Featured Artist On the Blog Today? Michael Ambrose

It's been a while since we've featured an artist on this site. Well, we're back at it. The tradition continues. HAA artist Michael Ambrose has been waiting a long time (very patiently, I might add) to have his work displayed here, but the wait is over. Above? A small sample of his paintings. Below? An accurately paraphrased version of his bio. Enjoy.

In 1989, Michael took a class in painting portraits in oils, in the UK. He was planning to spend the next few years sailing the world's oceans and had decided he needed a new project to take with him for the mental exercise it would provide.

While at sea, he did very little painting as he quickly discovered that sailing, provisioning, boat maintenance, and all the fun things to do in each new port left little time for anything else.

So it was not until he decided, in 2004, that he was getting too old to be roaming the world's oceans, sold his sailboat, and took up residence in Henderson, NV, that he began to paint in earnest.

He joined the Henderson Senior Center's Art Class, which meets every Monday for two and a half hours, and has continued painting there ever since, under the expert tutelage of Icel Mitkiff.

Later that year, he applied and was granted membership within the Henderson Art Association. He has remained a member and displayed work at various HAA exhibitions.

In 2006, Michael took a 2-week art course at the renowned art center in St. Ives, Cornwall, England at the advice of an artist relative. As a result, he has broadened the subject matter of his paintings, which were almost exclusively portraits. Now his body of work also includes street scenes, beach scenes, animals, and seascapes.

Upcoming April HAA General Meeting

Please join us this coming Tuesday, April 20th for our monthly general meeting of members, artists, and aspiring creative people. Cartoonist Popeye Wong will be the 6th speaker in our Guest Speaker Series, speaking about his work and demonstrating how to cartoon. There will be a 50/50 raffle, refreshments, music, and curtain raiser Shirley Jeane will take the floor first to speak about her work and "warm up" the audience.

7:00-8:30 pm at Findlay Toyota in Henderson, NV. 7733 Eastgate Rd. 2nd floor. All HAA meetings take place there on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise specified. No meeting July, August, or December. Feel free to bring friends.

Upcoming HAA Guest Speaker: Popeye Wong

Talented cartoonist and airbrush artist Popeye Wong will be speaking about his artistic career, creative technique, and the erotic art he creates at our April HAA General Meeting. Don't miss. it. Tuesday, April 20th at Findlay Toyota in Henderson. 7733 Eastgate Rd., Henderson, NV. 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Refreshments will be served.

City Lights 3rd Juried Art Show: Great Turnout. Winners Named.

Another stellar crowd descended upon the Water Street District's City Lights Gallery Saturday, one week ago, to raise each other up and give out some much-deserved praise and recognition to Henderson's and Vegas' growing body of artists. This was City Lights' 3rd Juried Fine Art Show. Lynda Whitehairr took Best of Show with "Desert Passion." Several HAA artists received recognition as well:

Ed Klein (also City Lights Art Co-Op & Gallery President): 1st place

Colin Pringle: 1st and 2nd place

Aileen Dike: 3rd place and Honorable Mention

Georgia Lawson: 3rd place

Sharon Menary: 3rd place

Jan Schaeffer: 3rd place

Andrew Maioli: Honorable Mention

March HAA General Meeting: Another Great One.

HAA member Kathy Mullinnix and guest speaker Brian Paco Alvarez dazzled Tuesday evening's group of artists and attendees at our March general meeting. Mullinnix shared stories of her transition from the Bay area to the desert and from commercial artist to fine artist. Alvarez spoke lovingly of Las Vegas art history and with promise for its future. If you didn't make this one, you missed out, but there's always next month. April's guest speaker and meeting agenda will be shared here in the coming weeks. Check back early and often. See more photos and become a fan, member, and active participant at our fan page on Facebook: Facebook | Henderson Art Association. Stay creative.

HAA General Meeting TONIGHT!!! (Tuesday, March 16)

Don't miss it. Join us for music, refreshments, a raffle, and good company and conversation. Cultural arts enthusiast, historian, and curator extraordinaire Brian Paco Alvarez will be the guest speaker, preceded by HAA artist Kathy Mullinnix who will set the stage as this month's curtain raiser.

