Deviled Eggmen @ Blue Velvet Studio

Blue Velvet Studio to show 'Anime & Comic Art'

By Thomas B. Harrison, Press-Register -- from al.com

MOBILE, Alabama -- For next Friday’s LoDa Artwalk, Karen Cassidy opted to bypass the merely unusual and go for the fantastic.
Cassidy, the owner and artistic force behind Blue Velvet Studio, will open “Animé & Comic Art,” an all-encompassing show of graphic illustrations, CG art, action figures and more during the opening reception from 6 until 9 p.m. at the downtown artspace. Guests and visitors are encouraged to show up in costume if they so desire.
“I’ve always loved the look of animated art,” says Cassidy. “The oversized eyes, the exaggerated features, the action poses, a range of characters from cheery to ominous, the dramatic coloring, and the concept of creatures from another world.
“Mind you, an engaging story line is equally important but I have always appreciated comic art as a stand-alone art form. Sometimes my sister Deb and I would rummage through the comic book stores in Chicago, picking up books with cool graphics and occasionally finding an amazing or rare female action figure.”
In 2010, Cassidy’s second year at Blue Velvet Studio, she considered about putting together a comic art and action figure exhibit at the gallery. “Why not showcase yet another fascinating art form that often gets overlooked because of its niche market?,” she says. “But pulling it together would take some work.
“ I knew a couple of local artists who have the capability: Chase Matthews with his original action figures; skilled artist Billy Jordan, who draws and inks tattoo art daily; and April Hopkins, whose sketches of futuristic humanoids bend the imagination. But was that enough to fill a show? I would have to do some more legwork to get critical mass.”
Earlier this year, Cassidy took a friend to ComiCon in New Orleans with the purpose of finding local Mobile comic/animé artists, “and hopefully find some costume artists in the process,” she says. “This led us to Kevin LaPorte and Amanda Rachels, a team working together on story and art (respectively) for their ‘Clown Town’ comic series.

“A local newspaper article introduced Scott O. Brown from Man of Comics, who utilizes illustrations by Amin Amat and Drew Gilbert (on ‘Second Soul’), Tim Irwin (on ‘Atlantis Rising’), and Ferran Xalabarder (on ‘Nightfall’) to help create their comics. His latest creations include the upcoming ‘LA Stories’ and ‘They Do Not Die!’ graphic novels.
“Artists LaToya McCoy and Veronica Morton bubbled up when they exhibited artwork during the BVS February 2011 exhibit, with computer-made artwork suitable for an animé show.”
At MobiCon they met video animé artist Kory Hill, who created the computer graphics for the movie “Myst Saga.”
“There we also met fantasy artist James R. Powell, whose art has graced numerous book and album covers, and who has painted guitars for the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Sheryl Crow,” Cassidy says. “All together it started to look like a pretty good exhibit — a mix of career animation artists and healthy experimentation.
“Sprinkle (in) a selection from my sister’s action figure collection and a few friends in character costumes, and you get a fun and diverse show to spice up the Artwalk.”

‘ANIME & COMIC ART’
WHAT: “Animé & Comic Art.” an exhibit of comics, animation, fantasy art, computer graphics, illustrations, graphic novels, CG videos and action figures
WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 10
WHERE: 709 Dauphin St. #2, downtown Mobile
ARTISTS: Amin Amat, Scott O. Brown, Drew Gilbert, Kory Hill, April Hopkins, Tim Irwin, Jamie Jennings, Billy Jordan, Kevin LaPorte, Chase Matthews, LaToya McCoy, Patty McLaughlin, Veronica Morton, James R. Powell, Amanda Rachels, Jamie Smith, Amy Woodward, Steven Moore, Schuyler Allen, Ferran Xalabarder.
ORGANIZER: Karen Cassidy, owner of Blue Velvet Studio
NOTE: Guests are invited to wear character costumes.
ADMISSION: free
INFO: 850-375-4481 or www.bluevelvetstudio.org; follow BVS on Facebook

Thank you, Mr Harrison for the great write up and all you do to support the Arts in our area.--Chase Matthews

LODA ArtWalk--Anime & Comic Art Exhibit @ Blue Velvet Studio

Comics, animation, fantasy art, computer graphics, illustrations, graphic novels, CG Videos, action figures. Guests are invited to wear animated costumes.

