2013: In Review

This year has been pretty interesting.  I’ve been lucky to do a lot of traveling this year; both within and outside of the United States.  Vacation spots included New Orleans, Chicago, Ecuador, and Dallas.

My sole reason for going to Chicago and Dallas was to see my favorite band Pearl Jam. I was lucky to get tickets to see them play at Wrigley Field in Chicago with my friend Erin. She was a trooper! We braved the 2 hour rain delay in the middle of the show. The show ended around 2 AM and we didn’t get back to her house until around 4 AM.  She’s awesome!!

In October I went on a Contiki tour to Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands.  It was definitely a trip of a lifetime!  My favorite experience was a tie between a beach called La Loberia on San Cristobol Island where sea lions come to rest and snorkeling around Kicker Rock also off San Cristobol Island.

My photography was also recognized this year. Early in the year I was approached by an advertising firm to use a photo of the Heights Theater marquee for a Memorial Hermann Northwest billboard. A photographer friend found the billboard with my photo in the Heights.  I also entered some photos in the annual Via Colori photography contest. Two of the photos taken at the 2012 event were chosen.  These photos were then auctioned off at the 2013 Via Colori event to raise money for the Center for Hearing and Speech.

I was also chosen to participate in the annual Twelve Project in Galveston.  12 people are selected to use a film camera to take photos on the island. This year there was a theme of work.  Here are my photos.  Each of us selected one photo to be shown at an Art Walk show. The photos were auctioned off with the money going towards the Galveston Arts Center.

2014 should be an adventure! I will be traveling to Amsterdam to see Pearl Jam and then traveling to London to meet up with my family for a trip there. We will also be going to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Buy my art here…current Art-o-Mat locations

Earlier this month I received an Activity Report from the busy Art-o-Mat folks to let me know where my art has been purchased lately.  15 pieces were sold between the Whole Foods store in Austin, TX. and the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

Space Shuttle Endeavour

One week ago today the Space Shuttle Endeavour touched down in Houston, Texas for a brief layover before departing to it’s final destination in Los Angeles, California.  Houston is commonly known as Space City for it is home to Johnson Space Center and Mission Control.  Unfortunately, Houston will not get one of the shuttles to display.  Since this will might be the closest I will ever get to a space shuttle I decided to take the afternoon off from work to go see it.

The traffic getting into Ellington Field, where Endeavour was waiting, wasn’t horrible when I got there.  The parking was first come first served and pretty much at your own risk. There was no one advising drivers were to get the best parking.  I decided to park in the first area that I saw and just walk.  The walk wasn’t too bad, but further than I had anticipated.  I could see Endeavour and the plane that brought her here from Highway 3, but in reality it wasn’t that close.  After the approximately 30 minute walk to the entrance gate onto the tarmac there she stood.  I was amazed how the shuttle was and the plane she was strapped to even larger. There were hundreds of people around looking in awe of the site before our eyes.  Of course everyone was also taking their time to take some photos in front of the shuttle.  I also took some as well.

For some reason, this event seemed somewhat like a wake. Many people were just sitting around looking at the shuttle as if they would never see it again. Similar to being at someone’s funeral. Just not believing that this thing will be gone in a matter of hours.  I too just kept walking around and taking photos from various angles using various lenses.

The tables set up by NASA for water and a make shift gift shop showed just how many curious onlookers had made their way to Ellington Field so far that day.  It was about 2 pm when I stepped on the tarmac. By that time all the water stations were empty and the gift shop was practically sold out of everything for sale..even bottled water.  I managed to buy a NASA sticker and a commemorative patch for the shuttle program.

According to a note that the Houston Chronicle science blogger received from the Johnson Space Center, it was estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 people came out to see Endeavour at Ellington Field.  I am proud to be one of the many!

New Art-o-Mat Locations!!

Since the previous update last month my art has been purchased in some new locations!

See below:

Radio Room– Portland, Oregon
Whole Foods in Texas (2 separate locations)
There are machines at Whole Foods stores in Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (These sales are most likely from the Swap Meet held there
back in July)

Check out the new and improved Art-o-Mat website for more locations and information.

New Photobook Created

I just created a photobook on Shutterfly for the first time since I had a free book to make. I like My Canvas better, but you can’t beat a free book. I put together a variety of photos I’ve taken over the past few years. Here is a link so you can take a look, if you would like!

Click here to view this photo book larger

You’ll love Shutterflys award-winning photo books. Try it today.

ART-O-MAT EXTRAVAGANZA!!

I attended my first Art-o-Mat Swap Meet a couple weeks ago in Washington, DC at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.  I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was really excited to swap art with other talented artists. I couldn’t believe all of the awesome items other Art-o-Mat artists create to go into the machines.  They are so amazing! I shared a table with a lady who makes bugs and birds out of natural materials found at her local nature preserve. They are so intricate and beautiful! The amount of work she must put into creating these creatures is amazing. It was great meeting other artists and aficionados who were just excited about creating and collecting art as I am.  Check out some other photos from my first swap meet experience and some of the other art that was there.  I can’t wait for the next one!

I also just got an update of the locations where my art has been sold.

• Cosmopolitan Hotel– Las Vegas, NV
• Southwest School of Art– San Antonio, TX
• Maryland Institute College of Art– Baltimore, MD

For all Art-o-Mat locations check out the NEW and improved Art-o-Mat website with interactive map!

Art-o-Mat Location update!

Since My last post in April I’ve received a couple more activity reports from Artists in Cellophane.  In May my stuff was in purchased in Austin at Mercury Design and a Whole Foods store in Texas.  (There are a few Whole Foods stores that have Art-o-mat machines, so I’m sure the exact location.)  In late June I received notice that my work was sold from the new machine at the Whole Foods in Bee Cave, Texas (near Austin).

At the end of July I will be attending my first Art-o-Mat Swap Meet in Washington, D.C.  It’s open to the public, so feel free to come and see what the heck Art-o-Mat is.  I guarantee you will get addicted!

Where

Luce Foundation Center for American Art – Third Floor

Smithsonian American Art Museum

8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC

When

July 28, 2012, 1:00-4:30pm

Open to the public, this is a rare opportunity to meet some of the artists who keep Art-o-mat machines across the country filled with small, affordable works of art. There will be various workshops throughout the afternoon. Anyone from the general public is invited to make their own artwork to keep or swap with friends! Local musicians will perform, and a cash bar will be available during the program.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Art-o-mat is a retrofitted cigarette machine that sells original artworks for five dollars. Artists interested in being involved in Art-o-mat, please log on to http://www.artomat.org

New Art-o-Mat location!!

My art is now located at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento California!  Also back again at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Tx.

New Art-o-Mat Locations

I got another Activity Report with some new locations to find my art.

Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) Winstom-Salem, North Carolina

Vision Gallery Chandler, Arizona

Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada (This is my #1 location.  Since the machines were installed in early 2011, 66 of my pieces have been purchased from the machines.)

Thanks to all of those who have bought anything from an Art-o-Mat machine.

Remember, if you would like to find a machine near you, go to www.artomat.org

Friends Group Art Show

Come see me at my first art show! Will have photos for sale! In conjunction with Galveston Art Walk in November.