Last night the curtain fell on The First Monday Art Talk.  with an uncertain future Eric Matelski created an evening as exciting, diverse, and artistic as ever.  his undying devotion to the Denver Art Community is unmatched.  So what if every city had a First Monday Art Talk?  Personally, I believe it would take every city having an Eric Matelski to make it work.

As with any project there has been expansion and contraction, continuously looking at how to midwife a more inclusive, dynamic, and expressive event.  I'm honored to have witnessed this dynamic process because it has punctuated what perseverance can accomplish.

So what will all of us artists do on the 1st Monday of the month?  For the time being I hope you'll hold the space for the creation of a new event. If you've attended the First Monday Art Talk I can't imagine that you didn't walk away inspired and hopeful about ow important art and artists are to the life of a city.

My wish is that another venue in Denver snatches up this opportunity because it helps build community.  Can you think of anything more powerful?  It's crucial that we all artists and business to co-mingle and co-create because that keeps the economy moving for everyone.  As Stephen Covey point out in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, success comes when both parties go into the enterprise with a win-win mentality.

Until the Phoenix rises from the ashes I hope you'll take it upon yourselves to integrate bigger and deeper into your own communities.  I've seen what happens when artists create community and understand that collaboration far exceed competition.  If you live in Denver and run into Eric, congratulate him on four years of bliss and inspiration.  If you don't live in the area you can follow what Eric is up to at www.ericmatelski.com or www.artpimponline.com. 

        

I just wanted to take a moment to honor and thank Eric Matelski for initiating, managing, orchestrating, and bringing the First Monday Art Talk to Denver.  If you haven't met Eric before he's a ball of fire wrapped in heart of gold.  He's a talented artist, a kind soul, and funny as hell.  He devotion to his art is a joy to watch if you've ever had the opportunity to watch him paint live.  He loves creating not only paintings, but as you can see by what he's created at the First Monday Art Talk, an experience.

I've been attending the First Monday Art Talk for 4 years.  When Eric started, the artist would be on stage being interviewed and there might be six or seven of us in the audience.  Today, after four years, the room is packed.  Artists, friends, and family fill the room to hear the artist talk about their journey and to honor the art they've created.  Eric has been the ring leader of this circus and he's done it professionally, energetically, and artfully.

I would say that Eric is one of the most generous people I've met in the art community.  Many artists believe other artists are their competition.  Eric is a firm believer in collaboration and inclusion (something I don't think he rest of the art community understands, but with Eric's help is moving in that direction).  His ability to engage people from all artistic avenues has been exciting to witness.  He's added musicians, dancers, poets, and even hula hoops; oh and don't forget the kazoos.

I encourage you to come to Dazzle Jazz Club tonight if not to see the artist, the art, or to have fun, please come and honor Eric Matelski for his years of hard work, dedication, and love that he's put into this project.  He created this amazing event, don't you want to see what he'll create next?

        

The universe is made up of cycles.  We see this pattern in everything we do and everywhere we go so I don't know why I was so suprised to hear that the First Monday Art Talk was coming to a close.  After four years, the First Monday Art Talk will have it's final show this evening.  The show will go out with a bang as the guest artist of the evening is Tadd Moskal.  In addition to Tadd's influences and art; it's also the First Monday Art Talk's 4 year anniversary.

It's amazing to think that what started as an experiment has grown into this artist Mecca on the First Monday of the month.  It has gotten artists to convene, meet, collaborate, and have fun.  It has been a place where you get exposed to genres of art you may have never experienced, opened your eyes to new possibilities, and most of all allowed the public to experience art on a close-up and personal level.

What a kudos to Denver and Eric Matelski for not only beginning the First Monday Art Talk, but keeping it going for so long.  As far as we know, Denver is the only First Monday from the few that got off the ground still running after all these years.  I think that's a testament to Denver's art community and the communities commitment to having this art culture for all to share.

If you haven't been to the First Monday Art Talk at Dazzle Jazz Club please come tonight for the big send-off party.  I guarantee you'll learn something, be intrigued by lots, and most of all have a great time!

