ML's Cat Paintings

SPCA Cat.


















Morris Cat.























Bella Luna Cat.

Living in Purple

Reaching for Happiness!

It can be a grim secular world at times. Just watch the nightly news, or CNN, Fox News. You get the idea. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Do we really need to wait for Brian Williams to tell us when it is ok to feel happy? If so, it could be a long wait.

Yet maybe it's all in the effort of the individual that can make a difference. In a blame someone else world, what if people could exercise an agenda of personal responsibility?

Today, I may try to make the reach. Beyond my own desires and dreams. An ultimate reach beyond myself. Isn't pure happiness a state of selflessness?


Reaching for Happiness is presently on display at ArtWorks until September 25th.

Somersault!

My latest painting was painted specifically for the ArtWorks/SPCA exhibit. Every piece of art submitted had to have a cat or dog theme. To no surprise, I choose the cat option.

Using my "Steve" style of bright, bold colors using an abstract graphical form, I choose to paint a cat doing a somersault. Though a pretty athletic move for a cat, the cat I painted completes the trick without ever losing her coolness. It is a painting of pure catness.

Somersault is presently on display at ArtWorks until September 25th.

Cat & Mouse

applegate Art's outreach program donated one of its original designer clocks to the ArtWorks/SPCA silent auction.

The silent auction took place on opening night at this month's ArtWorks show.

All sales go directly to the SPCA.

Just Staying Out There

I've stopped thinking.

1. Nail.
2. Hammer.
3. Pound the nail into the wall with the hammer.
4. Hang the piece of art on the nail.

Done deal. Art is hung.

Turn around, walk out the door, tipping my hat to the owners.

I've added a little color to the world. Mr. Art washboard spreads the notion that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

I'm back in the studio making more art.

Period.

Sour Grapes?

A bit harsh, maybe?

Especially since I have already published the Cliff Notes for applegate Art (read blog posting June 18,2008). But after a chat with the latest juror at the ArtWorks opening, who, in a nutshell, when prompted by me (which in hindsight was probably my error), said Monopolized was a piece with a sense of humor, or something to that effect, that has prompted me to write this blog.

Now, to put this discussion in its proper context, if you haven't already done so, please read my previous blog describing my intentions for creating Monopolized. Then answer this question: "Pretty funny stuff, huh?"

For the record, Monopolized is not a whimsical piece created to amuse people. Instead, its intentions are of a serious nature of a boy developmentally growing up in a society in which he perceives unspoken intentions and expectations on how and what he "should" be. Obviously, this is my story, reflected in my creations, but I'm curious and ask "am I the only person who's ever had these issues?" I'd think this is a universal theme. Compromising self for the sake of paying the mortgage, having to expound huge chunks of life time and energy devoted to "bringing home the bacon", as they say (isn't it ironic that in my effort to be healthy, I don't even eat bacon!).

But forget all this. As they say these days "whatever". My real issue here is the question, why wouldn't this juror have any more insight as to at least ask herself questions about why this boy is standing on a wooden ladder and why is he holding a bird cage? Why are the birds flying outside the bird cage? Who's that figure trapped in the bird cage? Why is the floor of the bird cage a Monopoly game? Why did this creator take the time and energy to create this collection of objects? Maybe they are trying to say something? Why didn't they just write it down on a piece of paper to make it easier for me to understand and include it with the piece of art? Why did they go to all this trouble...boy, ladder, bird cage, Monopoly game...and how did they even get it all in the building? Must have been a hassle at best.

Is this a case of Cool Hand Luke's universal statement: "What we have here is a failure to communicate"? I am left to wonder if it's a case of me not communicating, or is it people aren't making any attempt to listen. In this case, did the juror who supposedly is dedicated to listen to people who choose to communicate through the media as I do, suddenly go deaf?

So what's with me? Is this just a "Sour Grapes" blog? Just another creator whining because my work was not understood? Or am I disappointed in myself, as it is not the juror, or the other non-listeners I am bothered by, but the fact that I have let my own passions get tangled up with acceptance and perceptions of others.

