Solstice Greetings from Leo

Leo Osborne is one of our most well known artists...for many reasons. I feel that it always helps to have a visual of an artist. Well, I can't resist sharing this solstice image of Leo with you all. Obviously they haven't moved to Hawaii yet! He and his lovely wife Jane send everyone a solstice wish of peace, love and playfulness!

Sprout and the Bean...Joanna Newsom

A slow Saturday finds me wandering through the web and to this video. Enjoy!

Terry Tempest Williams book reading tonight!

THURSDAY DEC. 18, 5:30-7pm
Finding Beauty in a Broken World
book-signing and reading

I am a big fan of Terry Tempest Williams. When she visits me in the gallery, I must admit to feeling a bit star-struck. I get all nervous about what silly thing is going to pop out of my mouth and I freeze up. What she says and writes is just so stirringly beautiful, haunting and meditative, it strikes a particular cord in me that throws me off balance, in a good way.

I read her book Leap almost two years ago, and it was life-changing for me. The vision of her sitting in the Prado Museum in Madrid with a pair of binoculars, bird-watching across the room from Hieronymus Bosch's triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights is one of those many moments that I wish I could have been a part of. You have to understand, she was bird-watching a painting. She was sitting IN the gallery, with her binoculars trained across the room deeply into the painting and the guards watching, ...Bosch's 15th-century painting has hundreds of real and imagined species of birds depicted and even touches upon the theory of evolution.

In my non-english major/non-writer's opinion, I think that Terry's writing falls somewhere between non-fiction and poetry. For me, it bridges the creative gap between those two genres. I am not a huge fan of either one (I like art books, philosophy and fantasy/sci-fi...in know, weird), but she has found the perfect balance that lets me access and embrace both genres which have previously escaped me. I mean really, who else could put together mosaics, prairie dogs and the Rawanda genocide into a sparkling collection of facts and emotions?

I hope that you will be able to join us at the gallery this evening for Terry's reading.
The Valley Bookstore is a co-sponsor...thank you Steve Ashley!

Aaron Davis

This past weekend we had a great performance in the gallery by Aaron Davis. Here is a clip of "Downhome Girl" from recent Fall Tour at Bread & Bagel, Bowling Green, KY. I know that someone was filming the other night, so maybe we will get a live gallery performance to post here soon. Aaron is amazing and you should go see him when you have the chance.

Furry Candles, Organic Pizza and Non-holiday Music

What is one to do during these "times are tough" holiday times? I say "Buy creatively, buy affordably, and buy locally." You can do all that tonight at our December First Friday event, 5:30-7:30pm. Affordable, locally created gifts for yourself, friends and family will be highlighted. Anomaly Farm has a huge variety of t-shirts, scarves and for the first time, paper prints of their awesome designs. Halo Hats, those hot sparkly gems you see on warm heads all over town, will be featuring some great deals on seconds. Vanessa Sulzer hand prints birds on scarves...I am a huge bird fan so will be sure to get a few of those. Miga Rossetti...original mixed media paintings, cards, journals. Wren and Brandy have been busy working on many creative ventures including...furry jesus candles...what? Sure, why not! Molly McLaughlin makes tote bags...perfect for the grocery store or yoga and this new green world. I love Alissa Davies' paintings!!! Last time Babs got the ones I wanted...this time I will get first pick! Peyton Copp will be contributing the the warm-head phenomenon that is popping up all over Jackson.

Yummy organic pizza with perfect thin-but-not-too-thin crust...where to find it in Jackson? I found it at the South Side Pub & Pizza and invited owner Chris O'Dennessy to join us in SoBo and share his special treats.(He accepted. He'll be here tonight with samples and gift certificates for purchase) I LOVE their green/organic mission! The napkin that was placed in front of me, in what looks like any log cabin/sportsbar/family restaurant, was emblazoned with a big green 100% recycled stamp. Can't miss the message there. Then I saw the menu and all of its organicness, and heard about the greenhouse plans, and then I ate the delicious garlic-loaded pizza and it was a perfect night. (hmmm, maybe I should start competing with the Stache...)

We will be grooving to the always hip and eclectic Mr. Whipple (AKA-dj Chris Howell). He just spent the fall in California selling the most magical pumpkins you can imagine in the Pumpkin Patch, along with spending some serious time searching the racks in Amoeba Music. I know that he was up all night pulling together the best of his new finds and I can't wait for him to fill our airwaves in the gallery tonight.

Bring your cash and checkbooks because there are no credit card machines tonight...who needs to add more debt to their list this year?