ISSUE April 2017

THE A RTS MAGAZINE OF THE A RT STU DIO, INC .

VIVA LA ALCAZÁR PAGE 8

I N S I D E : A R PA AT A M S E T M U E C K AT M FA H , P R E Y I N G M A N T I S , A N D M O R E

A PR IL 2 017

ISSUE Vol. 23, No. 7 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Art Studio, Inc.

A View From The Top Greg Busceme, TASI Director Our March exhibitiOn, “POsitive/negative space,” was a great hit with the community. a crush of people came to view the show that boasted 10 top-notch artists in the photography field. Perfect weather and great art made for a wonderful night.

Our hats go off to tasi board chair Joe Winston and board member John Fulbright who organized the show and maintain the Darkroom Friends, a group who's "focus" it is to keep the chemical process used in the darkroom alive.

We are in the process of expanding the facility with an light-tight darkroom rotating door and additional space. the door was generously donated by the stark Museum of art in Orange. this and other programs fit into the purpose of the art studio as we try to preserve art processes that could disappear and the knowledge be lost if not for the diligent and continued practice of that discipline.

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Coughlan Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . . Elena Ivanova, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caitlin Duerler Contributing Photographers . . . . Caitlin Duerler Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Malick The Art Studio, Inc. Board of Directors Corporate President . . . . . . . . . . Greg Busceme Corporate Vice-President . . . . . Angela Scheibel Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Winston Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Armitage Members at Large: . . . . . . . . . Sheila Busceme, . . . . . . . . . Olivia Busceme, John Fulbright, . . . . . . . . . Stephan Malick, Tim Postlewait . . . . . . . . . . . John Roberts, Caitlin Duerler Tenant Representative . . . . . Elizabeth Fontenot Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth French

The Art Studio, Inc. 720 Franklin Beaumont, TX 77701 409-838-5393 www.artstudio.org info@artstudio.org The ISSUE is a monthly publication of The Art Studio, Inc. Its mission is to publicize The Art Studio and its tenants, and to promote the growth of the arts in Southeast Texas. ISSUE is also charged with informing TASI members of projects, progress, achievements and setbacks in TASI’s well-being. Further, ISSUE strives to promote and distribute the writings of local authors in its “Thoughtcrime” feature.

ISSUE is provided free of charge to members of TASI and is also available, free of charge, at more than 30 locations in Southeast Texas.

Regular features include local artists of note and reputation who are not currently exhibiting at TASI; artists currently or soon to be exhibiting at TASI; Instructional articles for artists; news stories regarding the state of TASI’s organization; and arts news features dealing with general philosophical issues of interest to artists.

Contents Mueck at MFAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Preying Mantis Festival. . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 TASIMJAE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 Seville’s Real Alcazár . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Arpa at AMSET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 Cajun Heritage Fest . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Around & About. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Thoughtcrime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Cover photo of tiles at the Real Alcazár

by Andy Coughlan

APRIL

exhibitions are the mainstay of the organization and require tight scheduling, coordinated electronic and paper media, mass mailings and gallery preparation and presentation. a myriad of things goes into the presentation of an exhibition, be it a group show or a solo exhibition. although the group show is well attended the solo shows tends to be a little lean on participants. this is an unfortunate reality because solo shows are much harder to develop, since so many works are involved from one person. that person may or not have a following or collective of family and friends. as a patron, please be cognizant of the effort the artist is making and give them an audience to support that effort whether you’re familiar with their work or not.

Like many of our programs, we encourage people in the community of southeast texas to participate and possibly learn a new skill or

See VIEW on page 7

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ART STUDIO MAY

TASIMJAE (The Art Studio, Inc. Member Jurored Art Exhibition) Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ART STUDIO

Kwanzaa Edwards “No Message Needed” (TASIMJAE 2016 Winner) Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 6

Name(s) Address

Membership in The Art Studio, Inc., provides invitations to all exhibitions and one year of ISSUE, the monthly arts magazine of The Art Studio. It also gives free eligibility for members to enter the annual membership art exhibition (TASIMJAE) and participate in various exhibitions throughout the year.

City/St/Zip Phone

email

Credit Card Type: Visa MC Amex Disc Number

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

Exp Date Day Phone

THE ART STUDIO, INC.

email

SUGGESTED MEMBERSHIP AMOUNT

Individual: $35 Family/Group: $50 Friend/Business:$100 Sustaining: $250 New?

Renewal?

Patron: $500 Angel: $1,000 Benefactor $2,000 Life Member: $10,000 Artist?

for office use pd in comp issue thanks

If yes, list medium

The Art Studio, Inc. 720 Franklin, Beaumont 77701

$

More real than real

4 • ISSUE April 2017

Volume 23, No. 7

Ron Mueck, MASK II, 2001–02, mixed media, Gift of Helen and Charles Schwab through the Art Supporting Foundation to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. © Ron Mueck

‘From the Womb to the Grave: the Journey of Life’ by ron Mueck at MFah One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small and the ones that mother gives you Don’t do anything at all.