What would Jimmy Lee Sudduth say if he read this blog? He'd be confused. It would make no sense to him. He's a visionary artist (see Feb. 17, 2008 blog). He paints a picture of a hog on plywood with mud. Why? Because there's something inside him that tells him to do this. It's that same something which tells me to do what I have been doing for my entire life. I've had people ask me why I do what I do. I tell them I'm not sure, sometimes it doesn't even make sense to me. But that's a lie. To me, it has always made sense. Perfect sense.

My frustration surfaces with the ignorance of a juror who refused to make an effort to listen, but my real frustration lies within myself for wanting the attention, feedback, understanding for my creations which I create to communicate very personal life messages.

Yet, this experience may be the constant reminder I need to keep receiving, that maybe, just maybe, my place is to create what I create and leave the what happens to the creation to someone else. For the real truth for me comes during those moments of creating. It only seems to get confusing when I pay attention to the promotion of my creation.

Jimmy, forgive me. It's time to bring the troops home and stay true to visionary artists like yourself, myself.

Now who's the dummy?

Monopolized.

The boy isn't that very old. He stands on the developmental ladder. A ladder that educators coerced him to climb too early in life. If left alone, he would have climbed the ladder at his own pace and need, happily.

Even at his young age, he is showing some age. Armless. Interesting to a "southpaw" such as myself, it is his left arm.

With his fingerless hand, he holds the vision of his to be adult life. Entrapped in a simple bird cage. Within, as an adult, he is running fruitlessly within the confines of the cage. Within the cage, he hears the incessant ticking of time behind him, while beneath his feet, the game of Monopoly. The game of power, wealth, ownership, poverty, the enriched, chance, opportunity. I've always been interested in the fact, though, no matter how wise one may be, it all comes down to that simple roll of the dice.

But even though he finds himself trapped by the game of Monopoly (life?) and time, his mind can be free. Ironically here, the birds aren't trapped by the cage. They fly free to experience vision, color, imagination, creativity, sense of self couched in humility. The birds, originating from the boy's mind, flying free of the cage, are his thoughts and feelings, dreams. The boy can never truly be caged as he grows into his manhood. If only he early becomes aware of his thoughts and protects them as precious jewels.

Outside the cage, hangs Jesus on the cross. A symbol of spirituality and hope. Ultimately, this is the boy's lifetime "get out of jail free" card. His life of creativity will only meaningfully flourish if his humility grounds him to the fact it is all only a gift given to him to share with the world.

It will be a lifetime struggle with his ego and the world. But a struggle, if won, makes his life here on earth, like heaven.
__________________________________________________________________

"Monopolized" can be experienced at ArtWorks today thru June 19th.

Jar Art

Occasionally, usually in a gift situation, I create what I call "jar art". It is a spiritual jar meant to serve as a reminder for the person I create it for. Virgin Mary represents spirituality as a protector against a secular world.

Within the jar are specifically selected pieces that represents various aspects of life. Sometimes some of the pieces will reflect a personal aspect for who the jar is meant for.





With this particular jar, it is a wedding present. The woman getting married, over the years, has supplied me with many special pieces which I have been able to incorporate into my works. She works at a thrift store. Say no more, right?

Here are the pieces included in this jar. Care to guess what each piece represents? The intention is for the jar owner, in a quiet moment, slowly rotate the jar watching the rotating pieces tumble, making a new discovery with each turn.

Pink Man Goes Public!

A few years ago, I complete a series of Pink Man paintings. Each painting depicted a poignant moment I experienced during a day of secular life. For each painting, I wrote a poem attempting to capture the moment with written word. Resulting in a visual, written documentation hoping to share my experience with others.

Each experience sent a message of enlightenment to me. Each moment will also remain vividly etched in my conscious memory.