        

It's time for the First Monday Art Talk and this month we're honored to share the evening with Colorado's own Tadd Moskal.  It's funny how we come to work with our chosen art materials.  Some people have it passed on in their family, some found their passion in classes, and others come to a conclusion that for the cost of a couple of tubes of paint; they could get multitudes of color and enjoyment as Tadd did with a box of crayons.

One of the things if you've seen Tadd do his thing at the Denver Chalk Art Festival is the joy he exudes when entranced with creating.  You can see the glee pour out of his body and at the festival it ends up on the pavement for all to enjoy.  This is why events like the Denver Chalk Art Festival and the First Monday Art Talk are so important.  It helps the public get to know an artist they may never have seen before, you get to watch their process, and in both venues, you get to talk to them and get to know them.

As Tadd reaches the twenty year mark of working with crayons I guess the experiment is over.  We're thrilled that this medium has united so joyfully with his creative spirit.  He's not only talented but generous with his time and art.  He's had pieces for auction at the Dumb Friends League (a personal favorite of mine) and when your art matches with the cause why not help them out if it's a win-win situation, by that I mean you get recognized for your contribution.

Want to find out more about Tadd's work and influences?  Come out to Dazzle Jazz Club this evening and experience the magic for yourself.

        

Recently I had the pleasure and opportunity to travel to St. Maarten on vacation.   It was on a cruise of the Caribbean and prior to boarding I made a reservation for a very interesting shore excursion.  The tour company put together a tour of local artists' studios.  As an artist not only was I excited, but intrigued to see the island influences on the artist's work and how they sell their work living on a 37 square mile island.

St. Maarten is comprised of two countries; the Dutch side and the French side.  The artist studios were all on the French side of the island which seemed to have a calmer, more organized feel both in culture and landscape.  There were two artists whose work and marketing is worth mentioning.

Dona Bryhiel (www.donabryhiel.com) is a French artist living on the island.  Her gallery showcases her work in various mediums.  She's put her art on cards, ceramics, and of course her paintings, giclees, and art books round out the possibilities.  She's a gracious host and is both engaging and obviously quite talented.  Her work portrays both the island and the women on the island.  Music influences her work adding an extra visual flavor to her art. 

Monika, who goes by Akinom (Monika spelled backwards), www.paradoxe971.com, is both an artist and art consultant.  She shares her studio/gallery with Michel Dam Huguet, also a painter.  Upon entering their gallery we were treated to a talk by Monika.  She's engaging and well spoken about her art.  Her abstract paintings pull you in and leave you wanting more.  Unlike the other studios we visited, Monika and Michel only sell originals.  They do have works at all price points, but only originals.

What's the take away?
These artists are obviously an important part of the local economy.  Cruise ships pull into port on a daily basis, and this tour runs on a daily basis.  There were only 15 people on our tour, but multiply that by 7 and that's 105 people minimum coming to see your work and purchasing art.  Most of the people on our tour bought some type of art (one couple bought a piece at each of the five studios) at one of the studios.  It's a huge boost to the artist's income.  How can you translate that to your own art business?

Do you live in an area that has a big tourist draw?  Does the convention and visitor's bureau work with the arts community?  Maybe you should get a group of artists (close in physical proximity) and put together a proposal for this type of tour in your own city.  It shows the local culture, it provides visitors with memories they can take home and it provides the arts community with a global voice. 

It means you're going to have to do some leg work to get this going.  It means that you can't just sit back and wait for things to happen, you need to make them happen.  It may be a bit easier for artists in a particular art district to get this process up and running, but it would definitely be worth it.  What deal could you make with a local bus tour company like Gray Lines in your neck of the woods.  Your artists...think outside the box and get your rear-end in gear.  You keep wanting people delivered to your doorstep; here's one way to make it happen.

        

Easter has come and gone, tax day has come and gone so I'm guessing that April is bout to come and go.  That can only mean one thing; First Monday Art Talk, www.fmatdenver.com, at Dazzle Jazz Club is on the horizon.  If you live in the Denver area you're hopefully aware of how art progressive the city has become over the years.  We have a recent addition to the Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum will be opening in 2011, new galleries are opening around town and Audrey McNamara has made her home in the Mile High City.

