See It,” works by Robert lawson,the 2015 Bal annual Members Show first place winner. The exhibit, featuring more than 30 original works of art, is on display through Sept. 20, at the Beaumont art league, 2675 Gulf St. in Beaumont. lawson, a port arthur native, received his BFa from lamar University and teaching certificate from North Texas State University. While at lamar, artist and art professor Jerry Newman was his mentor. lawson now resides in lumberton. “I paint for the sheer joy of the mental and physical experience that it affords me,” lawson said. lawson taught art at Stephen F. austin Middle/High School, before retiring in 2005. “I now have the freedom to explore the sublime side of art through painting what Barnett Newman called, ‘The pure Idea’ and ‘The primitive art Impulse,’” he said. lawson said that he is influenced

by Russian painter and art theoretician, Kasimir Malevich, who in 1915 painted a black square on a white ground. Malevich was a pioneer of geometric abstract art and the originator of the avant-garde Suprematist movement. lawson said that the 1915 painting was Malevich’s attempt to free art from objectivity. as a painter, lawson has very little concern for realistic imagery.

“If it is there, I can see it, but the real challenge is to make the invisible, visible,” he said. “I have doubts about what I do, but every day I want to try again.” For more information, call 409833-4179, or email info@beaumontartleague.org. The league is open Wednesday thru Saturday, 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm, and or by special appointment made in advance.

Around & About

14 • ISSUE June 2016

Volume 23, No. 1

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 web site at www.artstudio.org. Be sure to include the location and dates of the subject, as well as any costs. The MENIL COLLECTION is hosting AS ESSENTIAL AS DREAMS: SELF-TAUGHT ART FROM THE COLLECTION OF STEPHANIE AND JOHN SMITHER, through oct. 16. as collectors and patrons, they Smithers have passionately championed the work of selftaught and visionary artists, affirming that the desire to create and collect is a deeply human response “as essential as dreams,” to borrow a phrase from Jean Baudrillard. Stephanie Smither and her husband, John, began collecting in the early 1980s. With an intrepid spirit, they traveled, researched, and developed deep friendships with many artists in their collection and amassed an extensive holding of work by visionary and self-taught artists. These intertwined terms loosely distinguish artists that fall outside of the mainstream art world. The Smither family’s intimate and passionate approach to patronage resulted in a highly personal and important group of work that questions a traditional art history. The artists in the show hail from such diverse locations as the american South and

Switzerland; they have made work that encompasses a variety of materials and techniques — from carved balsa wood and hand-formed pottery to oil on canvas and ink drawings on found supports. The exhibition will include Thornton dial’s boisterous and colorful neo-expressionist assemblages of paint and found objects, oscar Hadwiger’s wooden models of fantastical architectural structures, Sister Gertrude Morgan’s spiritual paintings of flying angels, and Carlo Zinelli’s narrative drawings that illustrate his life in the Italian countryside in the aftermath of World War II. Joining these artists are such visionaries

VIEW from page 3 which is art. We may need more teachers in different disciplines as this program expands but for now we are doing needed ground work in this new endeavor. Wish us luck! Can I make an appeal to our patrons of the art openings. We are excited each year as we present shows at how many partici-

as Georgia Blizzard, Hiroyuki doi, Solange Knopf, Martín Ramírez, Jon Serl, Johnnie Swearingen, Charlie Willeto, and domenico Zindato. The myriad of ideas and mythologies surrounding the definitions of visionary and selftaught art have their roots in Surrealism, and the artists and writers that surrounded this avant-garde circle at the beginning of the 20th century. With a desire to make work that could transcend rational thought and emerge from the realm of the imagination, the Surrealists prized those who were able to make work intuitively, praising their accomplishments as authentic, raw, and true. artists who work in this manner, and those who passionately champion their art, follow the interests of the Surrealists — and the later champion of art brut ("raw art"), Jean dubuffet — and affirm the essential human desire to create and to collect. “as essential as dreams: Self-Taught art from the Collection of Stephanie and John Smither “is accompanied by a catalogue with texts on the artists in the show. For more, visit www.menil.org.

pants and viewers we have at the Tenant Show, TaSIMJae membership show and alternative Show. However, for our solo or two-person shows we find there is a great disparity of patrons who participate in these presentations. even our regulars seem to be absent at these very important exhibitions, where one person has poured their heart out in creating a major body of work, possibly their first. even if the artist is unfamiliar —

RECENT ART STUDIO NEW OR RENEWING MEMBERS INDIVIDUAL

Carol Mackey andrulevich Rev. Kevin l. Badeaux Kathleen Boudreaux Robert lawson Brannyn Mcdougal Mickey Mitchell Faye Nelson devin owens Sveta M. panchal Selena M. Slaughter-Thierry FAMILY/GROUP

d. delle Bates Sandra Hammerling eric & Renee Mclain Heather & Mark petrovsek FRIEND/BUSINESS

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.

dexter S. augier Mark Jacobson Mary ellen von Netzer

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

and they usually are — wouldn’t it pique your curiosity to see what this individual has devised for us to witness? It is compounded by the fact that some of these artists are from other places and have not the support of their family to be at the event. Because of this, it is even more important that our beloved patrons make an effort for these fascinating and historic exhibitions.