Pink Man taking a walk depicts his continual struggle with time. Balancing time. Sharing time of passion with time spent "making a living". An ironic contradiction to Pink Man.

Buzzy's is the first exhibit a Pink Man painting/poem has been shared. The poem reads:

My business meeting at Wrightsville Beach ended early. Twenty whole minutes to spare. But I still needed to be back in Raleigh by five.

A small window for a walk on the beach. Ten minutes up, ten minutes back.

The ocean was a layer of deep blues. Churning in endless, tumbling waves crashing on the surf. Pelicans soared in formation within an eyelash above the horizon. Back lit by a serene pale blue-green sky.

I checked my watch every three minutes on my beach walk.

Driving back to Raleigh that day, I was haunted by the overwhelming question: "Why do I only settle for slivers of my dream?"

_______

View the entire Pink Man series.

Buzzy's Refreshed!

With our exhibit at Captain Buzzy's Beanery nearing an end on April 26th, we decided to switch out a few pieces to include more assemblages (to include a few with lights) and some new paintings by Mary Lynn.

Notice the gorilla cage perched over the table. Art in your face. A nice hot cup of coffee, danish, all the while Mr. Gorilla is staring in your conscious. A constant reminder. You have the solutions to your problems (key around his neck) if your only willing to look within yourself and not blame everyone else on the outside (key outside the cage he is reaching for).



April is speeding by. Slow it down with a cup of coffee with Mr. Gorilla. Just you and him. Take a moment to get to know each other. Captain Buzzy's in Church Hill. Just do it.

Proud Mary and the Recycled Rocketts.

Like a lighthouse on a foggy black night guiding ships safely home to harbor, a proud Mary blinks in the forefront of the Rocketts.

She is the spiritual light leading the way through the endless stream of secular distractions faced in ones daily life.

Behind Mary, secular distractions furiously blink their own vibrant colors, doing their utmost to blot out Mary's white light of purity and truth.

The Rocketts gathered behind Mary are all in various stages of life and situation. But no matter what their life situation may be, they will always remain safe behind Mary's light of truth.

Occassionally, a Rockett may step to the forefront, to the limelight. But the rush of such a risk can only momentarily be lived. The weight of personal responsibility will prove too much. The limelight only smoke screens the truth. Limelight is blinding. Self delusional. Ego inflating.

Proud Mary shine on.

My daily choice is do my best to stand firmly behind her to bask in her warm light of humility.

This is the best of days.








"Proud Mary and the Recycled Rocketts" is now being exhibited at the ArtWorks All-Media Show.

Brew Babies is Back!

Brew Babies has taken on many different faces over the years.

The whole concept started as an alternative to throwing away our broken coffee maker. Seemed reasonable to me. People have wondered why, though.

Pragmatically, it's a clock. It's an extension of "my sense of humor". Both interpretations are "correct".

But for me, it signifies more. Brew Babies is a representation of ones struggle to find, maintain their own individuality in a crowded mass of other human beings. This is the larger group of babies in the back water tank. Then there is the spiraling downward, the journey of life. The lone coffee cup is a focused area people find, put themselves in, providing a little more individual definition. A social group. Political alignment. A career. Favorite types of movies. These categories are endless, but the ones we choose, define us.

Yet, if you look closer at Brew Babies, there is one baby who is attempting to climb out of the coffee cup. I will only speak for myself, but as defining as the cup categories may be, they still lack in exactness. They still engulf ones real individuality.

My individuality is the person only I know when I am all alone. Exterior noises are silenced. I become invisible to all other human beings. It is my core. A core that no one could ever experience to its fullest. Words, art, music I create and share can all provide outward glimpses of who I am, but never that inner self which only exists within my soul.

Brew Babies is my visual reminder to take time to silence the world, find the space where, even if it's only for a moment, visit my soul, recharging for my next interaction with the mass of humanity we all exist in.
______

"Brew Babies" is presently being exhibited on the ArtWorks Landing.