— “White Rabbit” Grace Slick/Jefferson Airplane

Story by Elena Ivanova

Ron Mueck, WOMAN WITH SHOPPING, 2013, mixed media, Collection of the artist, Courtesy Hauser & Wirth and Anthony d’Offay, London. Photo: Patrick Gries. © Ron Mueck

a hOOkah-sMOkinG caterPiLLar must have given me a call: suddenly the world around me lost its usual scale and proportions. i was in alice’s Wonderland and its inhabitants looked exactly like people except for one thing: they were either much smaller or significantly larger than humans. Presiding over this strange nation was their creator, artist ron Mueck, although the word “presiding” is not totally accurate

— he was represented only by his sleeping head. Lying on its side, this enormous head exuded a commanding presence evoking the images of temple statues of reclining buddha. creating highly realistic sculptures is not a new idea in contemporary art. artists like Duane hanson or John De andrea have taunted, provoked and tricked us for decades with their amazingly true-to-life figures. however, unlike those creations, ron Mueck’s sculptures can never be mistaken for real people because they are never of a normal human size. they also intrigue us, but in a different way. there is something about them that is simultaneously familiar and strange, mundane and mystical, profane and sacred. australia-born, of German descent,

Mueck took the art world by storm in 1997 when, at the age of 39, he exhibited his first sculpture, “Dead Dad,” a standout work that was featured in “sensation! Young british artists from the saatchi collection” in London. although it seemed that this talented sculptor was brought into the limelight from nowhere, the public at large had seen his work prior to this meteoric rise to fame without realizing it. For 20 years Mueck worked as a model maker for film and television, having created sophisticated animatronics for such movies as Jim henson’s “Labyrinth” (1986) and “the storyteller” series (1987). the beginnings of his career can be traced to even earlier times when as a teenager he was making puppets and toys at his

April 2017 ISSUE • 5

Volume 23, No. 7 father’s shop. today ron Mueck is regarded as one of the most remarkable artists of our time. this spring, the american public has a rare opportunity to see 13 of his works, approximately one-third of the sculptor’s total output, from public and private collections around the world, at the Museum of Fine arts, houston.

Walking into the exhibition galleries one may feel surprised at first by the large space allocated to each sculpture regardless of its size. however, it does not take long to understand the reason for such layout. if we compare the exhibition “ron Mueck” to a book, it is a collection of short stories, not a novel. each of these works has a story to tell and bringing them closer would have caused interference and overlapping of narratives. at the same time, all these stories are united by a common theme — the circle of life. as we walk through the door, we embark on a journey that takes us through all phases of human existence. We encounter infants; gawky adolescents; young mothers; an adult “at the mid-point of the path through life”; men and women facing the perils of the old age. an old man swaddled in blankets like a baby signifies the end of the journey, the symbolic return to the womb.

Mueck is a keen observer who scrutinizes humankind with uncompromising honesty which, at times, could be off putting. his newborn babies are not cute — they have wrinkled old faces and bodies smeared with blood and secretions. the most astounding among them is “a Girl” of the gargantuan size in the last gallery. Mueck witnessed the birth of his daughter and sketched the baby only moments after she came out of her mother’s birth canal, the purplish umbilical chord still in place. One eye half open, she seems to be looking disapprovingly at visitors as they congregate around her formidable body. there is not a single image in the entire exhibition which shows a slightest hint of flattery. the adolescent boy and girl in “Young couple” are a far cry from the stereotypical romantic ideal of young lovers. they appear selfconscious and tense and, judging by their body language, they must be arguing. the girl tries to free herself from her boyfriend’s grip – one has to walk around the sculpture to see that he is firmly holding by the arm in a gesture that looks possessive rather than affectionate. the elderly man and woman in “couple under an umbrella” bear a resemblance to the young lovers; maybe it is the same couple many years later. While “Young couple” is small, these figures are gigantic and, there-

fore, all telling signs of the old age are magnified and unapologetically exposed. the artist does not shy away from portraying every wrinkle, every flaw, from the sagging skin to flabby bellies. at the same time, he conveys something else: a deep connection between these people that needs no words and comes from years of sharing life’s trials and tribulations. the man has wrapped his fingers around the woman’s arm in the manner similar to that of the boy in “Young couple,” but here the gesture looks gentle and reassuring.

Mueck is painstakingly detailed in his recreation of the human body — he even provides his own hair to be inserted in the scalps of his sculptures one hair at a time. he is no less meticulous in regards to the clothing his characters are wearing. every item of their outfit is an exact replica of an actual piece of clothing or footwear one can find at a store, only produced in either a diminutive or a gigantic size.

Yet, despite all this attention to the minutiae of everyday life, Mueck’s works are more than sculptural trompe-l’oeils. they have philosophical and symbolic meaning and often contain art-historical and cultural references. “crouching boy in Mirror” brings to mind the famous eponymous sculpture by Michelangelo. the young black man in “Youth” raises his t-shirt to inspect the knife

See MUECK on page 12

Ron Mueck, YOUNG COUPLE, 2013, mixed media, Yageo Foundation Collection, Taiwan.

Courtesy Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Patrick Gries. © Ron Mueck

Ron Mueck, A GIRL, 2006, mixed media, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC. © Ron Mueck

6 • ISSUE April 2017

Preying Mantis

Volume 23, No. 7

artist nathan Mccray to host second-annual grass roots arts, music festival, april 15

nathan MccraY WiLL hOst the second annual Preying Mantis arts Festival, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., april 15. “it’s basically a group art sale to get the community out to see there is an arts community in this area and help the artists market and sell their work,” he said. “it’s artists, musicians and performance artists coming together. all the profits go to the artist. it’s about getting the community to support the local arts and recognize that you don’t have to go to houston, austin or Dallas to buy hand-made art.”

“Likewise, we’ve got a thriving music scene in this area.”

Mccray has been hosting arts festivals on his property for several years.

“We should have a good variety of types of art — ceramics, organite, jewelry, painting, sculpture, wood carving, — a little bit of everything,” he said.

