Barbara Kemp Cowlin's Paintings On View at Willo North Gallery, Phoenix
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by James Cowlin
Barbara Kemp Cowlin's Show at Willo North Gallery | Barbara is exhibiting 29 of her recent paintings at the Willo North Gallery in Phoenix until September 27th. The opening of the show is Friday, September 3rd, as part of the monthly First Friday art walk. Refreshments will be served from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. If you are going to be in Phoenix then, please stop by Willo North at 2811 North 7th Avenue. We look forward to meeting all of our US Route 89 friends and supporters. The gallery is also open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Looking for a Space from the Nooks & Crannies Series | There are two series of paintings featured in the show. Twenty-four are from Barbara's Nooks and Crannies series that she has been working on for the last three years. Here is how she describes these paintings:
"I paint inconspicuous places in public spaces. Although overlooked by most, these special places have an inner glow, a strange and ethereal quality that I am moved to express in my work. I am most inspired by spaces with an air of mystery, a sense that there is a story to be told. Turning a corner and seeing a vision that is as beautiful as it is unexpected takes my breath away. I want my viewers to experience this."
Pena Blanca Reflection II | The second series of five paintings are landscapes from around Peña Blanca Lake in southern Arizona. As part of the US Route 89 project, we have camped in Peña Blanca Canyon a number of times. It is in the proposed Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness area northwest of Nogales. The paintings depict Barbara's impressions of the trees, grasses and reeds reflected by the water of the lake and stream. You can see all of the paintings in a special portfolio in the Road Trip Guide for Nogales to Tucson on our website.
We look forward to seeing our Arizona friends at the opening on Friday. If you can't make it to the gallery, you can see all Barbara's paintings on her online gallery. Also, read Barbara's thoughts on art and life on her blog, At last...making art full-time.
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Two Photographers' Portfolios Added to the Road Trip Guides |
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By James Cowlin
Barbara and I are not the only artists who have found US Route 89 to be a source of inspiration. During our travels we have visited galleries and art centers full of remarkable work by artists living and working on highway 89. To bring this work to a wider audience, we are adding artists' portfolios to the Road Trip Guides. We hope the different point of view of the work of these artists will contribute to your understanding of life along US 89.
John Telford is a professor at Brigham Young University in Provo. Though he is known for his color landscape photographs, he chose to make portraits of the people and places along the 500 miles of Utah's section of 89 in black and while. He also employed a panoramic format to capture his subjects in their environment. The results are an insightful record giving the viewer a new perspective on life in rural Utah. Each photograph is accompanied by a caption that places the subject in context. Take a look at John Telford's portfolio in the Spanish Fork to Brigham City Road Trip Guide.
John Telford's Photograph of Wallace Ott |
We met Tom Kiefer when we were living in Ajo, Arizona. He had just completed a series of photographs for his Journeys West Exhibit about the road from Ajo to Tucson. Recently, Tom completed the second part of the exhibit with photographs along the road from Tucson to Phoenix, which is historic US Route 89. Tom works in black and white capturing his photographs on film with a medium format camera. His images depict the texture and detail of places he has encountered along the road. You can view his portfolio in the Tucson to Apache Junction Road Trip Guide. Tom Kiefer's Photograph of Casa Grande Ruin | We will be adding more artists' portfolios in the future. To stay informed about about new additions to the website, check out the What's New page under the About the 89 Project tab. You can also add the announcements to your RSS reader.
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Call to Artists
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Are you an artist living and working along US Route 89 or does your work depict places on the highway? We want to hear from you and take a look at your work for possible inclusion on the website.
If you are interested, please contact James Cowlin by email: jim@jamescowlin.com. Either include a few samples of your work attached to the email or the address of a website where your work can be viewed. Also, please include a resumé and artist's statement about your work. Artwork in any medium is acceptable so don't be shy.
At this time, there is no charge for having a portfolio on the US Route 89 website. If you sell any work as a result, we ask that you make a donation to the US Route 89 Appreciation Society to help defray our expenses. |
Support the "Slow Road" Movement: Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society
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You love driving the two-lane highways that keep you close to the edge of the road so you can see the land at a leisurely pace. You think nothing of stopping along the way to admire the view and smell the fresh air. You seek out unique places to eat where the special of the day depends on what's in season at the nearby farm. You already appreciate the opportunities offered by a journey on US Route 89. You are not alone in your passion for a trip on a "slow road." There are many others like you. Together we can spread the word of the joys of leisurely travel. Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society and you'll receive an official membership certificate and button to attest to your belief in the "slow road" movement.
General Membership: $5 Benefits: · Membership Certificate · Membership Badge · Email Newsletter · Invitations to all project events
Download the Membership Brochure in pdf format |