Special EYE to Watch – Christopher Lee Martin’s “Megacities”

Special EYE to Watch

by June Mattingly

Christopher Lee Martin’s “Megacities”

at Haley-Henman Gallery
A collaborative twosome, Haley-Henman specializes in the diversity of emerging regional artists and is known for hosting live conversations between the artists and their followers on a regular basis. Located in the on-the-rise Fort Worth Avenue Development District, it is not far from downtown Dallas (right across the Commerce Street Bridge), Dragon Street Galleries and Dallas Contemporary.

Megacity VI, 2010, digital lenticular  print, 30 x 40 inches,

“Megacities” is the title of Dallasite Christopher Lee Martin’s first show at this gallery. Cities of a mega size are metropolises; cities with populations over ten million fit the new nomenclature of megacity. Christopher graduated from Pratt Institute in New York, a mega city right there with a BFA in 2003 and is 32.

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Special “Eye” to Watch – Ryder Richards “Trajectory”

Up at the present and through August 28 is one main installation composed of free-standing attached drawing configurations on paper, attached to custom wood constructions, across from one another along long unobstructed walls. The titles and subjects of the pieces in the show are based in the ballistic trajectory of a Winchester rifle familiar to most through Cowboy and Western movies. The mere fact that the Winchester is the famous hunting rifle makes me personally shaky in the knees while ever so appreciative that an artist is addressing the unmatched power of this instrument to hunt and kill innocent  wild animals or a living being.

“Go(a)l(d): Antelope,” 2010 graphite, gunpowder, goldleaf, acrylic, wood, 7 x 5 feet

As unusual yet as effective as the rifle reference, the mediums used to reinforce its soulful meaning – graphite, gunpowder, gold leaf, acrylic paint and in the artist’s presence and by his own hand pre to the opening celebration, actual fire to emphasize chaos and the sound effects of real gunpowder exploding. The specially placed purposefully positioned small round wood posts attached to the walls to create rhythmic, definitive shadows represent the wideness yet directness of multiple bullet shots. more details >>

ARTIST – Celesta T. Segerstrom

Special “Eye” to Watch
June Mattingly // regularmain.com

ARTIST – Celesta T. Segerstrom
Celesta arrived at creating what to her was the logical solution for the summer windows- stylish, cool white and recyclable paper dresses to reinforce their slogan “Hunt, Gather, Recycle”- beautifully situated on four white graceful mannequins with “no personality.” The setting in all white makes everything “anonymous”; paper sunglasses and sun hats simply contribute to the theme.

Paper Versace & Valentino

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Special “Eye” to Watch – Harmony Padgett

Special “Eye” to Watch
June Mattingly // regularmain.com

Harmony Padgett

Her delicate, muted “explorations” defined by loosely defined, linear effects delicately placed over melting, warm, low impact coloration’s radiate peacefulness and calmness. No wonder these paintings exude such esteem!

“#3,” 2010, oil and spray paint on wood panel, 12 x 12 inches

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Special “Eye” to Watch – The MAC or McKinney Avenue Contemporary

Since founded over 15 years ago, this not-for-profit “Dallas advocate for creative freedom” has stood its ground as a spacious art showplace because of its backing of experimental as well as established art, giving a plethora of gifted artists exhibition s in a gallery/museum setting, and its central location. read the article

June Mattingly’s – Special “Eye” to Watch

TWO DRAGON STREET GALLERY SHOWS UP THROUGH MAY 1

Holly Johnson and Craighead-Green, celebrating their fifth year on Dragon Street, attracted their normally large number of content buyers and intent lookers in the  annual artist packed spring group shows openings. Openings like these draw interest-sharing folks to socialize while sipping wine, many of whose main desire is  to get first pick on a special piece by an artist they want to acquire that doesn’t  already sport a red dot on the label.

Bill Fegan, “In and Out,” 2010, oil on canvas, 58 x 72 inches

Dragon and nearby streets, not new to Dallas’s premier art galleries, are identified as the Dallas Art and Design District. On future dockets are galleries within a short driving distance, Conduit in its tenth year and Galleri Urbane in its first in Dallas; and look for these residents too, the Dallas Contemporary Museum, Photographs Do Not Bend and Marty Walker Gallery.

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