Organite is energy devices with copper coils that pick up earth energy and regulate it, Mccray said, adding that they are good for plants. there will also be a surrealist fashion show, as well as a costume contest, so visitors are encouraged to come dressed up, but it is not a requirement, Mccray said.

Lamar art students will be selling t-shirts, and there will also be a drag show. “i am building a catwalk so people can strut their stuff,” he said, with a laugh. the event Facebook page will have a full list of the performers and vendors. the last Preying Mantis festival had a surrealist theme because the animal was the icon for the early surrealists, Mccray said.

Nathan McCray stands on one of the stages he has built on his property for the bands that will play at the second-annual Preying Mantis “but this year is going to be ‘no brow,’ in the sense that Arts Festival, scheduled for April 15. there’s ‘high brow’ and low brow’ art — but with preying mantis, anything goes,” he said. “it’s kind of a free for all to have a place for artists and musicians to have a community artists to have booths, as well as variety of musical acts and festival, and as such, the events are laid back and welcom- performers. see what you can come up with. it should be really fun.” ing for all. “the call is out for artists and vendors to participate, Mccray’s festivals grew from a grass roots desire to “artists are working with their hands and it’s a commu- and people can come and show up the morning of the festinity coming together to create an event,” he said. “it isn’t a val to set up,” he said. “there’s plenty of space, there’s not gallery space, it is outdoors, so it has that old fairgroundgoing to be a problem as far as running out of room for type feel to it. it’s kind of an outdoor art market.” vendors.”

Mccray said the festival is good for all ages. cost for vendors is $15, which offsets the cost of fliers “i may have a wall for (kids) to paint on,” he said. “One and promotion, Mccray said. of the events in the past they had started painting one so “it just pitches in and helps pay for it — but not much,” we’ll probably just pick up from there and keep going with he said with a laugh. it.” “everybody come out and enjoy the festival — it’s going Grace anthony will be selling raffle tickets to help with to be a lot of fun.” her leukemia treatments, Mccray said.

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page, “so come out and buy a ticket to help her out,” he said. call 409-880-5522, or email nathanmccray 2555@ Mccray said he expects anywhere from a dozen to 20 yahoo.com.

Story and photos by Andy Coughlan

April 2017 ISSUE • 7

Volume 23, No. 7

A detail from TAKING BACK WHAT IS MINE by Kwanzaa Edwards, winner of TASIMJAE 2016

VIEW from page 3 share your expertise with us based on what you already know.

Our ground breaking poetry group, Poetry renaissance, led by poet and author Dorothy sells clover, points to a craft that is all but forgotten in the world we live in. through this exchange of minds and hearts, every third thursday of the month, the magic of the crafted word lives on and thrives through the careful nurturing of the most human act, the iterations of words. nothing is closer to the human spirit than the delicate phrasing of the poem. Dorothy has dedicated herself to this preservation for many years and it would be wonderful if

april is an exciting time at thew art studio, inc. as it brings with it tasiMJae (the art studio, inc. Member Jurored art exhibition) which showcases the diverse skills of tasi’s membership. this year’s show opens april 1 with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. the juror for this year’s show is Dennis kiel, director at Lamar university’s Dishman art Museum. tasiMJae regularly draws an eclectic group of artists working in all media. tasi director Greg busceme said that the exhibition is a chance to showcase the work of the studio’s membership.

“We get people to show work they haven’t shown before and we are also interested in getting new memberships,” he said.

First prize is $500 plus an exhibition of the artist’s work in May 2018. Last year’s winner was kwanzaa edwards who will be the featured artist in May’s issue to accompany her solo show at the studio.

Prizes are also awarded for second and third places.

“We really encourage folks to enter the show,” busceme said. “it’s really important

more people took advantage of this unique opportunity to experience this amazing art. so, too, our Drawing Group holds the tradition of figure representation that has gone on since the Greek artisans created the idea of proportion and form through painting and sculpture. Much like the renaissance artists, the practice of drawing the figure is a skill that must constantly be honed and developed or it will wither on the vine. charcoal, one of the most ancient of materials for drawing, continues to be the standard for the expression of this cornerstone of the two dimensional arts, even after 35,000 years. the drawing group is not instructed but, hopefully, that will soon be alleviated.

Melody scratch is our coordinator of the

that artists of all kinds — be they established or up-and-coming — show their work and get feedback from the public.

“We especially encourage Lamar students to enter. being in a show is an important part of the growth of an artist.” the opening reception will be attended by many of the exhibiting artists, and offers visitors an opportunity to talk with them about their work — and to get involved with the studio’s community arts efforts.

For more information, call 409-838-5393.

TASIMJAE 2016 featured an eclectic collection of work.

drawing group and books the models, arranges poses and times for the drawers to attempt represent the human form.

Drawing group meets every tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to anyone over the age of 18 who wishes to develop their skill at figurative drawing. it should be noted that drawing, along with the poetry group and bandnite are all $5 each. Darkroom friends is $35 a month with an orientation required. art exhibitions are always free admission but if you would like an invitation sent to your house as well as the current edition of issue, our award-winning arts magazine, you can easily send a membership for as little as $35 a year for individuals. visit our website at www.artstudio.org and donate through pay-pal, send it the

old fashioned way by snail mail or simply drop by and sign up.

We continue to improve the facility and develop more programming as we grow. any suggestions or ideas that can help advance our goals and keep us relevant to the communities of artists and the general public are always enthusiastically welcomed. remember also that after tasiMJae 2017 on april 6, we have an exhibition of last year’s first place winner kwanzaa edwards and following that the alternative show where any and all art is accepted and shown. no juror, no charge and no membership required. if you've ever wanted to show your work here's a chance to do it. see you soon.