Brian is a cultural force to be reckoned with. We are honored to have him take the stage. Visit his website and see an earlier brief post about him here on our site:

http://www.lvartsandculture.blogspot.com/

Creative Henderson: Brian Paco Alvarez

Kathy is a member of the Las Vegas Art Guild and Nevada Watercolor Society as well. She has worked for many years as a commercial artist and is currently enjoying art as a means of self expression. The past 5 years for her have been an exploratory journey in finding her own style and developing her own unique artistic voice. Here are two pieces of her work. Hear more from the artist herself this evening.

7:00 pm at Findlay Toyota in Henderson, NV. 7733 Eastgate Rd. 2nd floor. All HAA meetings take place there on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise specified. No meeting July, August, or December.

Jane Fielden to be guest artist at next Meridian Show. Tradition of generosity from local business couple continues.

In true fashion, Henderson's RAFI Architecture will host yet another artist's reception this Thursday evening from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. This time there will be even more reason to attend. For the first time, artist Jane Fielden, wife of RAFI Architecture owner Bob Fielden, will be showing her work and recognized as the HAA's guest artist.

In the absence of a formal gallery space, RAFI has in many ways become the unofficial home of the HAA, allowing our artists to line their walls with work from one month to the next. This is just another testament to the couples' dedication to art, the community, and support of local business. Jane and Bob Fielden were recipients of last year's 29th Annual Governor's Award in the Arts.

Again, the reception will take place Thursday, March 18th (also Third Thursday) at 155 S. Water Street in Henderson, NV. Even if you don't have work hanging, this is one show not to be missed.

Learn more about RAFI Architecture at their website: RAFI Architecture and also here in the most recent Water Street District (WSD) Spotlight: waterstreetdistrict.com

A brief bio and Artist Statement of Jane Fielden can be viewed on our Facebook fan page.

Facebook | Henderson Art Association

Direct link: Facebook | HAA: Jane Fielden

Henderson artist Vina Curtis sells another piece.

Vina Curtis is an HAA artist. She's also the HAA Secretary. Her list of credits doesn't stop there. She's a signature member and President of the Nevada Watercolor Society and Promotion Director of the Boulder City Art Guild.

She recently had a show and sold the piece shown above titled "Sunflowers," described by Vina as a wax resist on mulberry paper floated in a 16" x 20" frame.

Her show (at Giovanni's Pizzeria, 7380 S. Eastern #110, LV) is up for another three days, until March 14th. Check it out if you can. See more of Vina's work here: Art by Vina Curtis

HAA March General Meeting One Week from Today

Las Vegas curator and cultural enthusiast Brian Paco Alvarez to speak at next week's meeting. He's the fifth in our Guest Speaker Series. Don't miss it. Learn more about Paco and his love for the arts and the fostering of them in our fair cities here.

http://www.lvartsandculture.blogspot.com/

HAA General Meetings take place on the second floor of Findlay Toyota located at 7733 Eastgate Rd in Henderson, NV, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. There will be music, refreshments, plenty of familiar faces, and always enlightening conversation. Please join us.

February Third Thursday Revisited

Another wonderful celebration of creativity in the Heart of the Water Street District. Art, music, galleries, a little bit of everything. Many familiar faces and always a few new ones. Mark your calendars for March Third Thursday (18th). It'll be here before you know it. Check out the entire body of photos from February on the Henderson Art Association Facebook fan page:

Facebook | Henderson Art Association

Third Thursday This Week in Henderson

Join us in the heart of the Water Street District tomorrow evening, February 18th, for another Third Thursday Celebration. Starts at 5:00 pm. Goes till 8:00. If the weather and turnout are great, maybe even 9:00. Mark your calendars for future events and learn more here:

http://www.waterstreetdistrict.com/experience

http://hendersonlive.com/calendar2010

As One Door Closes, Another Opens.

For once in a long while, I actually have the time and capacity to sit and construct a post that's not about short-term events, like an upcoming show, artist's reception, or monthly meeting, but about the long-term viability of arts and culture in the region. And, judging from what's going on right now, there's plenty to talk about.

