Cool Night In The Hot Town

I'm not going to lie to you, this show looks fantastic! David Johnson's Books and Prints make a great addition to the (brand spanking newly painted) Bakery Gallery walls.

The artist made it to the Opening where he provided not only a sugary whit, but also 12 extra books for viewers to peruse. Make no mistake folks, these books be made for touching. (respectfully of course) We transformed the space into an Artist's Book mecca for a brief two hours.

Don't fret. While a few of the books high-tailed back to Indiana after the opening (particularly the STUNNING big books), we still have a hefty selection available through the beginning of August. Come check them out. They're engaging and cheap. Perfect for your burgeoning Artist's Book collection.

The identifier wall (along with Sarah)

The Dude himself (left) along with painter extraordinaire Robert Flory (visiting from Indiana)

stealing from the tip jar.

You may be thinking "Joseph, Anna & Heather, It seems like there were not a lot of viewers this go around. Is that possible?"

The truth is no, it is not possible. The 11th happened to be a scorching break between rainfalls. The Bakery Gallery, while equipped with three fans does not have air conditioning. You may also recall that it also acts as a functional bakery. With ovens. HOT ovens. So the temperature inside was in the upper 90's (no BS)

I sweated through two shirts. I'm not afraid to admit it.

Anyway, many of us spent a significant amount of time "cooling off" outside.

an intense discussion about the new "Twilight" film

Oh man, the gloves are coming on!

The BIG BOOK (24" x 30" (i think)) If you missed it...don't you feel bad?

and here I was worried the gloves would be too small.

What do you think of those new shelves? I think they look pretty alright.

So come on over! Please spread the news of our existence to anyone you can think of be it friend or press.

Until next time.

Louise Bourgeois (1911 - May 31st, 2010)

98 years due to a heart attack

Sigmar Polke (1941 - June 10, 2010)

69 years due to cancer

Uh Oh, Here Comes Trouble

This Friday come on over to the ol' Gallery and see what the new show is all about.

The Who and the What: David Johnson's exhibition "Books and Prints"

The When: 6:00 - 8:00

The Where: The Bakery Gallery - 1330 E. 12th Street in D'port

The How: Lots of driving, mounting shelves and sweating...an unusual amount of sweating

The Why: Come on, really?

David will be there to answer all of your questions. Maybe there will even be a baby or two for you to poke. (don't poke the babies please)

Or come on out to see the newly spackled and painted walls (did I mention the sweating...that's what caused it)

Lets end this pre-show with Johnson's Artist Statement for the Exhibition. It'll get you revved up in all the right places.

I make woodcuts, linocuts and etchings; otherwise known as Relief and Intaglio prints. I make Relief prints because they are the most primitive and therefore easiest: I can make them at home with a gouge and print them with a roller and a wooden spoon. A Relief print or woodcut transforms my drawing into something unforeseen with increased impact from the cut marks and resulting shapes. I discovered Intaglio prints or etchings at college in the mid 70’s when Iowa was the Printmaking capital of the world with an emphasis on Intaglio. When I think of Intaglio I recall what Mrs. Olsen used to say about Folger’s Coffee, “It’s the richest kind”.

I am very interested in Drawing and how when we draw we unconsciously select and emphasize aspects or elements of nature. The world is an immensely interesting and fascinating place at its best. To draw from nature or life is a way of studying and appreciating nature and life.

Prints are a way for me to select the most successful drawings from my sketchbooks and extend them. They seem to increase in richness and impact when I develop them as prints. When I combine things from different drawings into one composition the associations create additional implications; what do these two people have to do with each other? Why is this fellow jaywalking? Is this the student ghetto? Is this a dodgy part of town? When images are combined in books there are immense possibilities for association. And with books there are innumerable elements of consideration; drawing, printing, writing, type, binding, and paper just to name a few. I have come somewhat late to books; I have only made them for about fifteen years. I feel like a kindergartener in the realm of books, that is I am still a primitive; I have only begun to scratch the surface of the possibilities.

See you on Friday. Bring your friends