Original paintings as personal adornment

Ananda Khalsa draws inspiration from Asian art, natural forms, and the cool sleekness of metal. Each of her pieces contains an original painting on paper, which is set behind hand ground glass in fine and sterling silver. Much of her work is accented with the highest quality semiprecious stones and/or high karat gold.

Another important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint. At Gallery Fifty, we're representing her jewelry with the following images...

Bluebird: This little bird is a universal symbol of happiness and the coming of spring.

Crane: The elegant courting dance of the crane has made this graceful bird a symbol of love and romance.

Dragonfly: With its delicate and graceful wings reflecting and refracting light, the Dragonfly represents new light and joyfulness.

Koi Fish: According to a Chinese legend, a Koi was once turned into a dragon after fearlessly climbing a treacherous waterfall, making them symbolic of courage and strength.

Lotus: Sprouting from the murky mud at the bottom of the pond, the lotus rises above the water to create it’s exquisite bloom. This makes it a symbol of purity and enlightenment in many eastern philosophies.

I've admired Ananda's work since before we opened the gallery nearly three years ago. We've been testing the waters with our inventory of "art jewelry" and finally feel ready to take the plunge by bringing her unique pieces in. Our shipment is expected by Thanksgiving 2007. You can preview the selection on our web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

Selected Works: Five Decades

"Selected Works: Five Decades" is our current exhibition of drawings, paintings and constructions by Michigan artist Joe De Luca. The show is up until October 31, 2007, with an artist reception on Thursday, October 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. This is by far the largest show we've installed with upwards of 75 pieces, many very large.

Joe's work can be found in numerous public and private collections. A professor of Art at Western Michigan University for thirty years, he has consistently exhibited in solo and group shows, garnering numerous awards and reviews in national publications.

Artist Statment:

My work is a microcosm of the landscape and deals with my emotional and intuitive responses to my environment. I am fascinated by textured, weathered and time-worn objects and surfaces. The effects considered are those of light, atmosphere and shadow.

Extended travels to Europe, and especially Italy and Portugal, have resulted in important motivational sources in my painting. Italy is a place to better understand my heritage and an environment in which to seek and study high art and architectural treasures. The Etruscan civilization became a significant resource during the early 80's. In recent years, my interest shifted to Portugal, as it seemed a natural extension of my interests in antiquity. This, the oldest country of Europe, offers a powerful, rough presence and unpretentious charm.

I presently work on large-scale canvases and include such materials as tar, cardboard, metal, wood and found objects. The works, if successful, give the appearance of ruined sections of old walls, excavated from a prior ancient setting. The surfaces often reveal multi-layered, richly developed textural patinas through the utilization and combination of paint, collage, inlay and found materials.

Present images attempt to visually appear to mark a passage of time, as well as to describe the metaphysical nature of things. These considerations seem, at this time, to be reasons to dignify a particular space and maintain the delicate balance that life necessitates and demands.

Take a virtual tour of this retrospective at www.galleryfifty.com. (Photos by Don Rutt)

Looking deeper into the spirit

Michigan artist Keith Smith believes art should take the viewer a step beyond the surface of an object. As a result, his paintings are characterized by a vigorous, often unorthodox use of color, accompanied by strong contours. “I try to use color as a way to make the viewer see more than the basic shapes that define what’s already known to us,” he says.

A native of Traverse City, Keith is entirely self-taught though he’s been drawing and painting since his elementary school days. He paints in acrylics to take advantage of their rich hues and quick drying time — allowing him to layer his colors with little waiting, and without compromising the color purity of each layer.

His influences include the usual suspects like van Gogh, Matisse and the other Fauves because of their unusual and innovative use of color. But he has been just as affected by the clarity and boldness of the American west. The work of Native American artists like the late Fritz Scholder and T.C. Cannon, and their adherents, have played a large role in his artistic development, as well.

“The way they use color — unreal and almost bizarre at times — lures you into the picture and has a way of making you look deeper into the spirit of the subject depicted,” he says. “That’s the goal I have with my paintings. I want people to see that ordinary things can be extraordinary in nature.”

Whether it’s a simple barn, galloping horse, talking crow, or tree-lined hillside, his paintings attempt to evoke the emotion, passion and energy of life.