8 • ISSUE April 2017

Magnífica Arquitectura

Volume 23, No. 7

seviLLe’s reaL aLcazár a DraW FOr LOvers OF iberian cuLture, histOrY, architecture

Story and photos by Andy Coughlan

seviLLe — everYOne kePt saYinG, “eres tan afortunado” — “You are so lucky.” the temperature in the middle of June was only 83 degrees — “a cool snap,” they said. My friend had even tried to warn me off visiting seville in the summer because it would be too hot — and she grew up

there. the normal temperature for that time of year, the week before and the week after our visit, is 100 degrees. even if the temperature is blistering, a visit to seville is worth it just to see the real alcazár, an architectural masterpiece in spain’s fourth-largest city. seville was founded as the roman town of hispalis before becoming ishbilya after the Muslim conquest of spain in 712, and much of the city’s architecture still reflects the Moorish influence. the palace will be familiar to fans of “Game of thrones” as the scenes set in Dorn are filmed there, as well as being used in the tv show “the emerald city,” and scenes from the epic movie “Lawrence of arabia.” the alcazár — the name comes from the hispanoarabic word alqáçr, meaning royal house or room of the Prince — is still used as a palace when the royal family is in town, but it is open to tourists all year and is a must-see.

One enters through the Puerta de Lion, the entrance arch set into a red wall with an inlaid tile mural of a lion holding a cross in its claws. in the 15th century, seville was the main center of the tile industry producing azulejo, a form of tin-glazed ceramic tilework that is a signature feature of the architecture found in everything from palaces to ordinary homes. the ceramic tiles are not only decorative, they serve as a natural air-conditioning system, accumulating heat during the day and releasing it at night. considering seville’s summer days hover around 100 degrees — and even today most homes do not have central a/c — it’s no wonder the sevillanos love their tiles. alcazár’s interior is a visual feast in every room. the tiles, many incorporating the interlocking arabic motif, are varied and colorful. the rooms are large and opulent. the building incorporates a variety of styles as it grew over centuries with each ruler adding their own era’s style. the architectural influences range from the arabic period through late Middle ages

April 2017 ISSUE • 9

Volume 23, No. 7 Mudéjar period right to the renaissance, the baroque era, and the 19th century. the Patio de las Doncellas — “the courtyard of the Maidens” — is named for the legend that the Moors demanded 100 virgins a year from the christian rulers of iberia. a large reflecting pool is flanked by sunken gardens. the current layout reflects the original design, although it was paved by a marble floor before being restored. Director ridley scott had it temporarily paved again for his 2005 crusades move “kingdom of heaven.” the bright summer light gives the gardens an almost artificial glow that enhances their beauty.

Los baños de Doña María de Padilla, or the “baths of Lady María de Padilla,” are rainwater tanks beneath the Patio del crucero. the tanks are named after María de Padilla, the mistress of Peter the cruel, who was king of castile from 1350 to 1369.

the moody lighting is brilliant and gives the impression of being almost church-like. all the andalusian palaces had magnificent gardens and the alcazár is no exception. not only were they aesthetically pleasing, but they also supplied food to the palace. the gardens incorporate an intricate irrigation system of pools and channels. During the 16th century, italian designer vermondo resta adapted the old Muslim wall into the Galeria de Grutescos — the Groot Gallery — which offers a overview of the gardens. the building seems to go on forever, with delightfully named areas as the “Patio of the Dolls,” the “Patio of the Maidens” and the “hall of the half Orange,” named for its domed ceiling.

See ALCAZÁR on page 10

Los Baños de Doña Marie de Padilla, far left, are rainwater tanks beneath Seville’s Real Alcazár. The tapestry, top, shows southern Spain and northern Africa upside down. The gardens, left, were redesigned in the 16th century. The Hall of the Half Orange, above, is named for its decorative dome.

10 • ISSUE April 2017

Volume 23, No. 7

ALCAZÁR from page 9 the casa de la contratación (contracting house), founded by the catholic Monarchs in 1503 to control trade with spain’s american colonies, features many paintings and tapestries.

One particular large-scale weaving shows a map of southern spain and north africa — although, curiously, it is upside down. seville is a beautiful city, and its cathedral, which contains the remains of christopher columbus, is magnificent. but if one wants to really see the history the history of spain in all its splendor, a day or two at the real alcazár has everything one needs.

General admission tickets are 9.50 euros, and admission is free on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., October-March, and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., aprilseptember. hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., October-March, and 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., april to september.

For more information, visit www.alcazar sevilla.org.

Water pours into a pool at Seville’s Real Alcazár.

The Patio de las Doncellas.

April 2017 ISSUE • 11

Volume 23, No. 7

Discovering Arpa

aMset hosts exhibition of pioneering spanish-texan painter

eurOPean art at the finde-siècle was a full force of experimentation — new artforms such as photography and film allowed painting to break with its tradition in capturing life in all its painstaking detail.

French painters formed the impressionist school, where oil paintings were completed en plein air with visible brushstrokes and influence of changing natural light. in spain, a similar artistic tradition found its roots in the hispano-roman school, which focused on capturing a variety of bright colors and “sparkling” brushwork resulting in canvases that evoked feelings of airiness and transparency. Works inspired by the hispano-roman school of thought began appearing in texas in the early 20th century, primarily from spanish painter José arpa.

