[Editor's note - this turned up in Mailer-Daemon's mailbox as you see it below. To protect the identity of the reporter i'm referring to him/her as Artshole...]

January LoDa Art Walk….

LoDa Art Walk was terribly and unfortunately blah.  It was colder than Hillary Clinton in bed, a couple of exhibits were so-so and there just wasn’t anyone there.  The weather  is understandable…I know it’s a state wide crisis when weather dips below 70, but come on Mobile!

Space 301, 3+3, clay survey-

This exhibit was by far, the winner…possibly of the year actually. 3+3 is an exhibit of 5 ceramic artists who will be part of the upcoming Alabama Clay Conference.  It was curated by Tony Wright and I truly applaud his choices.  It is a great mix of pieces from sculptural objects to more classical teapots and vessels.  A personal favorite was Misty Gamble’s installation work Tan Hands.  This row of tanned ceramic hands sport a diamond, showing off the ring in elegant poses and exploring concepts of femininity, status, and age. Posing the question ‘How the hell did he do that?‘, Chris Gustin’s large scale vessels fill the space with a quiet calmness.  The beautifully organic pieces are finished simply with soft colored glazes.  All and all, well worth the trip downtown– 3+3 will be up until Feb. 20th.

Mobile Arts Council, Mobile Watercolor Society-,

Usually one of the more packed galleries during LoDa, MAC was pretty dead on Friday night. The show was one of my least favorites put on by MAC, due to my love/hate relationship with watercolors.  I think that while they can be done well and beautifully, most of the time they fall short of that with subject matter and technique. But, I digress… I did enjoy Mary Rodning’s paintings which were loosely based off of traditional Japanese watercolors. The distinct style and delicate application set her apart from the majority of the work being exhibited.

Lunatix & Co, Elizabet Elliot-

Photos courtesy of Nikki Burkett.

After 301, Lunatix had the most visitors during art walk ( I’m excluding Cathedral on this one, remember?????).  Courtney had the Mulligrubs playing outside, the front filled with new stuff and Elizabet Elliot in the back.  Some new pretties in the front included several silky nighties and lingerie printed with Nikki Burkett’s wood blocks and Rachel Wright’s anatomy dresses.  While I love the folk art quality of Elizabeth’s paintings, what I really dig is the cloth panels surrounding her work.  Cut out trees and and a landscape in varying shades of white and beige created this beautiful, translucent world around her fairy tale-esque art.

Blue Velvet Studio, Mural Night,

I absolutely loved the idea and I think it was a great follower after the nude show.  Although, when I popped in there was only a handful of people painting, it is something that may be better pursued outside in the spring when more people are out and about…Defintely looking forward to the black light exhibit and the costume exhibits in the spring.

Hopefully in Feburary more people will put on a jacket and head downtown….Cold never hurt no one…but don’t ask Winnie bout that.

www.mistygamble.com/

Did you get caught up in the holiday season and forget to register for that class or workshop you wanted to take? It’s not too late! Did you not get exactly what you wanted for Christmas? Treat yourself! There are several classes that begin this week and one-day workshops throughout January and February. Join CLA or renew your membership to get 15% off classes. Classes will be cancelled if registration is insufficient, so call 208-5671 to register today.

Projects in Fiber Arts, every other Tuesday 10am – 1pm, 1/11-2/22
Beginning Quilt Making, Tuesdays 5:30-8:30pm, 1/11-2/15
Winter Cooking: Heritage and Comfort Food Series, Tuesdays 6-8pm, 1/11-2/15
Wheel Throwing and Hand-Building Ceramics, Wednesdays 5:30-8:30pm, 1/12-3/2
Figure Drawing Group, Wednesdays 6-8:30pm, 1/12-3/2
Wire-wrapped Glass Jewelry, Wednesdays 6-8pm, 1/19-2/9
Three Hardcover Longstitch Journals, Wednesdays 5:30-8:30pm, 2/9-2/23
Warm and Cool Painting, Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm, 1/13-3/3
Greek Sewn Journal, Thursdays 5-9pm, 1/20 & 1/27
Figure Drawing Group, every other Friday 10am-12:30pm, 1/14-2/25
Weaving with Glass workshop, Saturday 1/22, 10am-12pm
Fiddle Tunes of the Civil War (and before) workshop, Saturday 1/22, 10am-3pm
Seven Pointed Star Book workshop, Saturday 2/5, 9am-4pm
Yoga, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-1pm & 6-7:15pm, Saturdays 10:30-11:45am