SPCA Dog.

In a joint venture with SPCA staff members and applegate Art, a metal dog sculpture was painted and "decorated".

It will become a permanent display at the SPCA.

The Landing.

For about the past year, applegate Art has had an agreement with ArtWorks to display pieces of our art on their second floor landing.

It has been a great opportunity to highlight our art, especially pieces requiring electricity! I wonder what it is with my fascination of the use of lights?

Captain Buzzy's Beanery!

applegate Art has an exhibit at "Buzzy's" as of Monday, March 16th. Drop by and not only get a good cup of coffee in historic Church Hill, but also see our art.

While in Church Hill, walk down the block and visit historic St. John's Church, where Patrick Henry spoke his infamous "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech.

Walk a few more blocks towards the river and you'll get to witness some of the greatest views of Richmond from Libby Hill Park.

"Captain Buzzy's is a great place to hang. They have good coffee plus interesting, friendly and talkative staff. They offer free WiFi for hanging out with your laptop. They offer quite a few food items also. The ones I have tried are good. The location is in the Church Hill area, in an old building with a cool decor. Plenty of tables and comfortable chairs to go around."

Map It: Captain Buzzy's Beanery!

A dog's dream comes true!

Seventh Annual SPCA
Have a Heart Party
Fri, 13 Feb, 2009 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM

In the continued effort of applegate Art's outreach commitment, we are pleased to say we were asked to paint/decorate a "dog house", built by the local Boy Scouts, to be sold at the silent auction.


For more information about this SPCA event, click here!
(Click on images to enlarge)

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Richmond Magazine's The Complete Sourcebook 2009, was not only gracious enough to include applegate Art under its Art Galleries listings, as a working art studio in Richmond, but included a picture of our art as well.

Check it out. Buy a Sourcebook today. "On Newsstands Now". What a great Valentine's gift for your special someone! (I believe our studio pic is on page 140, not that we noticed, of course.)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Fly on the Wall.

applegate Art recently had an exhibit at Capital Coffee and Desserts in Carytown, Richmond, Virginia last November and December, 2008.

We have had exhibits before, but this one proved to be a very enlightening one. Due to how people sit at this coffee house, almost community style and the fact that there can be a lot of coffee drinkers there at one time, it gave us the opportunity to be the fly on wall.

Speaking for myself as an artist, the opportunity is rare when I get a chance to see how viewers of my art interact with it. If someone looks at my art while I am present, they could say anything (and have). Or, as is usually the case, my art hangs somewhere, while I'm somewhere else, wondering how people are reacting to it.

At this exhibit, what happened unintentionally, was I'd be sitting there drinking my coffee, when suddenly I'd hear the people next to me discussing my art. So I looked around at other people and noticed almost everyone at some point, would spend some time looking at the art and discussing it with whomever they were with. One time I even had a person sitting next to me start a discussion with me unknowing I was the artist!

The bottom line was a great experience. People were trying to interpret symbolism I used in my art, what was the painting/assemblage trying to say, etc. Sometimes their discussions would then blossom into bigger discussions and so forth.

























As I have said in previous blog entries, my art is my voice. During this exhibit I had the rare opportunity to hear my own voice being heard by others.

I was a very happy fly.

Home Sweet Home.

Come visit us!

Always open by appointment.

3002 Springhill Avenue
Richmond, Virginia
in "Woodland Heights"

applegateart@mindspring.com
804-433-8849

Map Us

Poof! Goodbye 3 South Stafford Avenue.

Top: Last Week.
Bottom: This Week.





In a blink of an eye, Paradise has moved. What took a year (add another year from the Park Avenue studio) to fill/install, in a weekend it was gone.

Seeing it empty, it's as if applegate Art was never there. Our art brought this worn out, tiny space new life, filled to the brim with color and imagination. It was good while it lasted.

But as I blogged previously, we have only moved on. Paradise never ends. Our new studio space at home is already beginning to flourish. In another blink of an eye, applegate Art Studio's vibrancy will be alive again for all to see and experience.