One day (last Wednesday) I'm reading an article in the LV Sun about the shuttering of the Ritz-Carlton (YES! THE RITZ-CARLTON!) at Montelago Village. The Ritz-Carlton doesn't close. That's like the mailman not delivering or the Sun not rising. It simply doesn't happen. Yet, apparently, it does.

Link: Closing of Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas raises concerns of ripple effect - Las Vegas Sun

The very next day, however, I'm reading about the construction of The Smith Center at Symphony Park—a $245 million construction project currently underway (I've seen the backhoes and cranes with my own eyes) slated for completion by the end of 2011 and open to the public by spring 2012.

Link: Las Vegas Weekly : Inside the Smith Center

One (the tragedy) is situated miles from The Strip, near one of two lakes which may very well go the way of the R-C if our reclamation efforts continue to come up...uh...dry. The other (the love story) takes place a little to the north of Vegas proper but smack dab in the middle of the ongoing redevelopment and imminent revitalization. Alas, there is hope, for some of us, for many of us, for all of us.

So I'm forced to remind myself (and all of you), for every glimpse of despair, there is a flicker of hope. For every cry of disappointment, there is a shout of encouragement. For every admission of defeat, there is a harbinger of victory.

There was a time when I may have thought twice about mentioning the revitalization of one city (Las Vegas) in the same breath as that of another (Henderson), for fear of upsetting those who may support and participate in the art circles of one, versus the other. Well, those days are gone, as are the days of artists expecting to be wildly successful operating on their own. Don't get me wrong. It can happen. But it's harder, it will take longer, and the tales of prosperity beyond our wildest dreams will remain few and far between. The only way for the revitalization of any or all of our communities to actually succeed is for the communities themselves and the artists within them to come together.

The change that we seek will not come if we're not optimistic. It also will not come if we're not active and proactive. Follow us here on the HAA blog or on our FB fan page ( Facebook | Henderson Art Association ). Let us know what's going on in the arts communities, near and far. Share the links with your friends and get people to join or volunteer their time. Whatever you do, don't remain complacent or huddled up in your studio waiting for things to change on their own or at the hands of a few others, 'cause that's never gonna happen.

Take a look at some of these links that show the ongoing and future promise of a vibrant art and culture community:

http://www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org/

http://www.18b.org/

http://www.symphonypark.com/

http://themissionlasvegas.com/

http://www.meetup.com/themissionlasvegas/

Gibson Library 2.0

http://www.hendersonlive.com

http://www.artfest.com

http://www.waterstreetdistrict.com/

HAA February General Meeting

Mark your calendars and join HAA members and fellow artists for our general meeting Tuesday evening, February 16th. 7:00-8:30 pm at Findlay Toyota, located at 7733 Eastgate Rd. in Henderson, NV.

Renowned artist Colin Pringle will be the guest speaker.

January HAA General Meeting Kicks off 2010 With a Bang.

Artist Joseph Watson shares work and creative expertise with a riveted audience of fellow artists at our January HAA general meeting.

If you're a member of the HAA (or not) and you missed out January meeting, you missed something special. The torrential downpours and flash flooding understandably kept a few of you away but for those intrepid enough to make the trip, it was a special evening. HAA President Deb Mays kicked things off with a list of successes in 2009 and upcoming events for the new year. Andrew Maioli talked a little about the Red Competition which was a resounding success. Then HAA First Vice President Wendy Rountree took the floor to introduce HAA Outside Venues Coordinator Sharon Menary, also our first and featured curtain raiser on the evening. The curtain raiser spot is designed to allow one artist to talk about their work for a few minutes as a precursor to the guest speaker. Sharon took it a step further, opening up and sharing with all of us an abridged version of her colorful life story and everything that has ever inspired her to be the wonderful artist she is today. It was truly a delight to hear. Photos were taken but the light was low and the camera was a little shaky, so you'll just have to go to her site to see the self portrait that was on display by her side and the contents of the several "brag books" she brought with her. Her advice to every artist? Take your art. Make copies. Put them in your brag book. Then, yes, brag. Do so with passion and humility.