For the kids:
Mardi Gras Madness workshop, Saturday 2/19, 1-4pm

Live at the Space: Jesse Winchester
An intimate evening featuring the singer/songwriter. Benefits Centre for the Living Arts and Saenger Theatre Chandelier Restoration Fund. 6:30 PM: Terrace Bar opens; 8 PM: Concert. Space 301 (301 Conti St) VIP tables for 6: CLA members: $342 (paid before 1/1/11); nonmembers/ $402; individual tickets: CLA members/ $52; nonmembers/ $57 (all tickets include $2 additional fee for Saenger Restoration Fund) 251-208-5600

A concert in a series of performing arts entertainment at Space 301
An Intimate Evening with Jimmy Hall and Friends
Performing with:
Donna Hall Foster, Jack Hall, and Rickey Chancey
Performing as you’ve never seen them before!

Benefit for Centre for the Living Arts and Saenger Theatre Chandelier Restoration Fund

Limited Seating – 175 tickets
Terrace Bar opens at 6:30 PM, Concert at 8:00 PM

Reservations guaranteed with payment. Tickets required. LIMIT 175.
Tickets: All tickets will have an additional $2.00 fee for Saenger Restoration Fund

Tables – 8 VIP tables for 6 are available
$312.00 for CLA members (reservation & payment before 12/1/10)
$372.00 for non-members

Individual Tickets – 100 available $42.00 for CLA members before, $62.00 for non-members
CLA Members may purchase tickets on Thursday, November 11th, in advance of the public sale date, which is November 19th.

For reservations and information call the Saenger Box Office at 208-5600

Help us kick off Kula Yoga Community’s new location by throwing on your scariest Halloween costume and heading to Space 301 to meet the teachers of Kula! Yogis from various backgrounds and experiences will lead short segments of this light-hearted, beginner-friendly practice to weave a beautiful web of yoga from different styles and techniques. Join us for light refreshments afterwards while enjoying the moon rise! Bring water, a towel, a costume, and a sense of humor. Pay what you can. All proceeds go to Space 301.

Space 301 is a museum and a community art center in downtown Mobile that offers classes in everything from Japanese calligraphy to bookbinding and pottery.  It’s located next to Cathedral square, just a few blocks from the water.  It used to be the home of the Mobile Press Register and has been remodeled.  It is a beautiful space – and the next space Kula will be using for classes (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).  We’ll be on the third floor overlooking the park with the downtown landscape as a backdrop.  Two full walls in the room are glass, so the view is amazing.  The room (called the auditorium) has etched concrete floors, high ceilings and can probably hold 100 mats without overcrowding.  There is also an adjacent balcony  that can easily make space for 20-25 yogis for outdoor practice when the weather allows.  It is a beautiful space – and perfect for yoga.

The Halloween party is from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday afternoon (10/31).  This will be a gentle practice that will test the teachers’ skills.  Each teacher will be called on to teach a portion – but none of us knows when or what part – so the improv factor should prove interesting!  We’ll have food, beverages, and plan to spend some time getting to know the teachers and other students.  It’s a kick-off event to announce our newest location, and also a change for us to put the ‘community’ factor into play.  It’s amazing when teachers and students from various studios and gyms, from different yoga traditions and styles, even people from different cities, all get to know each other.  Come in a costume (or not – your choice) and join us for a little food, a little practice, a little socializing.

The October Artwalk Video from Jolt Productions

Mod Mobilian recommends Jolt Productions for all your video production needs.

featuring:

Performance by Elements of Difference at Cathedral Square Gallery 

“Holly’s Gallery” (306 Dauphin St.) “Art(ology) – All Funked Up” – Holly Carrigan and Ardith Goodwin

Space 301 – “Inherent Nature”

Robertson Gallery – Trent Bullis, manager – “Best of Show – Equine Art” – Meredith Keith & Adele Sypesteyn

wellbornIdeas – Jason Lee, Randy Gwynn, David Foster

Edwards Glass Studio – Ed Edwards

Jada Studios

hummingbird ideas – Laura Wilson & Nick Yianitsas

Cathedral Square Gallery – Ginger Woechan

Blue Velvet Studio

Mobile Arts Council Skinny Gallery

Happy hour takes on a new meaning with Sippin’ @ the Space. Relax after a long Thursday workday with an incredible view and venue on the Space 301 terrace featuring specialty drinks and appetizers. Enjoy music and more. Each month features a specialty cocktail, beer and wine. For a $5 donation, you get a choice of 2 drinks and a chance to join new and old friends.  Guests must be 21 or older to enter.