Artwork by Amin Amat, Scott O. Brown, Drew Gilbert, Kory Hill, April Hopkins, Tim Irwin, Jamie Jennings, Billy Jordan, Kevin LaPorte, Chase Matthews, LaToya McCoy, Patty McLaughlin, Veronica Morton, James Powell, Amanda Rachels, Jamie Smith, Amy Woodward, and Ferran Xalabarder.

Blue Velvet Studio
Friday 6/10/11 6-9 PM during the LoDa ArtWalk
(and by appointment; call 850-375-4481)
709 Dauphin Street #2, downtown Mobile, AL
bluevelvetstudio@hotmail.com ~ 850-375-4481 ~ BVS on Facebook

Deviled Eggmen getting some paint

These are the beginning of the painting of the Deviled Eggmen. Russ Gilder and I were working for the next Art Walk they will be shown at the Anime Show at Blue Velvet Studios

Arts Alive This Weekend

Friday, April 08
Downtown Arts District

5:00 - 9:00pm
Fridays at Five: sponsored by the City of Mobile; Live music throughout the Cathedral Square Arts District featuring Mob Towne Revival in Bienville Square and Flight Time in Cathedral Square.

6:00 - 9:00pm
LoDa Artwalk; over 35 participating galleries include: Blind Mule, Blue Velvet Studio, The Host Gallery, Space 301, Artology, Robertson Gallery, Entre Arts, Kangal Gallery, Mobile Arts Council, the Temporal City Festival and more

At Dark (Roughly 9:00 p.m.)
Soal Film Festival presents: Cinema in the Square featuring a screening of STINGRAY SAM. STINGRAY SAM, written and directed by Cory McAbee, is an episodic, musical, space western narrated by David Hyde Pierce with music by The Billy Nayer Show. The film premiered at Sundance in 2009.

Accompanying our screening of STINGRAY SAM will be trailers and information from locally produced films and upcoming film events.


Saturday, April 09
Downtown Arts District
11:00 - 7:00pm
Street Art Festival: Juried Art Show of local and regional artists in Cathedral Square
Interactive Events
Throughout the Day
USA School of Art: "Hands on" Pottery and Gallery
Loran Chavez: Interactive Painting

Zen Glass blown glass demonstrations
Blacklight Exhibit: presented by Blue Velvet Studios
Children Art Experiences: presented by the Mobile Museum of Art
The Temporal City Festival, a mapped durational, multi- site exhibition utilizing abandoned buildings. Info and Scavenger Hunt Map at Arts Alive Info tent.

10:00 - 5:00 pm
Downtown Retail Merchants present Open House and Sidewalk Sale
Performance Schedule
11:00 - 11:30 am Zuri Belly Dance Troupe
11:30 - 12:00 pm Improv Comedy Underground
12:00 - 1:00 pm Johnny Lipford "Flute Outside the Box"
1:00 - 3:00 pm Community Dance & Music
3:00 - 3:30 pm Johnny Lipford "Flute Outside the Box"
3:45 - 4:15 pm Mobile Opera performance
4:45 - 5:00 pm World of Wearable Art Fashion Show – Blue Velvet Studio
5:00 - 5:30 pm Kula Yoga
6:00 - 7:00 pm Mobile Pops: featuring "Big Band Tunes."

Sunday, April 10
Downtown Arts District
12:00 - 5:00pm
Street Art Festival: Juried Art Show of local and regional artists in the Cathedral Square Arts District
Interactive Events
Throughout the Day Loran Chavez: Interactive Painting
Zen Glass blown glass demonstrations
The Temporal City Festival, a mapped durational, multi- site exhibition utilizing abandoned buildings. Info and Scavenger Hunt Map at Arts Alive Info tent.
Pottery demonstrations by Zach Depolo

12:00 - 1:00 pm
Johnny Lipford & the Murphy High School Percussion Ensemble

1:00 - 1:15 pm
Courtney Dreher Matthews presents the first ever Lunatix & Co. Fashion Show

1:00 - 3:00 pm
Arts Alive Poetry Stage on the Space 301 Terrace

2:00 - 5:00pm
Sunday Music in the Park Roman Street

All info came from the Arts Alive Website

Jammin on Julia, NOLA

This looks like a great time, almost a mini Art for Arts Sake. The weather should be nice and not too hot, for this event. A great way to get see what is going on in the Art District. Since its only Julia street you should be able to get to almost all 21 galleries between 6-9 pm…well maybe if your sprinting. Forget the gallery crawl and do a gallery sprint or dash.