To peep or not to peep.

Last night was the opening of the January ArtWorks mixed media show.

There my "Paradise Through the Peep Hole" door stood proudly. My art voice speaking a tad louder than usual, sporting blinking star lights, a tape running CNN news constantly on a TV/VCR and a running electric clock showing randomness of time.

In a nutshell, the "point" of my door is a statement about how I feel the 24 hour news stations have too much influence on how people form their opinions these days. For many, their opinions now merely mimic what they've heard on "the news". They only caw like large black crows, in leafless trees, do. "Never More" they cry in that haunting tone of emptiness.

The other side of the nutshell, there is the peep hole. A way out. The ladder. An escape, if you may, from the barrage of cawing negativism and undertone of glee in their voices as they "report" their latest interpretations of doom.

When one looks thru the peep hole, they will see "Mary" glowing brightly, a golden angel baby spinning with joy, a ballerina spinning with life and a white lamb of hope.

Thru the peep hole one can regain their lost sense of personal integrity. With a scent of fresh air, once again, see an unfiltered sunrise coming over the horizon. Form an original thought. Taste hope and know a solution can always prevail, if one allows oneself the freedom to believe that's so.

As the artist, I thought a door with a peep hole and the title "Paradise Thru the Peep Hole", would be enticement enough to invite the viewer to look thru the peep hole. But interestingly enough, last night as I stood aback from my piece, being the fly on the wall, I watched people look at my door, but did not peep!

Being a solution orientated artist/man, I could know longer let people miss the opportunity to transform through the door of doom to the other side.

What to do?

In a gallery office, I found a bottle of White Out and wrote on the black arrow pointing to the peep hole (how subtle is a black arrow, I ask?) and wrote the word "peep", adding a white arrow. Lo and behold the heaven's parted! Standing back again, I watched the people now tenuously take a risk and make the "peep". My voice became clearer.

Whatever it takes, huh?

In my life, all I ask for is the chance. Opportunity. To live, experience the other side of the door. Ironic that sometimes it only takes the willingness, energy to peep.

Paradise not lost, only moving.

John Milton not to worry. All is still right with the world, it's just going to shift a bit. Paradise of the heart is still very much alive and vibrant. Only it's shell is physically moving.

Back home again.

A cleansing period. Out with the unneeded, finding objects I had lost track of. A stirring of the pot. Making connections of separated ideas and concepts, all resulting in new concepts of art. A strengthening of my art voice.

Back to 3002 Springhill Avenue.

How nice it will be to, once again, create art in my robe and slippers.

applegate Art & SPCA!

As part of our community outreach program, applegate Art is exhibitling 3 original cat paintings for sale in the SPCA cat adoption area. All revenue generated by sales will be donated to the SPCA to help in their continuing effort to find homes for great cats.

Shawn (pictured) is there and waiting for you today!

SPCA

Art for Autism

The assignment, take a given duck pin and turn it into a piece of art which can be sold at a silent auction to benefit the Faison School for Autism. applegate Art is happy to say our "Autism Lamp" sold for $150 to help the cause.

If you have a lead, suggestion as to how/where applegate Art can continue to participate in its outreach program, please leave us a comment.

Our art is a gift to share, to use it to benefit others is our goal.

(Story covered in Style Weekly, Dec. 10, 2008)

What you don't see is what you get.

(Note: click on an image to enlarge.)

(View looking in peep hole on the door.)

As I continue to create my latest piece titled "Box of Doom", it occurred to me, I am probably spending almost as much time working on the back of the door as the front. At first, I was amused by this. Here I am spending so much time on a view most people will never take the time to look at. (It would be interesting to be the fly on a wall to see how many people actually walk around the door to look at the back.)