For more info, contact Blair Boudreaux at space301@cityofmobile.org or (251) 208.5671

We know you’re really busy this fall, but this is a good chance to balance your hectic work and family schedule with a really fun art class or workshop.  There are many new classes to choose from and several really popular ones you haven’t tried out yet.  Classes meet weekly for two to eight weeks and workshops meet just once, so you can choose a time commitment that works into your schedule.  Several fun children’s workshops are also planned for this fall.  Some classes begin next week, so don’t miss the fun!  Call 208.5671 now to register.

The kick-off concert for a series of performing arts entertainment at Space 301
An Intimate Evening with Will Kimbrough
Performing with:
Bryan Owings, Drums and Percussion – credits include Will and the Bushmen, Delbert McClinton, Emmylou Harris, Ray LaMontagne, Buddy Miller, Amazing Rhythm Aces
Tim Marks, Bass – credits include both Taylor Swift albums, and lots more…

So we’ve got the gamut covered from Ray LaMontagne to Taylor Swift to Will and the Bushmen. Something for everyone!

Benefit for Centre for the Living Arts and Saenger Theatre Chandelier Restoration Fund

Limited Seating – 150 tickets

Terrace Bar opens at 6:30 PM, Concert at 8:00 PM

Reservations guaranteed with payment. Tickets required. LIMIT 150.
Tickets: All tickets will have an additional $2.00 fee for Saenger Restoration Fund

Tables – 8 VIP tables for 6 are available
$252.00 for CLA members (reservation & payment before 8/19/10)
$312.00 for non-members

Individual Tickets – 100 available $32.00 for CLA members before 8/19, $42.00 for non-members
CLA Members may purchase tickets today, Wednesday, August 18th, in advance of public on sale date.

For reservations and information call the Saenger Box Office at 208-5600 or Space 301 at 208-5660
Space 301
301 Conti Street
Mobile, Alabama 36602

Two prominent board members of the Centre for Living Arts, which oversees Space 301 and the Saenger Theatre, have resigned after clashes over the search for a new director; Chair of the board of directors, Carol Hunter (Downtown Mobile Alliance) and former Republican Senator, First Lady of Mobile 1972, Mobilian of the Year 1993, and Philanthropist of the Year 1998, Ann Bedsole.

Bedsole is a longtime member of the Centre for Living Arts board and a chairwoman of the distribution committee for the Smith Trust, a major financial supporter of the CLA.

Bedsole : “If I persist in what I want us to do, we are going to lose Bedsole Foundation funding, and I don’t see that the organization can afford to do that right now, and I don’t want to stand in the way … of keeping them from getting money they need because I don’t agree with the fiscal philosophy of the search committee.”

This is only the latest round of significant personnel shake-ups within the organization. July saw the retirement of CLA president and CEO Carlos Parkman, a “fixture” in the organization for almost a decade, and the appointment of
Wendy Riggs, senior consultant at Arts Consulting Group Inc., as interim executive director. Riggs described the resignations as “unfortunate,” but said the CLA board is moving in the right direction. When she worked at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Wendy Riggs wore a big pin displaying the phrase, “But we’ve always done it this way.” with a big red X through it.

Wendy Riggs

Riggs has previously been quoted as saying “You have to make people understand that the arts really are about quality of life,” she says, “not so much (about) disposable income.”

The Centre for the Living Arts, which operates the historic Saenger Theatre and Space 301, is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit established in 1999 to promote contemporary visual and performing arts in downtown Mobile.
Its purpose is to provide opportunities for the development of interest and participation in the visual and performing arts by the general public, and to create opportunities for learning, practice and display of these disciplines in the Mobile area.

Read more on AL.com , where the only comment published at this time is:

There’s ignorant and more ignorant. Those non-Mobilians who forced Ann Bedsole out of the Centre for the Living Arts are the most ignorant I have ever encountered. Had it not been for the Bedsole’s the Saenger Theatre would now be a parking lot. There would be no art gallery, and you the wanna be’s thinking you know what is best, are going to find out when Ann Bedsole and Mabel Ward pull their funding for this centre, you are not going to be able to pay the light bill. Being born under an azalea bush is important in Mobile, it is apparent a few unwise need to respect tradition.

LOL

[ModMobilian.com would like to thank Thomas Harrison for his superior coverage of Mobile's Art Beat.]

“The azalea bush is dying…The days of being called an artist because you have the right last name and paint OOM floats are passing…Long Live New Mobile…

Let me add though that I think Carol Hunter and Chris Penton do a very good job, and I do appreciate the contributions of Ms. Bedsole – but the attitude expressed in the comment above definitely needs to change.” -  Valso