11 days in a row and counting over 100 here in Dallas area...now the tenth hottest summer on record...and still have half of August and all of September to go...our furkid has found the answer though...she has adopted her position of responsibility until cool weather approaches...

“Windows of the Soul” a huge success at Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte

Though only his first professional art exhibit, Justin Hunt’s paintings were a smash success at July’s “Second Saturday” celebration hosted by Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte on July 9, 2006.

Co-sponsored by Alternative Furnishing, BLING!, D’Vine Wine and Poppy;s Garden Café, Galleria d’Arte welcomed over 450 gallery guests to enjoy Hunt’s “Windows of the Soul” exhibit. The exhibit was a sell out, with Hunt taking many orders for commissioned pieces. Painting subjects featured Willie Nelson, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, and Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash to name a few.

Galleria d’Arte is proud to include Hunt as a permanent, resident artist so a limited number of his works will always be available exclusively at Galleria d’Arte.

The gallery was buzzing with a wide variety of gallery guests –everyone from seasoned art collectors to first-time guests. The atmosphere was alive with super-charged energy and a contagious feeling of good cheer. Experience a “Second Saturday” art reception for yourself; “Blues N’ Booze“is Galleria d’Arte’s next reception on Saturday, August 12, and features original paintings by Jonathon Kimbrell of Napkin Art Studios. Visit www.carriegarner .com, and click on the “Current Event” section for reception specifics.

I wanted to invite you to a gallery opening we are having featuring some of
my Photography work and the work of 15 of my photography buddies "The Dead
Photographers Society"
The event starts at 7:00 on Saturday August 12th
Location: Hue Gallery is located in the old Mansfield Post Office, c. 1892.
130 N Main Mansfield, TX.

Drag races at Caddo Mills, 22 July, 2006...loads of fun...

UPCOMING EVENT

"Click" - An Exposure Dallas premier photography event.

Friday, June 30, 2006
7:00pm - 10:00pm

D'vine Wine McKinney
101. N. Kentucky
McKinney, TX
Admission is free

Photography by Jeff Clow, Wade Griffith, Rachel Knickmeyer,
David Kozlowski, Niels Lund, Shane McDaniel, Rod Morris
and Jason Silverstein

“Windows of the Soul”

It is a rare occurrence when some one so young can creatively touch your soul, but that is exactly what Justin Hunt does.

Residing in McKinney, Texas, Hunt utilizes glass windows and tins as his canvasses. With oil pastels and acrylics, he combines the use of pop culture and traditional images to create entirely unique expressions of art.

Hunt's work ranges from portraits to abstract impressionism. His paintings express a wide range of color and depth, utilizing a variety of different media in his work. Whether on canvas, glass or tin, the familiar images of Katherine Hepburn, The Beatles and
Janis Joplin will speak to you. Experience Hunt's interpretations of familiar images presented in a fresh, new way.

Carrie Garner's Galleria d'Arte is debuting Hunt's creations in "Windows of the Soul" at a gallery reception on Saturday, July 8, from 7pm to 10pm. The exhibit will be on display from July 7 to August 9, 2006 at Galleria d'Arte.

The soulful sounds of The Quentin Hope Trio will complement the evening's celebration of the arts.

The reception is co-sponsored by Alternative Furnishings, BLING!, D'Vine Wines, and Poppy's Garden Cafe, all located in historic downtown McKinney.

The traveling Viet Nam Veterans Memorial was in Dallas this weekend and today a few of us vets went out pay tribute to our fallen brethren and our respects...from here it will go on to Mission and then on to Houston...this exhibit is truly worth seeing, even if you have no ties to that war, but not many my age do not...

Now this is interesting...we are on water rationing here in Collin County, but while walking around in the area of the square this morning I came across interesting sight at about 11:10, at the corner of Church St and Davis...

Collin County is DRY! We are on water rationing...for yards and such anyway...