On May 3, Audrey will be the featured guest of Eric Matelski at the First Monday Art Talk.  I had the opportunity to see Audrey paint live at an event and was taken with her process.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love process more than outcome.  I could sit and watch artists do their thing for hours on end.  When I watched Audrey paint it was almost as if she were stepping in to the painting, become a part of painting's world.  It's magical to watch and now we'll all have the opportunity to pick her brain about her influences and of course her process.

Her work is intriguing to me because it combines an illustrator's eye with the poetic sensibility of a writer.  McNamara's art is about story and I believe story is what sells work.  She worked as an artist on Venice Beach in California for 11 years and has since moved to the land of great art and thin air.  In addition to her art Audrey has written a book titled, Venice Beach Memoirs, and you'll get a glimpse into that world at the art talk.  She's multi-faceted making her multi-fascinating.  This is a great opportunity to see how an artist creates a world of art, not just a painting. Hope to see you there!

        

I often speak about the importance of relationships to further one's art endeavors.  I got an important lesson this week about being likeable, willing, and prepared.  My art often centers around health and healing.  My art is an unfinished story that is continually being created.  I belong to organizations that share my world view and mission.  Last week I visited one of the local hospitals to introduce myself as a local artist who shares their mission.  I was invited to the reception the following evening for the high school students who created work around a quote on health and healing.  If I couldn't make it the work would be up till 4/30/2010 so I could see it any time.  I did go to the reception and was amazed at the clarity of the student's response to the hope and healing quote.

This past Monday I got a call from my contact and she told me the students had taken the art down over the weekend.  They had a conflict with two other student shows in the area.  She called me to see if I had any work to hang.  Needless to say I was there the next morning with the art and the supplies to hang the exhibit.  I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to show my work at Parker Adventist Hospital because they take a body, mind, spirit approach to health and healing and that's in alignment with the work I create.

When hanging the work I was asked if the work could hang till some time in May since the next artist is out of the country for a while.  Once again....No Problem!  Having the capacity to pull a cohesive show together on-the-fly is enormously helpful.  In addition to this show I'm speaking with the hospital about a show with all the new pieces I'm creating.  It's a 13 piece series on meditation and health... a good fit, don't you think?

I think developing good and strong community relationships will propel your art career easier and faster than traditional marketing strategies.  When you have allies who like you and your work they will help you look for other opportunities to do what you do best so they can do what they do best.  I believe strongly in belonging to organizations that align with my mission and values because they will be more receptive to showing my work.  At this point my art is not about making pretty (although I think it's beautiful); I believe it's about making meaning.  That's why I'm such a proponent for art as a healing modality.

What organizations do you belong to and who knows you in these organizations?  What story does you art tell and how can the story be your biggest marketing tool?  I'd love to hear how you're implementing these ideas in your own art business...let me know and let's share the story!

        

I have to say that I'm enormously proud that Eric Matelski has kept the First Monday Art Talk (FMAT) alive and well coming up on four years.  What was supposed to be a national movement took hold in Denver and is thriving.  Every month new people show up to see what those of us who have been attending from the start find; a community who supports the arts and artists in the Denver Metro Area.  FMAT has certainly evolved since its inception, but that only means it keeps getting better and better.

The evening started with a performance by Shayla Jackson and Kiki Petra from the Shayla Jackson band.  Shayla is one of Kyle Banister's favorite musical groups so having her here as he put it, "It's something I can cross off my bucket list".  That's a great compliment.  It also shows how important supporting one another is to promote art and the arts.

Over the past couple of years my interest in poetry has grown and tonight was a great night because SETH represented.  SETH has been a performance poet for over twenty years and created a poetry culture in Denver.  He has published and performed extensively and we had the honor of his presence on Monday night.  SETH (www.wagingart.com) performed four poems each a magnificent display of his talent, charm, and ability to use language.  What I most appreciated about SETH is that he was himself.  He was assertive not aggressive in his delivery and he held the stage the way you would hold someone you love, close and endearing. 