Organized by the Panhandle-Plains historical Museum in canyon, the exhibition “José arpa: a spanish Painter in texas,” is on view in the main gallery at the art Museum of southeast texas in beaumont. the exhibition covers a breadth of arpa’s work from his early years apprenticing and attending art school, his move from spain to Mexico, his residencies among texas, Mexico and spain in the early 19th century, and his permanent return to spain in 1932. arpa was born in carmona, spain, in 1858 and in his teens, was an apprentice to several different painters. his early education in painting eventually led him to study at the fine arts academy in seville, where he would copy old spanish masters and learn the traditions of oil painting. this formal arts education in early life would later serve as a foundation for the kind of experimentation and blending of genres found in his art made in texas and during his time in Mexico and spain. in 1897, he left spain and settled in

Story by Caitlin Duerler

GRAND CANYON by José Arpa

Mexico before making his way to texas in 1899. When he had left spain, he was a fairly unknown painter and he believed that by moving to the new World, he would be able to gain recognition for his art.

When he first arrived to Mexico, his early paintings includes both undisturbed nature and naturalistic subjects. “a Mexican Wash Day” (1900) and

“Washerwomen in villanueva del rio” (1910) show women using a nearby river to wash linens and the vast, hilly landscape in which the linens are drying. even when his canvases just depict nature, his use of color captures the sunny skies and sprawling landscapes of the Wild West. “Grand canyon” (1925) depicts the sublime beauty of

the natural wonder in washes of oranges and red of the stone contrasted by purple shadows and blue skies. in addition to naturalistic subjects, arpa continued to work out of studio and created works in the both the traditional oil painting masters’ genres of still life, landscape, portraiture and historical scenes as well as experiment with these forms. such experimentation and blending of genres allowed the subject to “speak” to arpa and dictate the form in which he would paint. One such still life, “untitled (agave,n.d.)” blends both the hyper realistic view of an agave plant in the foreground with a loose brushwork constituting the vast texas landscape behind the plant.

Loose brushwork continues in several texas wildflower landscapes painted in the hill country around san antonio in the 1920s. certainly influenced by cézanne, arpa is able to capture the great expanse of texas in patches of bright colors representing large fields of flowers. arpa’s portraiture is steeped in the tradition of his fellow painter from seville (and arguably the greatest spanish painter ever) Diego velásquez.

Works such as “altarboy”(1924) emulate velásquez’ brushstrokes and captures the details of the subject’s richly-colored and textured religious garments while also showing the young subject’s face transfixed in either thought or boredom, not unlike one of the old master’s portraits of Pope innocent x. velásquez is not the only spanish painter by whom arpa is inspired. historical portraits such as “untitled (Plague in seville, 1649, painted in 1888) depicts the intensity of a plague epidemic in 17th-century seville with all the drama and horror of a painting or etching by Francisco Goya.

While it is evident arpa is inspired

See ARPA on page 12

12 • ISSUE April 2017

Volume 23, No. 7

MUECK from page 5 wound on the right side of his torso in a gesture that reminds of christ revealing the spear wound to the disciples. the human-size dead chicken with outstretched wings in “still Life” evokes associations not only with Dutch paintings of game and poultry but also with the crucifixion and sacrifice. two sculptures in the show reference one of the most popular subjects in european art, mother and child. however, in Mueck’s works motherhood is far from glamorous. the first one, “Woman with shopping,” features a tired-looking woman who is almost crumbling under the burden of her duties. both of her hands are weighed down with heavy shopping bags and a baby is strapped to her chest under the buttoned trench coat. Will she have a chance to rest when she finally gets home? not likely — the baby has to be fed and changed, the dinner cooked, and numerous housekeeping chores attended to. Where will she get the strength to do it all? the second one, “Mother and child,” shows the moment immediately after the birth. the woman is lying

on her back, exhausted, with the newborn on her belly, their bodies glistening with sweat and the umbilical chord still connecting the two. she does not exhibit any emotions, just acknowledges the fact. the birth, like the death, are just stages on the journey of life.

Mueck’s philosophical stance is perhaps most poignantly expressed in “Man in a boat.” the sculpture is displayed in a darkened gallery; a single beam of light is shining on a pale naked figure of a middleaged man. he is sitting all alone in a boat that seems too large for him to handle (the artist used a real boat, but made the figure at half scale.) his predicament is made worse by the fact that the boat has no oars, sail or rudder. unable to control its course, the man looks resigned and aloof. the inspiration for this work came from a small detail in velázquez’s painting “the immaculate conception” at the national Gallery in London. however, Mueck imbued this image with a new and powerful meaning having created a haunting symbol of a man at the moment of the existential crisis in his life. the exhibition “ron Mueck” will be on view at the Museum of Fine arts, houston, through May 29.

For more information, visit www.mfah.org

UNTITLED (PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN) by José Arpa

ARPA from page 11 by works by masters of his craft, he is also inspired by myths and legends, resulting in capturing such events such the fairly contemporary Legend of the alamo to the famous literary figure Don Quixote, who hails from seville. in the exhibit, there are two renderings of the alamo; one is typical postcard impressionist view while the other depicts the first time the alamo burned to the ground. by leaving spain and settling in the san antonio region in the 1920s, arpa posited himself not just as a spanish painter, but an early texas painter. the breadth of the exhibit captures not only the painter’s european roots, but also his contribution to the history of texas art. the exhibition “José arpa: a spanish Painter in texas is open until May 28. the art Museum of southeast texas is located at 500 Main st. in downtown beaumont.

For more information, visit www.amset.org.