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

Thoughtcrime

September 2016 ISSUE • 15

Volume 23, No. 1

Shedding Branches

They fall heavy on the grass, but I have never heard them. Night, I think, is when they go; I see them in the morning

when the paper calls me out, lying near the house or road. But once, when rain had made impossible my sleep, and I 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: ISSUE, 720 Franklin, Beaumont, TX 77701 or e-mail info@artstudio.org 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 of rejection by mail or telephone.

Excerpt

it doesn’t matter how many times i fail how many times i fall it isn’t that i care less or fear more i will always seek you out like the rain on my fevered brow or the wind in my hair you calm me bring me peace it isn’t that i can’t live without you or that i will stop striving if you never come You are my hope my dream my possibility like the Wolf i live in the Now move ever forward perhaps someday You will come Rob Flurry

had had enough of guttered wake, I opened wide the door and saw the live oak dropping something weighted in the

dark. damned limb came crashing through a flash of light without a sound but what the sky decided it should make

that night. at morning, when the sun came into yard, the top half of the oak was gone and lay where only grass and shade had grown the day before, and all around the wreck of bark

were splinters of the tree and leaves, and loud despair from a squirrel that sat atop what once had been a nest. Her babies gone to owls.

Jesse Doiron

Like A Good Dog

I extend to you an ecstatic bouquet of bottle rockets, my fingers stained by hot, pink, riotous array! I will prepare a feast for you and when, The silvery star over our castle begins, the swell, of my heart, will race delightfully down your chin. I will fashion a crown of oyster shells and bathe you in swirling rainbows. I will dress you, delicately so, in insect wings, and Christmas morning. and I will wait here for you, like a good dog, in the white light of eternity. Buffalo Gal

Skin

This is the story of a girl with a mind. Black and Beautiful, Twin piercing, brown eyes.

These are the windows to her soul, Reflecting her innermost desires, dreams, and needs. Which others don't see. They never see Refuse to see Because there is a block, something that masks. This outer layer. She sighs. Skin. No. Colour! She cries.

This is the story of a girl who cries. Black and Beautiful, Twin piercing, brown eyes. Nia Imani Williams

Dueling Haikus We can’t be alone.

our fear of solitude traps Us in a stale love. Haley Bruyn Young lovers chatter

In deep-held self absorption (Rolls eyes wearily) Andy Coughlan

720 Franklin, Beaumont, Texas 77701

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INSIDE • THE TENANTS SHOW • THOUGHTCRIME: MUSINGS FROM AREA POETS • HEMINGWAY IN KEY WEST • AVATAR UPDATE

When you support The Art Studio with your membership, you receive ISSUE, Southeast Texas’ and Southwest Louisiana’s alternative press, as well as class schedules, invitations to opening receptions and various Studio functions. Vo lunte er s

These people are the life blood of our organization. WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! To volunteer, drop by The Art Studio, Inc., or call 409-838-5393.

elizabeth Fontenot Bryan Castino Heather & adam Butler Rhonda Rodman Sue Wright Cyndi Grimes Rhonda McNally andy Coughlan John Roberts Beau dumesnil Karen dumesnil Sheila Busceme Kailee viator Caitlin duerler Stephan Malick Terri Fox avril Falgout Michelle Falgout Stacey Haynes Joe Winston John Fulbright Mark Jacobson Nathaniel Welch Gina Garcia Hayley Hardin Jack Hays Tyler Hargraves aslinn Garcia Chase Kiker paisley polk Zoe Williams Rana Matthews Michael Beard Brittany Tawater Juliet Goldstein Caroline Badon Jake Hollier Breanna Workman david Granitz pat Grimes

THIS MONTH:

JOIN US

FOR ART OPENINGS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH The Art Studio, Inc.Tenants Show Renee McLain, Barbara Allamon, Karen Dumesnil, Cynthia Grimes, Rhonda Rodman, Sandra Laurette, Suzanne Garrett, Rhonda McNally, Sue Wright,Yolanda Perez, Stephen Derrick, Andy Coughlan, David Granitz, Alex Murphy, Juliana Rutledge, Kailee Viator, Elizabeth Fontenot, Gina Garcia, Beau Dumesnil, Stephen Scales, Nathan Jones, Maurice Abelman, Greg Busceme, Lisa Baumer, Monica Cuccia, Rachel Hiser, Elizabeth French, and Darkroom Friends J.Winston, J. Fulbright

SEPTEMBER 3-23

GALLERY RECEPTION IS SEPTEMBER 3, 7-10 P.M.

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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