Then the thought struck me. As an assemblage artist, it's the construction of a piece that can bring me the most satisfaction. There is a distance between the idea and the construction of that idea. I can spend an hour sometimes, looking for that just right screw to make the attachment I need to make. Yet, when I find that screw, the distance is met, adding another layer of completeness to the piece which may never be realized by anyone else but myself.

A side note: I made the decision years ago, to not use glue unless the situation called for it. Too easy to just glue here, glue there. It short cutted (poetic license) the problem solving process for me. Not to mention, glue never gives me the satisfying feeling of permanence.

I suggest the next time you look at an artist's assemblage piece, not only enjoy the concept/idea/message of the work, but also muse "look how they decided to attach that piece to that piece..."

It's part of the art, it is the art.

Self reminder. This thought looms larger than the "Box of Doom". When I look at the "front" of something in life, maybe I should take another moment to also look at the "back". The construction of what I am looking at. Maybe then, I can have the opportunity to really understand/comprehend what I am looking at.

Possibly it's what I can't see that makes all the difference?

Someone's in the Kitchen with Mary

Detroit, 1972.

Downstairs, the old man with three teeth is yelling.
Being upstairs is sometimes no better than being downstairs.
He and his son are arguing again. He don't speak English
too good. By nine, his beer has been guzzled, becoming
an authority of his own. Meaningless words fly back and
forth. Reason is replaced by loudness. His life belongs
to the kitchen table he sits at, night after night.

When he was twenty-two, he must have thought
of more than a kitchen table and white T-shirts.
Didn't his youthful dreams search for much more?
Or did he never sleep, only to lie awake, staring
into the blackness, never dreaming.

- Now showing at ArtWorks the month of November.

Art Heist!

Sunday, 22 August 2004
Scream stolen from Norway museum!

Armed robbers have stolen the iconic Edvard Munch painting, The Scream, from the Munch Museum in Norway. Two masked thieves pulled the work and another painting, Madonna, off the wall as stunned visitors watched on Sunday. One robber threatened staff with a gun before the pair escaped in a waiting car, a museum officer told the BBC.

Saturday, November 2, 2008
Cat Watching Bird stolen from applegate Art Studio!

Sometime Friday night the painting on wood was taken from its metal stand. The painting had been hanging there, day and night, for almost a year. But alas, finally an art connoisseur, must have spotted this landmark painting and decided they had to have it for their own personal collection. It had been viciously ripped from the two shower curtain hooks it had been hanging on, never having a chance.

The Scream, now Cat Watching Bird. What has it come to?

Is great art no longer safe in our world anymore?

Brew Babies Censored!

A couple of weeks ago, I put my piece "Brew Babies" in a local coffee shop. Seemed like a natural. Coffee Shop. Coffee assemblage.

This morning we went there for our usual early Sunday morning coffee and sesame bagel. The owner (who happens to be a friend of mine) told me that during the week there was a complaint from a "Christian" about "Brew Babies" and because he needs to pay his mortgage, decided to take down my piece. And as we all know, the customer is always right.

At first it was no big deal. At first. But then I went for my Sunday morning bike ride. One benefit from my bike rides is that it gives me a time to think clearly. Uninterrupted.

It is now still no big deal, but having said that, I feel it's important for me to state my case about Brew Babies and being censored by a Christian.

I feel this Christian jumped the gun. Spirituality (note, I didn't say religious) is one of my main art themes. I have always felt spirituality is the solution to present day secular issues. Spirituality is always used as a metaphor of hope, peace, tranquility and the likes.

To be continued...better to have start than never to have started with only good intentions of doing so...

So it's now a couple of weeks later. Guess what, I've decided I don't care. To each their own, there are more important things. Brew Babies is now safely home, serving as a fine night light, clock. All is well. Bella Luna is sleeping soundly on the red chair.

Amen.

Cliff Notes for applegate Art?