Gallery Fifty is currently show five of his works, including "Is Anybody Listening?, 24" x 30" framed, $600. Call us for more information or images of Keith's paintings: 231-932-0775.

'Flower Series' blooming at Gallery Fifty

Canadian glass artist Robert Held says, "Being physical with color and form is my love. After experimenting with many different media, I discovered glass and was instantly captivated. The clarity of the glass, the roar of the furnaces, the heat, and even the constant danger were all factors that influenced my choice of this difficult yet beautiful medium."

"Glassblowing allows me to explore both painterly concerns and my fascination with surface decoration, while continuing to challenge the other physical and creative skills required to take the vessel shape in ever new directions."

"My intimate relationship (talking to) the hot glass, the laying on of colors, layer upon layer, the addition of textures through broken glass shards, threads of molten glass and other techniques, is an incomparable experience. This fickle, molten mass will allow itself to be coaxed only by those who know its language."

I just made our winter order and am excited to introduce the 'flower series' to our customers. The tall vases (top right) are 11" and run $300. We love the smaller forms (stacked on left) — they're 6.5" to 7.5" and roughly $250. We expect delivery in mid-October and will post our selection on the web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

Color and Composition

We just started carrying work by Traverse City artist Carol Spaulding. I've long admired her pastel paintings for their vibrant color combinations and interesting compositions. Her work has a meditative, almost ethereal quality, with a truly original take on landscapes.

“I’m more interested in expressing a feeling than recording something and having it look like what it is,” she said in a 2006 interview with the Glen Arbor Sun. “I really love working with color and not sticking with just trying to put down the color that I was really seeing, to be a little more imaginative.”

“I think that being an artist really tweaks one’s powers of observation. I feel like I’m looking at things more intensely, and sort of with a purpose, because I’m always thinking about responding and expressing something from what I’m seeing,” she said.

Gallery Fifty is showing a fine selection of Carol's work, including "Leelanau Morning," (top) 12" x 6" framed and priced at $625; and "On the Road," (right) 6" x 6" at $650. Stop into Gallery Fifty for a closer look: 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 50, Traverse City, MI 49684.

'Wired' for vintage appeal

New Jersey fiber artist Beth Whiting uses ribbon to fashion these little brooches and barettes. Primarily, she uses French wired which allows her to sew, pinch, twist and otherse coax the flowers into shape. It also allows her pieces to age gracefully as they are worn and loved, giving them vintage appeal. The craftsmanship is superior and each is backed in soft suede.

We've been carrying Beth's work for over a year and her pieces make popular gifts. Brooches start at $20 and go up to $48 (see top photo). Barettes run $22 - $26 each (bottom photo). Call Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

'Mr. Art Critic' makes a stop at Gallery Fifty

Here's some fun gallery news! On Monday, director Rich Brauer and his crew filmed the opening scene for his upcoming film, "Mr. Art Critic." He approached me about a month ago, looking for a location that could pass for a hip Chicago art gallery (major compliment) and we were thrilled to oblige.

Actor Bronson Pinchot plays the role of M.J. Clayton, a high-profile art critic. Known for his heartless, mean-spirited reviews, he makes an impulsive statement that any idiot can make art, and sets out to prove it. Quickly realizing that it is infinitely more difficult than he perceived, he quietly purchases a beautiful painting from a talented artist, and submits it as his own entry into an art exhibition while vacationing at his summer home on Mackinac Island. The real truth is ultimately revealed, resulting in a dramatic shift from arrogance to humility... discovering the hard way that the ability to create art is indeed a gift.

I witnessed the movie-making magic from only feet away and it was a real education! There were about 15 crew in intimate proximity to the actors and an amazing amount of lighting, sound and film equipment. Took nearly five hours to film about two minutes of content.

Rich plans to premier the movie in late November of this year. Hopefully, it will get widely distributed and everyone will want to track down the beautiful paintings featured. By the way, they belong to local artist Amy LeJeune Harper. She recently here moved from Chicago where the city was a main focus of her abstract aerial landscapes.

Above: Director Rich Brauer and actor Bronson Pinchot figuring out how to work together. Below: Closing the gallery was a small price to pay for a snapshot with Bronson! (Yes, you recognize him as Balki from the sitcom "Perfect Strangers.")