(content below from their website)

Second Line on down to New Orleans premier art party in the spring! The street party on Julia cuts a swath through the historic warehouse district. Delight all the senses with great art, New Orleans music, and fine cuisine and libations. 21 galleries and museums participate in the annual Jammin’ on Julia, presented by

The Downtown Development District and sponsored by the Renaissance Arts Hotel. Mark your calendars for the first weekend in April for this fundraiser of The New Orleans Arts District.

Since 1990, NOAD www.neworleansartsdistrict.com has been the non-profit organization which brings together the galleries and world class museums in the Arts District, featuring art for all tastes for the casual tourist looking for mementos to museum curators. NOAD sponsors monthly Art Walks on the first Saturday of every month, as well as hosting trend-setting special events. It supports the publication, Art New Orleans Magazine, and the handy New Orleans Arts District Brochure for a walking tour, complete with map of the local galleries, restaurants and businesses. New Orleans has always been a mecca for artists in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, because of its mild climate and picturesque architecture and lifestyle. Today, it has become an Art Destination, with recent international acclaim for the first Biennale Prospect 1. New Orleans, a multi-media citywide installation of contemporary art.

The NOAD galleries offer the collector cutting edge contemporary to classic nineteenth century Louisiana art. Jammin’ on Julia is all about art but it wouldn’t be New Orleans, without the best of local brass bands playing jazz or strolling R & B artists. And it wouldn’t be New Orleans without the local restaurants sharing their specialties, from duck and andouille gumbo to crawfish etouffe.

Jammin’ on Julia 2011 promises to be bigger and better than ever! More mega bars with New Orleans specialty cocktails, local food vendors, music stages, and tables for private parties. Like NOAD’S art street party in August, White Linen Night, when locals and visitors turn out in white linen to beat the sizzling summer heat, Jammin’ on Julia in the spring will inaugurate an equally fun dress code as casual as traditional American blue jeans celebrating N’Awlins Blues. (from their website)

Here is a link to their website website
Facebook page
twitter

Monster Drawing Fundraiser

This would a be great way to do a fundraiser for a local children like Wilmer Hall or something to do with kids. It would be great for Mobile since we have such a talent pool of artist in so many different mediums. I'm sure we could find a ton of partners to help organize and develop the idea. I guess you could even take the best of show and print t-shirts and stickers for the next year.

If any one would like to do this let me know. It maybe a great way for artist to give back to our community!

Below is how they do their Monster Rally at Southern Exposure


Southern Exposure
Live Drawing Event and Fundraiser

February 25, 2011 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Donation: $10 & up
Location: Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa
(between Potrero & Hampshire; 17th & 18th)

Southern Exposure's Monster Drawing Rally is a live drawing event and fundraiser featuring over 130 artists.

Demystifying a process that usually takes place in the privacy of the studio, the Monster Drawing Rally allows spectators to observe artists in the act of creation in the public domain. In keeping with Southern Exposure’s mission to provide an environment accessible to art and artists, the Monster Drawing Rally sets the stage for extraordinary interaction.

Providing the basic necessities of the drawing practice--pencils, charcoal, pens, markers, ink, and paper--Southern Exposure creates the context while the artists create the content of the drawings. The evening will consist of four one-hour shifts that each feature approximately 30 artists drawing simultaneously. As the drawings are completed, they will be hung on the walls and made available for purchase for $60 each. The Monster Drawing Rally provides a unique opportunity to watch a drawing come to life, and to purchase a work of art minutes after its completion. Proceeds from the event provide direct support for Southern Exposure's Exhibitions and Artists in Education Programs.

The response to the Monster Drawing Rally continues to grow. To date, over 800 artists have all come together to donate talent, time and artwork in support of Southern Exposure's mission. The Monster Drawing Rally has also become a national model. SoEx has partnered with nonprofit arts organizations in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Richmond, Brooklyn and Cleveland to help them establish the Monster Drawing Rally with our support. Southern Exposure is proud to share our successful fundraising models and community-building strategies with similar artist-centered organizations. Southern Exposure is committed to serving as a resource for the national visual arts community through this and its other programs.