We need some thunderstorm action around here pretty bad! The real issue here is that it is only June, and this area seldom gets much rain between now and September or October...could get nasty before summer's end if we do not get any rain in the next few weeks...

Had a short shoot with Dawn over the weekend at the Old Mill...and later found out that they will start charging to use the place for photography...so I feel good that I got the shoot done beforehand...seems like everyone wants some of yer cash these days...its a never ending vicious circle...

FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN Benefit Event

Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte proudly presents “For the Love of Children” benefiting Children’s Medical Center Legacy. The evening is a celebration of art, wine, food and friendship. The event will be held on June 22, 2006 from 7pm to 11pm.

Poppy’s Garden Café will host the event at 107 S. Church Street in historic, downtown McKinney. The restaurant’s awarding winning executive chef, Jeff Qualls, has created a special menu, and guests will be treated to a variety of wonderful wines from Stags Leap, Chateau St. Jean, Treana and Liberty School.

Live entertainment by The Maylee Thomas Band ensures the evening will be full of melodic pleasures. Ms. Thomas’ soulful style and powerful voice appeal to a wide audience. Your heart and soul will be touched once you have experienced a performance by The Maylee Thomas Band.

Highlighting the evening are original works of art by several award winning, metroplex artists. Carrie Cameron Garner, Susan Hanson, Kimm Lanus, Michael Longhofer, and JD Miller will share their talents and showcase their creations.

A broad diversity of works in oils, acrylics and mixed media will be displayed throughout the restaurant. A plethora of subjects, ranging from spiritual images to cityscapes, landscapes, and still life, are richly represented by these five talented artists. Each artist has been a featured guest artist at Galleria d’Arte in McKinney, as well as being represented in fine art galleries throughout the United States.

This fabulous evening is generously sponsored by M. Merrill Greer, CFPâ,
Senior Financial Advisor, an Ameriprise Plantium Financial Services ^SM practice.

Children's Medical Center Dallas is one of the largest pediatric providers in the nation and is ranked one of the top 25 pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S.News & World Report. As the primary pediatric teaching facility for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Children's is the only academic hospital in North Texas dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of children from birth to age 18. Private and not-for-profit, Children's is licensed for 406 beds, has more than 50 pediatric sub-specialty ambulatory programs and is the only pediatric hospital in the Southwest with a designated Level I trauma center. The 72-bed Children's Medical Center Legacy is scheduled for completion in 2008 to better serve children in Collin County and the growing region. More information about Children's is available at www.childrens.com. News media may subscribe to receive pediatric health news via the Web site's Media section.

For further information about the “For the Love of Children” event, contact Galleria d’Arte at 469.742.9509.

More from the Austin GTG:

Went on a short safari with some other photographers this weekend...more to follow...

Hmmmm...

McKinney, Texas – June 1, 2006

“THE SWEET RIDE”

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Christine Dial brings her distinctive compositional sculptures to Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte. “The Sweet Ride” will premiere at a reception on Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 7pm to 10pm, and will be on display in the gallery through July 5, 2006.

Throughout her artistic career, Dial has been intrigued by shapes, colors, and textures and the manner in which disparate materials can be fashioned into a coordinated work of art. After fruitfully creating three-dimensional woven wall hangings, Dial progressed into more compositional work, combining paint with fiber and industrial materials.

“The Sweet Ride” is the third progression in a genre that has evolved over the last 10 years. In the first phase, Dial designed and successfully sold wearable art pins, using buttons, laminate, fabric, leather, paint, and vinyl.

The artist cites “The Music Box Series” as the second phase in the progression. As a solicited participant in Austin’s annual Arthouse event, Dial created “The Music Box Series” in which she evolved to incorporating more industrial materials such as chains, springs, grommets, crayons and found objects. Simultaneously, Dial began to frame these various works of the series to increase their multi-dimensional effect.