Ron Mueck, COUPLE UNDER AN UMBRELLA, 2013, mixed media, Courtesy Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Patrick Gries. © Ron Mueck

Cajun Heritage Fest set for April 8 April 2017 ISSUE • 13

Volume 23, No. 7

the sOutheast texas arts council will present the cajun heritage Fest 2017 (formerly carnival Des cajuns), april 8 at the carl a. Parker Multipurpose center, 1800 Lakeshore Dr. in downtown Port arthur.

Doors open at noon and tickets are $10. “it is going to be a rip-roarin’ good time, just like it always has,” blake bertrand, setac spokesman, said in a release. “back by popular demand, Jamie bergeron and the kickin’ cajuns are returning to headline the show so you know it’s gonna be great. also hitting the stage during the day will be travis Matte and the kingpins and Grammy award win-

ning Jo-el sonnier. “there will be lots of beer, lots of crawfish, and lots of cajun music, so if you like any one or two of the three this is the place to be on april 8.” bertrand said the event will also include the ever popular crawfish racing. “if you’ve ever dreamed of being a crustacean jockey, go see a doctor! — but then come on down to the cajun heritage Fest, we got a place for you here!” this year will see the advent of the first accordion contest. entry to the contest is free.

“You don’t have to bet an accordion of gold against your soul if you want

to compete in this playoff, so come on down and wring out the ol’ squeezebox for the crowd and fight for the crown of cajun accordion king at the cajun heritage Fest,” bertrand said. sign up for the contest is at the website cajunheritageFest.com. the website also includes a list of performers and events, and more will be added as announced. vendor and sponsor information is available on the website. the cajun heritage Fest is presented by the southeast texas arts council and cajun sounds internet radio.

For more, visit cajunheritage Fest.com, or call 409-835-2787.

Branding the American West: Paintings and Films, 1900 – 1950 On view through Sept. 9, 2017 • Orange, Texas

See a Side of The West You’ve Never Seen Before...

FREE FOR ALL AGES Saturday, April 8, 2017 (10am-3pm)

View more than 80 works of art and related film content highlighting the changing brands, or imagery of violence, beauty and celebration of the American West.

starkmuseum.org

Facepainting • Family Games • Scavenger Hunt Cookies & Lemonade • Create with Clay Hear LCM 5th grade choir at 1:30pm See a 78 ft. mural made by Orange Co. students Oscar Edmund Berninghaus (1874–1952), Movie Night at Taos Theater (detail), 1939, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in., Private collection.

Organized by the Brigham Young University Museum of Art and the Stark Museum of Art, and made possible in part by generous grants from the George S. and Delores Doré Eccles Foundation, the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums.

starkmuseum.org Stark Museum of Art is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation. ©2017 All Rights Reserved.

14 • ISSUE April 2017

Volume 23, No. 7

Around & About

If you come across any interesting exhibitions, museums or other places on your travels, share them with us. Call 409-838-5393, or contact us through our web site at www.artstudio.org. Be sure to include the location and dates of the subject, as well as any costs. _____________

WHAT LIES ABOVE by Richard Tallent beaumont artist RICHARD TALLENT will present GLASS DARKLY, a series of black and white photographic nudes at HIGH STREET GALLERY, with a free reception 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., april 8. "i'd like people to come away seeing themselves in a new light,” tallent said in a release. “the theme of the show is how we slowly come to understand ourselves and the world as we mature.

“We live in a time when forces want to divide us into groups, whether through society's beauty standards, lines on a map, signs on a door, numbers in a bank account, or check boxes on a form. so my hope is that people see a bit of themselves reflected back in each of my figures, because even if a particular model has a very different body, those differences are just a tiny fraction of our Dna — we have much more in common." beaumont’s high street Gallery is located at 2110 victoria street, inside victoria house. reception is open to the public between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on april 8. beaumont artist richard tallent will be showing a series of black and white photographic nudes. refreshments will be served and artwork is for sale by the artist.

For more information, visit www.tal lent.us/show-2017-04.html, or on Facebook.

each spring, parents and area students seek new exciting opportunities for summer camps and classes. ART QUEST SUMMER CAMPS & TEEN WORKSHOPS offered by STARK MUSEUM OF ART and ecorangers summer camps offered by SHANGRI LA BOTANICAL GARDENS AND NATURE CENTER may be the path to summer fun that is educational, too. registration fee for art Quest summer camps is $45 for stark cultural venues' (scv) Members; $60 for the general public. registration for art Quest teen Workshops is $25 for scv Members; $35 for the general public. the camps are designed to actively engage students and provide a way to experience art and nature that helps prevent student learning-loss during the summer months. all camps have a low student-to-teacher ratio, which enhances hands-on learning in all environments. camps and workshops are suited to align with learning goals that are specific to the student's grade level, and there are offerings for kids in grades k through 12.

Art Quest Summer Camps include: teen Workshop: Print Power for Grades 6-12, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., June 27. teens will create drawings and designs to put through our printing press. they will participate in a print swap and walk away with a portfolio full of great art work.