Lunatix & Co.

Lunatix & Co. is a local artist boutique in downtown Mobile,AL. We carry only handmade, upcycled, or wearable art and focus on the many talented local artisans in our area. Presently we have 20 artists represented in our quaint boutique. The merchandise is an eclectic array ranging from upcycled vintage men's shirts with linoleum block prints of guns and brass knuckles by Nikki Burkett, to handblown glass jewelry by Mandella glass. Every time you step in our doors, a one of a kind treasure will be found. See our page "Lunatix & Co." on facebook and "like" us. Shop local...Support our artists!

Lunatix & Co.
662 Springhill Ave.
Mobile,AL 36602


We will also be open in conjunction with most events happening in downtown Mobile (ie. Artwalks, Arts Alive!) and for special in store events.


Clickhere for a link to our facebook page

Blue Velvet Studio pays tribute to 'The Art of the Automobile' during LoDa Artwalk

Sometimes an automobile is just an automobile — unless it is art, which means anything is possible. Blue Velvet Studio’s upcoming exhibit, an indoor/outdoor event titled “The Art of the Automobile,” is a tribute to that irresistible object of masculine desire: the motorcar.

Gallery owner Karen Cassidy, along with artists Jessica Chavez Price and Margaret Warren, among others, have put together a multifaceted exhibit that likely will be the center of attention during Friday's LoDa Artwalk.
Cassidy says BVS has parking lot space reserved at Dauphin and Washington streets, courtesy of the owners of the Bike Shop and The Garage, where she hopes to have between six and a dozen vintage vehicles on display. They include classic and restored antique cars and a wildly painted Porsche 356 C coupe.

Artist and model Jessica Chavez Price as a "pin-up girl" in a Karen Cassidy photo for Blue Velvet Studio's upcoming event, "The Art of the Automobile."
Indoors, Blue Velvet Studio will exhibit artwork that honors and showcases the art of the automobile, such as photographs of antique vehicles, classic ¤’40s pinup-style girls with cars, “Porsche Junkyard Series” abstract photos, sketches, paintings, assemblage art made with car parts, and much more.
Artists include Cassidy, Russ Gilder, Arthur Games, Fred Marchman, Chase Matthews, Larry Pratt, Lori Robinson, Jamie Smith, Will Smith, Margaret Warren, Sharon Whelton and Robert Schroeder.

For the rest of the article click here

Art Walk "The Art of the Automobile"

Blue Velvet Studio
Friday August 13th, 2010 6-9 PM
709 Dauphin St. #2, Mobile, AL
"The Art of the Automobile"

Indoor/Outdoor Art Exhibit during the LoDa ArtWalk

INDOORS: Photography, paintings, car body artwork, mixed media art and memorabilia in honor of the automobile. Artwork by Karen Cassidy, Russ Gilder, Arthur Games, Fred Marchman, Chase Matthews, Larry Pratt, Lori Robinson, Jamie Smith, Will Smith, Margaret Warren, Sharon Whelton, Robert Schroeder, and others.

OUTDOORS: Select classic and restored antique cars and a wildly painted Porsche 356 C coupe, at Dauphin and Washington.

PLUS... test drive our Man Cave! and nibble on refreshments

Sponsored by Y-Paint, GK Restorations, Allure Studio, Lotus, Pursepicasity, Hourglass Boutique, the Garage and the Bike Shop

For info/appointment call (850) 375-4481

ArtWalk photo

Check out the sconces one the top and bottom of the photo. They are a new design, based on the up-light lamps that I make. Mount to a standard electrical bracket. I can stain them in any finish and add other elements to them. I think the night of ArtWalk we had over 2000 people come thru the gallery it was a great night. Thank you to all that came out.

Loda ArtWalk Turns 5!