In 2005, after more than 10 years in the genre, Dial suddenly envisioned art pins and music boxes of much larger proportions. Working on a grander scale and conceptualizing the use of more colors and new materials, Dial discovered hubcaps. Quotes the artist, “There are almost as many old, unusual, and imaginative hubcaps as there are buttons.” Using table saws and drill presses, Dial shapes wood that serves as a strong backing, then laminates the wood and arranges the shapes, ultimately applying color and installing the hubcap and other unusual items to complete the sculpture.

“The Sweet Ride” is a truly unique and exciting expression of art. We look forward to seeing you at Galleria d’Arte as we proudly premier Christine Dial’s creations.

Invigorating live entertainment by the renowned The Texas Gypsies will top off the evening, along with great spirits and gourmet treats.

BACKGROUND: Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte is located in historic downtown McKinney and offers a wide variety of art glass, pottery, and jewelry crafted by local artisans. Galleria d’Arte is the host of “Second Saturdays” where art galleries and other downtown businesses celebrate the arts and the community with live entertainment, spirits, and food.

Galleria d’Arte hours are Tue-Fri, 11am-5pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sundays and Mondays by appointment only. To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call the gallery at 469-742-9509.

More from the weekend:

Had a great weekend, shot some great stuff with some wonderful people and still had time to get a airconditioner and attic fan in....more to follow

Newest addition to the studio...LOL...the dartboard...

Storms...big storms...night before last here in our area - 3 people dead and 10 seriously injured - long night for Careflight people...serious devastation in parts of Anna, Westminster, and Pilot Point...tornado was a jumper - F3...reminds us all how Mother Nature can reverse our lives and humble us at will...you have to feel sorry for these folks, not only because of the loss of life and property, but also because these are rural communities without the same early warning system sirens those of us who live in metro area have at our disposable...no warning=loss of life almost every time...

“TEALE WE MEET AGAIN”

Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte is proud to welcome back renowned contemporary artist JD Miller. Join us on Saturday, May 13 from 7 to 10pm as we debut Miller’s newest creations in “Teale We Meet Again.” The full exhibit will be on display in Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte through June 7, 2006. Galleria d’Arte is especially pleased to count Miller as one of its permanent artists, with a number of his works on permanent display.

A long-time friend and mentor to Carrie Garner, JD Miller returns to Galleria d’Arte in what promises to be a vibrant celebration of art. Experience Miller’s emotional explosion of sculptural oils rich in light, form, and color which create a unique mood and a signature ambiance.

JD Miller was the featured performing artist at MPAC’s hugely successful “Black and White Gala” on April 1, 2006. Miller created “McKinney Water Lilies” (20” x 24”, unframed) at the MPCA gala, and this painting will be a featured work in “Teale We Meet Again.”

Miller’s reputation has increased dramatically in recent years as recognition of his oil sculpting technique has become widely acknowledged by both artists and collectors alike. JD Miller is represented not only at his Reflection FineArt gallery in Dallas’ Arts District and at Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte in McKinney, but also in fine art galleries throughout the United States.

Miller resides in Dallas, Texas where he contributes to diverse community and charitable activities. Counted among his many beneficiaries is the LoveLife Foundation, co-founded by Carrie Garner. LoveLife Foundation is an organization for at-risk children. Garner devotes much of her time and energy to many charitable endeavors such as the LifeLife Foundation and the Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra.

Live entertainment by the Quentin Hope Trio, great fare and spirits will make

May 13, 2006 an evening to remember.

Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’Arte has a wide offering of art glass, pottery, and jewelry crafted by local artisans.

Carrie Garner’s Galleria d’ Arte is located in downtown McKinney on the square at 100 E. Louisiana Street. In conjunction with this celebration, a number of other downtown businesses extend their hours and celebrate the arts on Saturday evening.

Galleria d’Arte hours are Tue-Fri, 11am-5pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sundays and Mondays by appointment only. To schedule an appointment please call the gallery at 469-742-9509.