Hawthorne was an artist. His medium was the written word. He told a story and painted images as he wrote. He used symbolism to represent different ideas that he was communicating with his reader. The reader has the responsibility of trying to interpret these symbols within context of Hawthorne's message. Sometimes the reader will seek help making these interpretations. Participate in a book club. Read other's opinions. A newspaper article. And if in the desperate mode, one can read the book's infamous Cliff Notes. There is it all laid out chapter by chapter. Clear as a cloudless, sunny day. It is important to note, though, that Hawthorne isn't the author of The Scarlet Letter Cliff Notes.

I am an artist. One of my mediums is mixed media assemblages. My assemblages are created to tell a story and/or message. I, too, use symbolism. Birds = flight or freedom. Virgin Mary = selflessness, a world beyond one's one self. Gorillas = mocking the intelligence of mankind. Mirrors = reflect the message onto the viewer's own life. Dice = superstition. Blinking white light = lighthouse sending out life saving message. Do I need to go any further? Nothing all that deep. Freud would get it. Didn't he use symbols?

So here's my question, why do people constantly "advise" me to explain my assemblages so people understand they are not just expressions of whimsy created by a man who has lost touch with any sense of pragmatism? I should write up little paragraphs of "explanations" and display them with every piece. Ok, I tried this, but guess what? There is a reason I choose to tell my stories/messages via the medium of assemblages. I do not want to reduce the experience using the constraints of the written word. Especially my written word. I am not Hawthorne. As Hawthorne is not Steve Applegate.

As a viewer of my art, I only ask you to take a bit of the responsibility of reading my assemblages, my stories, my perspective on life. You will find my perspective isn't that personal. I express general themes of spirituality, struggles and the likes.

If and when I create a piece that highlights a Virgin Mary night light with a bright scarlet letter on her breast, then you just may want to head on down to your local bookstore and see if you can purchase a copy of applegate Art Cliff Notes.

Howard Finster

Howard is another well known visionary artist. Listen to his story and how it has inspired me!

Howard's story

Calvin Black

I encourage you to watch the video. Calvin speaks for himself.

Calvin Black

Passionate Visions

From talking with other people, can I be the only person in the world that knows about self-taught visionary artists? I don't think so. So then what's the problem?

If you are at all interested, I am going to list some links here to shed some light on the subject. Yes, I am biased, as I feel these artists are the pure artists in the world. Hey, it's my blog, right?

I'd start by obtaining the out of print book: "Passionate Visions of the American South." - New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana. This is the show's exhibit book. I saw this show in Raleigh, N.C. in 1994, four times.

You can search Google to buy it, or just go to this Amazon.com link

Did you know of the American Visionary Art Museum at the Baltimore harbor?

How about The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in Chicago?

This is a good start. Check these out and see if it doesn't help. If not, leave a comment and we'll talk!

Paradise!

How come all of a sudden, out of the blue, the applegate Art studio now sports a large black and white sign which reads Paradise?


It was an insight after reading the PBS "What is Visionary Art?" web page. It states: "Visionary artists come from all over the world and the one thing all of them most like to show in their work is the Garden of Eden - or their own paradise on earth."

I have been wondering lately why a lot of my time spent at the studio has not been only focused on a specific art project, but rather the studio itself. I used to say the studio itself is an installation. It is a piece of art within itself. It reflects my thoughts, opinions, feelings, passions, quirks.

Now I realize what I have been doing is creating my own Paradise.

Reflecting back, anywhere I've ever lived, I have always created my Paradise. I've had Paradise in basements, family rooms, master bed rooms, etc. Yet no matter where they were physically, all had the same common denominator. My Paradise becomes an area layered in concepts of ideas and color. Paradise is my voice. Only if one is willing to take the time to fully explore/experience my Paradise can they hear, otherwise it is lost to them.

So Paradise it is!

Today it happens to reside at 3 South Stafford Avenue, Richmond, Virginia.

"Jesus" Birds

Awhile back, I showed a co-worker one of my latest paintings. She said she liked the painting, but she wanted to know why I put Jesus birds in a lot of my paintings?