Artwalk's fifth anniversary! Please come celebrate, tonight, at 453 DauphinSt. (L'arts Entre`) New studio/gallery presenting some of the best artists in town! Russ Gilder, Chase Mathews, April Hopkins, Melissa Acevedo,(Medussa), Kenny Thornton, Shelli Ingersoll,and myself as well! Cullinary arts and wine provided by Debbie Davis (Island Thyme- Eats and Arts) and Hope's Cheesecake. Musical arts by Jeremy and Skyler. - from Devlin Wilson's Facebook Post

ArtWalk June 2010

Here are a couple of pieces that I will be selling at ArtWalk tomorrow night. Russ Gilder and I will have a table out in front of the Mobile Arts Council with items for sale, also I will have work at the Ultra Lounge (above Spot of Tea), and Paper Wasp.

ArtWalk + Hot Rods

Next Friday, in addition to ArtWalk, another incentive to come downtown is the Hot Rod Power Tour 2010. Mobile is the last of seven cities on the tour, which is bringing between two and four thousand cars to our city. They'll be parked along downtown streets from about 9 AM until about 7 PM, when they move to Battleship Memorial Park. An area bounded by Government, Washington, St. Louis and St. Joseph Streets will be closed to all but essential traffic from 7:30 AM until the cars leave in the evening, so plan to park outside the area (perhaps at the Government Plaza or Riverview garages) and walk into LoDa. A free shuttle will circle the area until 7 PM. (Other Tour activities will be taking place at the Civic Center.)

Come savor a rare pairing of events. Artists, bring your sketchbooks and cameras to take advantage of some fresh material!
------------------------------

The illustration is by Russ Gilder from his show of motorsports art, Motors and Men, at Edward Jones (159 Dauphin St)

Fusion Painting Video

Thanks to all that put this event on (Paul, Ashley, Melissa) and invited me, it was a good time.

Pretty neat video. But its pretty long--10 minutes. It has sound so beware if you at work. Enjoy!

Arts Alive This Weekend

Just a reminder Arts Alive is this weekend, Friday – Sunday. Come down and visit with me. I will have paintings hanging at the Ultralounge and lamps at the Paper Wasp. Let me know if you have any problems finding my work or me.

Paintings hanging @ Ultra Lounge

Please go check out my paintings hanging in the Ultra Lounge above Spot of Tea on Dauphin street. Just take the spiral staircase to get up there. It has a great atmosphere and a beautiful view of Cathedral Square. Ultra Lounge is great place to relax and forget the work week. If you do not have any plans tonight, go up there and let me know what you think of the space and also my work.

Thanks
Chase

Makers Market

Markers Market brought to from Make Magazine. I got a link to this site the other day and on the first page I find this beauty… A photo of 1964 Corvair what a find! Man I gotta get one of the prints. Corvairs were and still great cars Raplh Nader was full of crap about the Corvair being unsafe at any speed. It was my first car in 90's and she did fine, the engine didn't even fallout. Still got her but she needs some major renovations done at this point. These photos are giving me inspiration to work on mine! Anyway the site is a curated market place. So over time I expect it to get even better than it is now. From a quick look around its seems to cover the gambit in wares that people have for sale (art, prints, jewerly, and other crafted goodies). I give it definitely A+ for their first try out of the gate let me know what you think of it.

Links:
Corvair Photos

Marker Market

Basquiat:The Radiant Child–Trailer

I found this on the Luceriffic Blog that my friend Kny runs. Good find man! If your a fan of Basquiat's work, you will probably want to see this as much as I do. Crescent Theater has a request link on their website, I have already requested it. If you would like to also click here
to request a movie via email. If you know any other fans send them here. I think it would great to get a movie like in mobile.

Haunted Hospital

There is a show friday night at the Temple, where I will have some work being shown. It will be my 3 of my lamps, radiator painting, hood painting and some older paintings. So please come out to visit and view the works.

Here are the details:

Haunted Costume Fashion Show

Friday, October 2, 2009 • 7:00pm & 9:00pm (doors open at 6pm)
The Temple, 351 St Francis St, Mobile, AL 36602

Tickets: $13 in adv/ $15 at the door- kids under 13 and Students (with id) $5
Added Bonus- keep your ticket and come back to the Haunted Hospital starting Oct.15-31 at the corner of Cedar and Dauphin Street!!

*All proceeds benefit the Downtown Creative & Wellness Foundation*

Art Auction and Art Gallery with many local artists represented....
Music acts: sunshine factory, seduction bomb and port wine stain....
Also:break dance team, and a ballet dancer....

Dance Party 10-1am ft. Kid Midi from NOLA