The Beat Art Gallery

What’s New at The Beat Gallery

artassemblage — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:20:37 +0000

Here’s an interesting painting that came in to the gallery last week. It’s unique in that is painted with gouache. I hardly ever see finished work in that medium these days. It’s painted by an A V Stewart. Haven’t found out anything about the artist, yet.

It’s well painted and the pools of light in the left lower corner are very nice. It looks to be an arts and crafts piece and has the flavor of Pasadena. The matt is definately old and a bit discolored, and the frame is worn, but hey, it is historical. The size is 16 X 20 in frame, and is offered at $280.

Last weekend we went to the San Francisco International Gift Fair. Found some great art journals to carry at the gallery, I’ll show them here when they come in. I can also announce that steam punk is alive and well in Petaluma and Sebastopol California. (I knew that…) we found some fun folks keeping it alive and well. We like steam punk, it goes well with our assemblage.

You can find us at: The Beat Art Gallery, 109 W. Perkins, Ukiah, CA 95482

Michael and Susan owners 707 462 4180

our website: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com and www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

What’s New at The Beat Gallery

artassemblage — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:35:08 +0000

Left: ‘Roy Roger’s Hands ’ Roger Franklin Photography

So, we’ve finally pinned him down. Photographer Roger Franklin will be showing his latest works at The Beat in March!

Rog’s veratile style continues to bring artistic depth and fluidity to his medium, and he’s just plain fun to have around. There will be an artist’s reception on Friday, March 2, from 5-8pm, so come join in the celebration with friends of Roger Franklin and The Beat.

Hopefully we can post Roger’s works for sale on the website, if you can’t make the show: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com Stay tuned, I’ll give a heads-up for that.

Find us at: The Beat Gallery, 109 W Perkins, Ukiah, CA, Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer owners 707 462 4180 and our Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

What’s New at The Beat Gallery

artassemblage — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:12:11 +0000

What a fun piece came in last week! Our home is about horses, so we are partial, especially to paintings with a historical look. Although we think this painting was done in the 1970′s, it surely has that feeling of the horse being center stage (of course) with the humans and action taking a back seat. I love the way this bay gelding is nervously chewing his bit and rolling his eyes at the viewer. And as a horse lover, “bay”, is the best color of a horse. The perspective is interesting, too, and a nice busy atmosphere on a turf track.

The painting is signed T. Fillans and measures 36″x24″. There is some professionally done repair on the back of the painting, one area in the sky. We are currently offering the piece at the gallery for $800. And you can purchase it off our website: http://www.artavenuegardenstudios.com Or come by the gallery and take a look. You can find us at The Beat Gallery, 109 W Perkins, Ukiah CA, 95482, 707 462 4180, on the above website,

and Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery And here’s to all the great-hearted bay athletes of the horseworld!

What’s New at The Beat

artassemblage — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:09:36 +0000

I enjoy showing off the interesting artworks that come into The Beat. I also enjoy trying to hunt down information on lesser-known artists. This piece gives me the chance to do both. It really fits the feel of our gallery, seeming rather retro-but actually was painted in 2009. The current owner is downsizing his collection and brought it by. It is very bold, with super-saturated colors. It reminds me of the circles of Sonia DeLaunay from the early part of last century. Maybe a little more free-form than hers….

Here’s the mystery, and anyone who can help, please feel free. The artwork is signed by a G. Hamamjian. It measures 20″ x 20″. It is unframed, and the stretchers are thick. (about 1.5″) The painting extends over the framework. Now the only Hamajian I can think of around here in California would be the Hamamjian Modern, heavily associated with SFMOMA. I wonder if there is any relationship? I’ve just started the hunt….Anyway it is being offered at The Beat for $400. And on our “art avenue” website below.

So winter finally came to our area this week. (Thank Goodness) Our little gallery is quiet, and cozy and warm. The backroom studio is gaining personality with the usual array of artist ephemera that boils along in our wake. Tomorrow we’ll open the studio for anyone who hap’s by and is interested-Susan will be demonstrating a bit of the tile technique that Laurie Mika has written on. (Sorry, Laurie, I can’t remember the name of the book right now! But will surely show it to those interested.) Do stop by if you are in the neighborhood-we love meeting new pals!

Find us at: The Beat Art Gallery, 109 W Perkins, Ukiah, CA 95482 707 462 4180 Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer, owners

our website: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com and Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

What’s New at The Beat Gallery

artassemblage — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:47:15 +0000

Has anyone else noticed this, or am I just subscribing to the wrong magazines? Over the weekend I was having fun on a little project (check out our personal blog http://artassemblage.wordpress.com ) and I needed some magazine images for collaging. I was searching for images I thought would have meaning of “joy” and “happiness.” In 9 months of issues of the one major art magazine at our house, I really could not find anything “joyful.” All of the major works shown were very somber. Very serious. Very not joyful. Now, this is quite the comment coming from an artist who revels in the clanking of chains and squeaking of doors and the dimly lit spaces of assemblage. But, my goodness, even the photos of the artists themselves and the show-goers… all sooooo serious.