Micro and Macro art for Grades 3-5, 8:30 a.m.-noon, July 11-13. big and small, campers will explore it all. zoom in on tiny things and make tiny things tall, shrink huge giants and make skyscrapers small! campers will have fun playing with scale while exploring drawing, painting and sculpting techniques. senseational art for Grades k - 2, 8:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m.-noon, July 18-20. create art that engages all your senses in this three day cam. sound sculptures that jingle, culinary crafts that smell and taste superb, eye-popping op-art and smooth sculptures are all part of this "sense"ational camp experience for all artists! teen Workshop - self Portraiture for Grades 6 - 12, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., July 27. Learn how to paint a great likeness of yourself in this four-hour studio experience. explore symbolism, technical skills and abstraction while you decide what makes you YOu.

brush up with Landscapes for Grades k - 2., 8:30 a.m.-noon, aug. 1-3. Flowers and bunnies and deer, oh my! For young artists who wonder about the specifics of landscape painting, explore plants, animals and environments represented in the sMa collection while creating artistic habitats of your own.

Movers and Makers for Grades k - 2, 8:30 a.m.-noon, aug. 8-10. campers will dance, play and wiggle while creating art that allows the practice of fine motor skills, coordination and creativity. From drawing with music to dancing in the studio, campers will experience a wide variety of art techniques.

EcoRangers Summer Camps include: nature heroes for Grades 1 & 2, 8:30 a.m.noon, July 11 - 14, 2017. explore the forest and meadow trails, tromp along the swamps and float down the bayou, all in search of the animals that call shangri La home! as a hero in training, campers explore the splendor of shangri La's wildlife, work toward earning their hero cape and become the heroes that nature needs. costumes welcome.

Pow-Wow with nature for Grades 3-4, 8:30 a.m.-noon, July 18-21. step back in time to when native americans lived in the area of shangri La. Learn to live off the land by building a natural shelter, tracking animals, weaving with natural materials, working with clay, and fishing. campers will even learn about the past by participating in an archaeological dig and speaking the native language.

Wonderful World of Wings for Grades 5-6, 8:30 a.m.-noon, July 25-28. it's a bird, it's a bat, it's a butterfly! Discover how and why things in nature use flight for migration, hunting, predator evasion or attracting a mate. here at shangri La we have a multitude of animals that depend on their wings. campers will investigate, create and test different methods and modes of flight.

May the Force of nature be with You for Grades 7-9, 8:30 a.m.-noon, aug. 1-4. Forces of nature are always moving, from shifting tectonic plates, hot and cold air currents colliding, or the transfer of energy. students will learn through the design and flight of a hot air balloon, a solar power hands-on experiment and more how forces of nature shape our ever-changing world. registration deadline is June 16, and forms are available online at starkmuseum.org and shangrilagardens.org.

Mission Statement Founded in 1983, The Art Studio, Inc. is devoted to: providing opportunities for interaction between the public and the Southeast Texas community of artists; furnishing affordable studio space to originating artists of every medium; promoting cultural growth and diversity of all art forms in Southeast Texas; and providing art educational opportunities to everyone, of every age, regardless of income level, race, national origin, sex or religion.

PURPOSE The purpose of The Art Studio, Inc. is to (1) provide educational opportunities between the general public and the community of artists and (2) to offer sustained support for the artist by operating a nonprofit cooperative to provide studio space and exhibition space to working artists and crafts people, and to provide an area for group work sessions for those artists and crafts people to jointly offer their labor, ideas, and enthusiasm to each other.

GOALS 1. To present public exhibitions 2. To provide educational opportunities 3. To provide accessible equipment for artists 4. To provide peer feedback through association with other artists and crafts people OBJECTIVES 1. To present nine art exhibitions per year 2. To maintain equipment for artists in a safe working environment 3. To provide better access to artists for the public 4. To offer regularly scheduled adult and children’s classes 5. To develop and maintain public activities with all sectors of the community 6. To develop and maintain equipment to aid artists in their work 7. To provide a display retail outlet for artists 8. To expand programming and activities with increased facility space

Thoughtcrime

April 2017 ISSUE • 15

Volume 23, No. 7

The BEAUMONT ART LEAGUE wants to help with your spring-cleaning. For $2, interested parties can rent a 10-feet by 10feet space to sell artwork, hand-made jewelry, pottery, etc. that has been sitting in storage just waiting for a new owner in our community. Artwork must be priced at $100 or less.

Call 409-833-4179 for more information and to reserve a space. The Beaumont Art League is located at 2675 Gulf St. _____________ Local painter MELINA McWHITE will be the featured artist at FINDER’S FAYRE ANTIQUES, beginning April 4. McWhite draws from her broad experiences, and close ties to Southeast Texas, for the inspiration to her wide range of art. Her exhibit is part of the ongoing “Contemporary Local Artist Show Series.� The show opens with a “First Thursday at the Mildred� reception April 6, 5-9 p.m. and will be on view through May 3.

Finder’s Fayre, is located at 1485 Calder Avenue in Beaumont. For More Information, call 409-833-7000

Daddy Issues

happy valentines Day to my love. the one i'll never see. the ghost that walks through the hallowed hallways of my soul. ever haunting.

Your children are beautiful and talented and an intrinsic mixture of us.

Your grand daughter is... me.

More so than any of our children were

Submission Guidelines and Disclaimer ISSUE solicits and publishes the work of local authors. Poetry, short fiction, scholarly works and opinion pieces may be submitted for review. All works must be typed and may be sent to TASI by email or by messaging the ISSUE Facebook page.

The opinions expressed in “Thoughtcrime� do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TASI, its Board of Directors, ISSUE’s editorial staff, or donors to TASI. Send typed works to: ISSUE, 720 Franklin, Beaumont, TX 77701 or e-mail info@artstudio.org Authors must submit a daytime telephone number and email along with all submissions. Pen names are acceptable, but authors must supply real names for verification. All printed works are protected by copyright. The author retains rights to any published work.

ISSUE does not notify rejection by mail or telephone.