Sharon's story was met with a thunderous round of applause. She was a tough act to follow but, rest assured, guest speaker and multi-talented artist Joseph Watson rose to the occasion. Once the UStream feed was set up properly so his lecture could be broadcast live over the web (a first for the HAA), he began. From then on, the story of his rise from humble beginnings as an airbrush artist to his current concept art and licensing successes had us all fully engaged.

Thank you, Sharon and Joseph, for sharing your experiences with us. In large part to your stories, it was an evening not soon to be forgotten. Special thanks also the HAA Board, Georgia Lawson for collecting funds and conducting the 50-50 raffle, members of Club Sport Green Valley for attending and extending a warm welcome to artists at your facility, and to everyone in attendance. Looking forward to February.

Become a fan on our Facebook fan page and keep up with the Henderson and LV arts communities.

Facebook | Henderson Art Association

HAA Red Competition Winners Announced

The Red Competition has been judged and winners were announced this past Thursday (3rd Thursday) during a wonderful awards reception. Award recipients listed below with credits. The show will continue to hang through March 16th on the second floor of the Meridian Building on Water Street in Henderson, NV. Photos have also been posted to the Facebook HAA fan page (Facebook | Henderson Art Association). Follow us there and invite any and all artists, friends, organizations, and advocates of creativity, near and far, to support, join, or just occasionally check us out.

Best of Show: Yoko Kondo Konopik "In The Air" (right)

1st Place: Vina Curtis "Red Pears"

2nd Place: Yoko Kondo Konopik "Time" (left)

3rd Place: Georgia Lawson "Red Barron" (top)

Honorable Mention: Jay Jarrett "A Little More Action Please"

Honorable Mention: Colin Pringle "European Rose"

Honorable Mention: Andrew Maioli "Mojave of the Soul"

Henderson Art Association now live on Facebook.

Check out the fan page. Become a fan. Tell your friends. Get involved. Come to meetings. Become a member. Pay your dues. Make donations. Buy t-shirts. Share your work. Take part in the guest speaker series. Support your fellow artists. Share news from your community. Make 2010 the year of creativity that it should be.

Facebook | Henderson Art Association

HAA Artist Closes Out 2009 With Yet Another Sale

Jelly Bean Jungle

March Maddness

HAA artist Sharon Menary, photographed by fellow HAA artist Nicky Watts

On the heels of her recent sale of Jelly Bean Jungle to an unlikely buyer, Henderson Art Association member and Events Coordinator Sharon Menary has done it again. This time, it's her painting March Maddness which caught the eye of another random suitor.

Two friends who happened to be at J & S Motors automotive repair shop, where Menary's work was on display, took a liking to the painting and one who lives in Washington actually made the purchase. It currently has a home in Arizona. There's more to the story. There always is. If you want to hear it, contact Sharon and see more of her work at her site: sharonmenary.com

Menary and both of her recently sold paintings are shown above. May 2010 be a great year for all of us.

LV Artist Joseph Watson Confirmed as third speaker in HAA Guest Speaker Series

Join us Tuesday, January 19th, as renowned painter and concept artist Joseph Watson kicks off our 2010 Henderson Art Association Guest Speaker Series at our January general meeting. Joseph is the third speaker in our series and will share his work and experiences as a successful commercial artist. He grew up in Gardena, CA, a small city south of Los Angeles, surrounded by many non-traditional art forms. Watson considers himself fortunate enough to learn the aesthetics of great street art as well as those of traditional art, and aims to please both crowds with his work. No doubt, he will please our audience at our general meeting one week from tomorrow. His work may be viewed at either of these two links:

www.josephwatsoncollection.com

www.hyena-empire.com

This general meeting (and all future HAA meetings) will be held on the third Tuesday of each month, from 7:00-8:30 pm, at Findlay Toyota located at 7733 Eastgate Rd. in Henderson, NV, unless otherwise specified. There will be no general meeting the months of July, August, and December. For further details and a complete list of dates, please revisit this earlier post:

First HAA General Meeting of the Decade Set for Tuesday, January 19th.