Open House: Let there be (north) light

The new studio is finally up & runnin. to celebrate, we’re havin an inaugural open house this saturday afternoon – a chance to meet my new studiomates and see the new digs.

we’ve got north light, great work space, and both gallery and lounge areas.

if you’ve been to my old studio. the new one’s in the same building – now at the 3rd floor, at the opposite end. (take the main staircase to the top floor, make a right, and follow the sign of the bread to the very end of the hall.)

new studio mates, from left: jason brockert, dan sousa, sean thomas.
(click on each for links & work)

we’ll have some cool beverages and snacks – if stoppin by and need wanna check out some great local chow spots, i’ve listed some at the bottom of the post.

here’s the skinny:
sat May 3rd 11-5
560 Mineral Spring Ave #319 Pawtucket Rhode Island 02860
(bet. Lonsdale and Smithfield aves, opp. Lorraine mills)
new to the area, my studiomate jason posted a map here.

(*note: this isn’t the big building- (or pawtucket-) wide open studios – those are in september)
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local chow spots:

wicked good cheap eats, just north of Mineral Spring on Smithfield Ave – Shish Kebeb (lebanese), La Arepa (stuffed corn pies), and Hartley’s Pork Pies.

heading down mineral spring into CF: on Broad – killer mex at La Casa del Pueblo. on Dexter: Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers (RI institution since ‘32) as well as a ton o’ Latin American restaurants

About 2 miles away, on the Pawtucket/Providence East Side: Dougherty’s (140ish beer options to go with great pub food) and the timeless Moder Diner. At the junction of East Ave & Hope St/Blackstone Blvd: LJ’s BBQ, Garden Grille (Vegetarian), Rasoi, India (both Indian), Ran Zan (Japanese) & Chez Pascal (dinner only -think Chez Panisse and Gramercy Tavern)

At Mineral Spring Ave & Charles St – Pinelli’s North End Cafe. (gluten-free!)
About a mile down from the Mineral Spring/Smithfield Ave intersection (heading to Providence) – Chelo’s.

oops – almost forgot. KILLER vietnamese food- Pho Horn’s. bout 1-2 miles away in the Shaws plaza on Main st (leave the studio, make a rt onto Lonsdale, which becomes Main st.)

and, of course, Dunks everywhere. mine’s cream no sugar if you’re driving by.
Hope to see you!

Dean Richardson, Providence Giants.

Dean Richardson The Traveler Hasteth in the Evening, oil on linen
(image courtesy Providence Art Club, click to enlarge)

Dean Richardson’s probably my favorite living painter. Thinking of what he can do with sheets of color and a palette knife, my eyes mist up, just as his did when describing Goya’s work to us as young posturing RISD painter-bees.

His show at the Art Club (with Merlin Szasz, opening Sunday) is a rare return to Providence for the former Providence Giants 3B – he’s been showing up at the Chase Gallery in Boston for the last decade (images here.)

Dean Richardson Night on the River, oil on linen
(image courtesy Providence Art Club, click to enlarge)

As an Instructor, his quietness (shyness, actually – once saw him at an opening of HIS OWN WORK hiding out at the ice cream stand across the street) was intimidating – but with a few deft marks and quiet comments, he could cut to the heart of the painting like none other.

later, when I had not painted for several years, his words again resonated:

“I was not a good painter in school. Painting sense eluded me. It took me years to get a feeling for it. Some of my inability must have come from frustration with that, but mostly it was that I didn’t know who I was.

Art school teaches you a stance. It’s not about art. Art is doing what you feel. I crept up on my sense as a painter, a feeling that I had a point of view. It took me a while to get there, but once I did, I had no choice but to paint.”

more images, and an artist’s statement, here.

Dean Richardson and Merlin Szasz
Opening Reception: Sunday, April 27, 2-4 pm
Providence Art Club 11 Thomas St Prov RI 401.331.1114
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PSA#2 – My work’s still up on the walls at Chez Pascal – and if you needed an excuse to drop in, here it is, gift wrapped: the Knockout combo of their mighty kitchen and Andrew Shotts (Food TV’s top chocolatier in America) come together for their annual chocolate dinner this Monday, Apr 28.

Going to the Dogs

milkbone, 4×6in, acrylic on panel

Last night was the kickoff for Going to the Dogs, (could be the theme of the blog lately, given the lack of updates) a canine-inspired invitational & auction at the RISD Museum.

my contribution was a no-brainer – with a 13yd old mutt, the milkbone (prime vehicle, with PB, for doggie meds) is a staple in our kitchen cupboard.

the mix of invited artists – mostly from RI, too numerous and accomplished to list ‘em all here – ranged from ‘ol hounds with international reps (richard merkin) to risd faculty (melissa ferreira) and younger providence pups like cw roelle. wasn’t just 2d work, either – scott benson contributed a gorgeous maple doggie dining table.

finally got to put some faces to familiar names, including photog traer scott (even if a shelter pup hasn’t already claimed your heart, her b&w portraits are incredibly moving – better still, she also contributes a portion of proceeds from sales of the book to the aspca)

personally, it was a treat to see my work hung on a wall that’s previously hosted the works of degas and picasso – professionally, it was one to be included in such a solid show.
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one last ‘art & animals’ tidbit – this Creature Comforts video. dare ya not to laugh. (thx gilly & renee)
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Going to the Dogs info:
work can be seen (and bid on) during reg museum hrs -
Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; third Thursday monthly until 9pm
224 Benefit Street, Providence RI 02903 USA
401 454-6500

the event wraps up on May 3rd, with guest Frank Robinson auctioneer & gala cocktail party 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information 401-454-6505.