Fate Is Nothing More Than Inescapable Coincidence

We hiked the sandylands one day in april, a time of hope and promise on our first date, and talked about a thousand different things: the world, a kingsnake lying still, our kids, the nuthatch in a tree, religion, hopes, and dreams. the cypresses and tupelos, shattered by hurricanes, yet still alive, a testament to endurance under stress.

We went back three years later in December. a warm day, i remember, full of life, knowing all about each other save one thing: that just one month later, you would leave me, blown away by unresolved desires, and a perfect storm of anxiety and fear.

Yet we were happy our last full day together, and the cypresses and tupelos still endure.

Phil Rogers

My heart breaks that you won't know her it hurts my heart but the demons that have you bound are,not mine to conquer. i've tried and i remain scarred from the battle. but i remember that tree We'd sit underneath and you'd serenade me no money for gas we'd walk around town it never seemed like doing without...we had each other i want our children to know to know that true love exists it is brutal it is beautiful it wounds...and if you're lucky it heals but not always

i want our children to know that they were created in love by a fabulously flawed human that was brilliant and charismatic. they were conceived in love by two people who adored you and shamelessly adored one another.

My children you were conceived in love. With a fabulous father and a flawed hippy mom that he loved. happy valentines Day đ&#x;’• MOMWOW Angi Walker Time flies

i was nothing but a kid i couldn’t understand it i loved you; i was your biggest fan i read all the poems you wrote tears fall sometimes fist go threw walls but i love them they gave me the chills i wonder what happened to that person Oh he faded away after every pill it’s true what they say it only takes one to kill

What addicts don’t understand they don’t know how they make others feel i forgave you for what you did but you left me When i was lonely and just a kid they say you grow up an get passed it but that’s isn’t true What my eyes have seen Well that’s just something you can’t undo Tristine Robert Smith

720 Franklin, Beaumont, Texas 77701

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit #135 Beaumont, TX

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

INSIDE • MEUCK AT MFAH • THOUGHTCRIME: MUSINGS FROM AREA POETS • SEVILLE’S REAL ALCAZÁR • ARPA AT AMSET

When you support The Art Studio with your membership, you receive ISSUE, Southeast Texas’ and Southwest Louisiana’s alternative press, as well as class schedules, invitations to opening receptions and various Studio functions.

Volunteers These people are the life blood of our organization. WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! To volunteer, drop by The Art Studio, Inc., or call 409-838-5393.

elizabeth Fontenot bryan castino heather & adam butler rhonda rodman sue Wright cyndi Grimes rhonda Mcnally andy coughlan John roberts beau Dumesnil karen Dumesnil sheila busceme kailee viator caitlin Duerler stephan Malick terri Fox avril Falgout Michelle Falgout stacey haynes Joe Winston John Fulbright Mark Jacobson nathaniel Welch Gina Garcia hayley hardin Jack hays tyler hargraves aslinn Garcia chase kiker Paisley Polk zoe Williams rana Matthews Michael beard brittany tawater Juliet Goldstein caroline badon Jake hollier breanna Workman David Granitz Pat Grimes

JOIN US

FOR ART OPENINGS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

THIS MONTH:

OPENING RECEPTION IS APRIL 1, 7-10 P.M.

this project was funded in part by the b.a. & e.W. steinhagen benevolent trust through the southeast texas arts council.

ISSUE

DISTRIBUTION POINTS

DOWNTOWN the art stuDiO, inc.

720 FrankLin art MuseuM OF sOutheast texas 500 Main babe DiDriksOn zaharias MuseuM 1750 ih-10e beauMOnt cOnventiOn & visitOrs bureau 801 Main beauMOnt art LeaGue (FairGrOunDs) 2675 GuLF st neW YOrk Pizza & Pasta 790 neches setac 701 nOrth street, ste. 1 starbucks eDisOn PLaza texas enerGY MuseuM 600 Main SOUTH END/LAMAR UNIVERSITY carLitO’s restaurant 890 aMariLLO @ cOLLeGe sunrise 2425 s 11th JerusaLeM hOOkah caFé 3035 cOLLeGe sWiceGOOD Music cO. 3685 cOLLeGe Lu art DePartMent DishMan art MuseuM universitY Press 202 carL Parker buiLDinG OLD TOWN aLDen hOuse saLOn 2415 caLDer anna’s Mexican bakerY 2570 caLDer JaveLina tattOO 2510 caLDer chaPas taMaLes 2305 caLDer bettY sMith creative WOrks 2485 caLDer the breW shOP 2410 caLDer JasOn’s DeLi 112 GateWaY shOP cntr katharine & cO. 1495 caLDer tacOs La baMba 2005 caLDer raO’s bakerY 2596 caLDer CENTRAL/WEST END bar LOcaL 6358 PheLan cOLOnnaDe center sMaLL tOWn vinYL 6356 PheLan cOLOnnaDe center basic FOODs 6220 PheLan beauMOnt cOMMunitY PLaYers 4155 LaureL beauMOnt visitOrs bureau ih-10 cOLOraDO canYOn 6119 FOLsOM katharine & cO. carrY-Out cuisine 4455 caLDer Guitar & banJO stuDiO 4381 caLDer LOGOn caFe 3805 caLDer reD b4 bOOks 4495 caLDer reeD’s LaunDrY 6025a PheLan @ PeYtOn icOn 6372 cOLOnnaDe center thirstY’s 229 DOWLen PARKDALE raO’s bakerY 4440 DOWLen ORANGE stark MuseuM OF art 712 Green ave.