Saturday, March 18, 2017

Small Works Show opens on March 23, 2017

Come join us for the reception for the small works show this Thursday, March 23 (2017) from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership on 200 Main Street, Starkville, MS.  This group show features several regional and local artists including myself, my son Joseph MacGown, Bonn Camp, Briar Jones, Walter Diehl, and others.

All works are for sale and reasonably priced. I have three small pieces in the show, with each priced at $300! Below is a preview of some of the works in the show.













Wednesday, March 8, 2017

PopUp Art Show at Wild Rose Studio in Starkville, MS - Sat., 11 March 2017

Local Starkville artist Laurie Burton is hosting a small group popup show from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM this coming Saturday (March 11) at her Wild Rose Studio and Gallery located at 302 South Jackson Street in Starkville, MS. The combined gallery and studio area comprises the front part of her beautiful historic house, which is right beside the Rosey Baby restaurant. Parking is limited at her house, so visitors may need to park in one of the nearby parking lots. 

Laurie Burton home and studio on S. Jackson St. 
This one day only art show will include 2D and 3D works by Laurie Burton, Joe A. MacGown, Joseph H. MacGown, Carly Melton, Gerard Woods, John Bateman, and Allison Julien. Whether you want to buy art or just look at it, we invite you to stop by and hang out with us. Artists will have a variety of originals and reproductions for sale and viewing. 

Standing in front of some of my prints! 
As for myself, I plan on having some smaller more affordable originals, including studies, sketches, and ink paintings on wood. I will also have a variety of high quality prints ranging in size from 5 x 7 inches to 24 x 30 inches with prices from $3 to $50 each. I'd love to get some of my weird art into your homes, so make a deal with me! 

Some small originals that I will have on hand. 

"Goldfish" by Joe A. MacGown

"Twirly Ear Mites" by Joe A. MacGown


Monday, March 6, 2017

Secret Show at the Link Centre in Tupelo on March 4, 2017 was great fun

Wonderful art things are happening in Tupelo, Mississippi with numerous outlets for visual, musical, and other art forms. With the Gumtree Museum of Art being a focal point, art seems to be radiating outward. Even the downtown restaurants are a part of this artistic revival with places like Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen serving incredible meals featuring local produce and meats, the Thirsty Devil bar with the wall decorated with artwork purchased from local artists, to Vanelli's Italian restaurant with trippy primitive artwork done by Paul Thorn, internationally known singer songwriter from Tupelo. 

Joseph MacGown doing an abstract version of the scene

Belle Naugher, Gumtree Museum Director

Painting one of the masked figures

More recently, the Link Centre, located at 1800 W Main Street in Tupelo, has mushroomed into a great facility devoted to providing artistic opportunities for all types of people in the community. Saturday night was a great example of bringing people together for a night of arts. Mary Art Contrary (does anyone really know her real name??) put together a "Secret Show" that started at 7:51 PM on Saturday, March 4. The "Secret Show" featured a wonderful band (name unknown, apparently the night was about secrets), four models wearing costumes and imaginative masks created by one of the artists who posed for artists who wanted to draw or paint them, numerous artists who came to paint the models or just paint and draw in general, a few artists selling prints and/or originals, some writers who read their poetry, and a cash bar.
models! 

Luisa and Ella! Thanks for coming with us and drawing along
The entire scene was an underground type of venue with hardcore biker looking jokers poised in front of their easels sketching and painting while listening to hard riffs from guitarist/singer John West and his crew.


Artists working

Ben and Justin painting side by side

Ben Frazier
Justin King


In addition to painting, Joseph and I had a good table full of prints. The folks there seemed to really love our art, and we ended up selling quite a few!

Me, wearing a shirt with my art. 
All in all, it was a very interesting night. We met some cool artists and art appreciators! I am overwhelmed with optimism for the arts after seeing the great things that are happening here regionally and elsewhere. Though federal and state funding for the arts appears to be headed in the wrong direction, artists are not letting this slow them down!! 

John West on guitar and his buds

Awesome painting!

One of the models looking at the art created

models

drawing away

checking out handmade masks

Joe MacGown Surreal Art Talk at Gumtree Museum of Art was fun

I gave a roundtable type presentation about my art at the Gumtree Museum of Art this past Saturday, March 4, 2017. Thanks to everyone who came to the talk, for your wonderful questions, and for purchasing prints and books from me! If you couldn't make it to the show, it will be up until March 24, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Fridays (Saturdays by appointment).

Joe MacGown, talking about his art (Photo by Belle Naugher)
It was especially nice to see faculty and art students from the nearby Itawamba Community College, Mississippi State University,  and even a couple of Starkville High Students there!

art enthusiasts listening and asking questions (Photo by Belle Naugher)
Talking about art (Photo by Belle Naugher)
Thanks to Belle Naugher, Museum Director, and the museum volunteers and board for putting this event together. And thanks again to Chalet Arts of Starkville for their wonderful printing and framing!

Talking with Helen and Ed (Photo by Belle Naugher) 
Ella eating cookies and looking at my book! (Photo by Belle Naugher)