Then we had our own 7th inning stretch and Kyle Banister came up to the plate.  As I mentioned in a previous post his art is referential to baseball, at least the pieces he brought to Dazzle Jazz Club.  What I most enjoyed about Banister, aside from his talent, was his humility.  Why is Banister's art so appealing, convincing, and engaging?  It's because he sticks with a few subject areas and goes deep.  The art he creates about baseball allows him to go deeper with each piece.  Sticking with a couple of things allows him to develop mastery.  Can you think of anything more important for an artrepreneur than to become a master? 

Engaging baseball as one of his three favorite subjects for creating art ( the other two are women and history) gives him the space to challenge himself keeping the foundation firm beneath his feet.  He's thoughtful in his words and expressive in his art.  Baseball season just started so if you're in the Denver area stop by and see Kyle Banister's work at Dazzle Jazz Club and think of it not as an art exhibit, but an extension of the game!

        

It's amazing how quickly the months pass, but April is quickly approaching and that means another opportunity to join Eric Matelski as he interview Kyle Banister at the First Monday Art Talk.  If you live in the Denver area the First Monday Art Talk (www.fmatdenver.com) gives artists the opportunity not only to show their work, but to provide the community with a behind the scenes look at what inspires local artists.  Eric has provided artists in the local community the opportunity to garner more local and regional support by exposing the community to artists they may never of had intimate access to otherwise.

So what's happening on April 5th?  I'm glad you asked because if you think of April and the Spring season there's only one thing that pops into the minds of most people and that's baseball.  We've been hearing about spring training, but as the season approaches everyone young and old is getting excited to support their favorite teams and America's favorite past time.  Doris Goodwin Kearns, one of America's most prominent presidential biographers wrote a book in 1998 titled, Wait Till Next Year.  It's a memoir, but it chronicles her life connected to her passion for baseball.

The April artist at FMAT shares the same passion for baseball as Kearns.  His work, although he's accomplished in various mediums and subjects, is synonymous with baseball.  Kyle Banister's work puts you in the action.  It accentuates the emotion of the game and the athlete.  Banister's work creates an enthusiasm for the game even if you're not up to date on all the baseball stats.  You'll have the opportunity to get swept up in his passion for the sport.

Banister is one of those artists who exemplifies the role of artist as a historian and cultural anthropologist.  His work brings out the nuance of the game while immortalizing some of the greatest players of our time.  He's embedded in the sport and the you can tell the sport is embedded in his soul.

Want to meet Kyle and see more of his art?  Come to Dazzle Jazz Club, 930 Lincoln Street, Denver and you'll go 9 innings with an inspirational artist.  Want to have more fun?  Wear your favorite baseball jersey to honor the evening.

        

Can you believe that February is coming to an end?  I guess that's the thing about it being the shortest month of the year.  If you live in Denver it only means one thing, the First Monday Art Talk (www.fmatdenver.com)  comes around again faster than usual, and that's a good thing.  It's that time when the Denver Metro Area gets to get a sneak peak and meet an artist they may not have met previously or have the opportunity to get up close and personal with March's featured artist Nemo (www.artbynemo.com).

I remember when Eric Matelski, the host of the First Monday Art Talk, spoke to me about Nemo's work because he kept emphasizing Nemo's use of the circle.  I've been a long time fan or Angeles Arrien who wrote a book on the five universal symbols and what it means if we're attracted to one shape in particular.  I won't bore you with all the details, but it's safe to say that the circle is Nemo's calling.

The amazing thing about Nemo's work is the subtlety of the art.  You may not even recognize the circle theme because you get caught up in the movement of his work.  There's a nuance to the work that's intriguing and makes you start to play with the idea, "Could I create such an expansive body of work centered around a single shape?"  I was fortunate to get a sneak peak at the stats that will be printed on the artist trading card given out on Monday, March 1 and Nemo's favorite artist is Jackson Pollock.  His reasoning has nothing to do with the drip paint method, but with the fact that Pollock had an identifiable style.

Well let's just say that Nemo is following in Pollock's footsteps because his style is certainly identifiable.  If you're in the Denver area on Monday, March 1 go meet Nemo in person at Dazzle Jazz Club, 930 Lincoln Street, Denver.  The show definitely doesn't disappoint and I'm not just saying that because I am February's featured artist. 

The "First Monday Art Talk" official blog will be coming, this was just a preview....stay tuned for more!