"Jesus birds? Why do you call them Jesus birds?"

She, still in her 20's, immediately went to Google, found the following site: www.thedowsschoolroom.com/bibledecobaby.shtml and there they were, Jesus birds. She proceeded to tell me my birds look just like all the cut out birds on church school bulletin boards and she remembers them from her childhood.

This was a first for me, but I admit she's right in that my birds sure do look like those Jesus birds. It was then that I decided that this is what my birds are, Jesus birds. Nothing wrong with this. Nothing wrong with Jesus. Maybe I've been "destined" to paint them, spreading the word on the wings of birds?

Hobby?

What is applegate Art?

That is a good question and may not have an answer. I'd say it's anything that is produced creatively/artistically by me and/or ML. Assemblages, paintings, graphic design, web design, painted furniture, concepts...you name it. And it's the concepts that make the definition hard. Also why I think art/artist is limiting. If you have the time, read what it says on the Visionary Art web site I have linked in the studio tour. This is close as I can find of an outside source describing what I do. It is more than art. Art is merely the vehicle to transport the concept.

This makes marketing/branding difficult. It also means I am not interested in following any academic solutions, at least only to a certain point. Yes, I'd like to sell, but the bottom line isn't the sale at all. It is the same as if I wrote a book, I'd like someone to read what I have written. When I create a piece of art, I'd like someone to look at it and share my message, thoughts, feelings. If it sells, fine, maybe I can then pay the rent. But what's most important is if someone would take the time to really look at a piece like "Sticking to My Guns" and not only appreciate the spiritual message involved, but also take notice of the actual construction details of the making of the piece. My expectations are high, I know. But they are there. It does not happen very often, a fact that I can handle better at some times than others. But as you notice, it doesn't stop the process, as I guess I will always create no matter what. I can't help not to. This is why I cringed when someone yesterday referred to what I do as a "hobby".

Chipping Away

I have continued to work on my piece, as well as continue setting up the studio, which I now realize is a task with no end. The studio is an installation within itself. A snapshot of the inside of my brain, as if I had my head permanently stuck within a cat scan.

What's great about working on an assemblage is that it nevers goes the way I originally imagined at the get go. One task can lead me on another path completely. On one hand, it could the construction within the piece, but also I find new objects, have new thoughts. When working on the piece, time stands still. There is no past. There is no future.

Because I decided to use the green key, which is from a ring of keys made for a baby to rattle, which has "happiness" imprinted on it, the piece is now a happiness icon, rather than joy.

The process continues...

"Joy" Assemblage

One type of assemblage I do is what I would call a reminder icon. I seem to have short term memory when it comes to remembering the good things, the positive slant. I find being surrounded by my icons on topics expressing spirituality, living out of self, freedom, entrapment being only a state of mind, and so forth, help my attempts to live an honest life.

What I am calling my Joy assemblage contains all of the elements I strive for on a daily basis. Pictured are a lot of the pieces I have collected from various sources, over different periods of time. For instance, the redbird is from a set of birds I got at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds flee market some ten years ago! Now it is the time to bring the pieces together to give me my "art voice."

Time

Work. Family. Exercise. Sleep. Eat...

Then there's art time. So easy pushed down on the priority list. The last art entry was on the 6th. Now already it is the 21st. You do the math. It's been awhile. The good news is that the studio is finally "ready" for the making of art. No excuse left.

Just do it.

Mornings in Paris

How does one return from this?

Every morning a walk to our favorite Pattasserie a block from our Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles.

Deux cafe au laits and still warm fresh croissants.

Served to us by our newest French friend.

"Je voudrais..."

A moment to reflect on the yesterday, the day at hand.

Assemblage Art Statement

Maybe it's best to start with sharing what's already been written...
my assemblage art statement.

Welcome to applegate Art!

This will be the beginning of periodic thoughts, announcements, insights about our art and what we are creating, thinking artistically.

We welcome discussions surrounding our art activity.