Enter, Tonya Engel. We do not even represent Tonya at our gallery, but we love her work. It is happy. It is joyful. And sometimes it is introspective. We have a couple of her prints, and one is in our window display of assembled birds. It is a portrait of a woman wearing a bird’s nest on her head, and it is charming. Her paintings of children playing are a good remedy for a serious day of grown-up work. The little print above is called, “Tora! Tora!” and it always makes me smile. Thank you Tonya, for a breath of fresh air, and bringing a little lightness to my day. You can find her work online at http://tonyaengel.com

You can find us at: The Beat Art Gallery, 109 West Perkins, Ukiah, CA (707) 462-4180 Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer owners

our website: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com and our Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

What’s New at The Beat

artassemblage — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:19:51 +0000

New work by Susan this week, at left, “A Slightly Sinister Alphabet” employing paper dolls from Edward Gorey drawings. Funny how this piece sat around half-done for weeks until the Gorey drawings popped up, and how fun it was to finish! We’ll show it off this friday at the gallery for Art Walk in Ukiah between 5 and 8pm. The piece measures 12″ x 12″ under plexiglass cover (not shown.) Offered at $215.

Reminder: Dreamboard Sunday, Jan. 15th around noon see info on our website: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com under “events.”

Michael has picked up oil painting again, and will be showcasing new work soon…stay tuned for that.

And, with the new year, we’ll be offering more to our customers through the gallery by searching out art that might interest you. We will have cards at the gallery to fill out, and if we see something that might fit the bill for you, we will let you know. Also, in the comment section here on this blog, let us know what you might be interested in. Style, size and price range will help us narrow things down. We see a lot of art in a week as we search the resale market, and might as well keep an eye out for everybody…

We started a more personal blog here on wordpress about Michael and Susan as artists, it’s informal, and fun. This month, we’ll have a small art piece give-away so check it out by the end of the week: http://artassemblage.wordpress.com

As always, you can also vist our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

The Beat Art Gallery, Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer, owners, 109W Perkins, Ukiah, CA 707462 4180

What’s New at the Beat

artassemblage — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:10:15 +0000

: Large Carved Wooden Bust $110.

Sliding into home plate….At the end of the year, we now have a new website to go with our gallery. I thought it would take longer, and like most artists I know, didn’t want to work on it. But, it surely came together easily. It’s under our old site’s name, but we can send folks there to find out about us, and even shop some of the items at the gallery. (thanks to paypal)

It’s amazing how far web design for the lay-person has come in the past 8 years. When we opened our first website for our other business, we spent countless late nights up at all hours trying to figure things out. Tech support probably had a red check mark next to our passwords. Now days things are so integrated, it’s really a breeze. And I’m glad to see mom and pop sites have gone back to clean and basic. That’s what I have tried to do, anyway.

So now I can check one last thing off the 2011 to-do list. It can be tweaked a little, and will, but for now check it out! www.artavenuegardenstudios.com (/the beat art gallery) and as always, our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

Here’s to hoping you all start your new year off with enthusiasm and hope. Keep shining,

Susan Spencer and Michael Wilson owners/artists at The Beat Gallery, 109 West Perkins, Ukiah, CA 95482 707 462 4180

What’s New at The Beat:Jamie Ridler’s Hands-Up How-to

artassemblage — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:00:51 +0000

: Victoria Roberts “In Memory: A Tribute to the Handwritten Letter”

Wrapping up the year, I see Jamie Ridler Studios has a Hands-Up How -To project giving us the chance to reflect and share helpful hints for her readers. I love that Jamie is such an advocate for all creatives, and that’s all of us!

So here’s some reflections from the gallerist’s point of view about how to approach a gallery about representing your work. (And 5 “don’ts” taken from our year.)

1-Do your homework. Know the type of art represented in the gallery, and only approach them if your art fits. Lovely watercolor florals probably won’t fit in a gallery of assemblage works.

2-Do call or email ahead. For the informal gallery, asking if you can drop by is good, for the formal gallery, make an appointment.

3-Do come prepared. Have your CD with bio ready. Or, I prefer your website, as long as it is clean and updated.

4-Do polish your manners. A gallerist wants to work with pleasant, professional people. We don’t have time for prima-donnas, and NEVER make negative comments about other artists or galleries.

5-And if you get in: go the extra mile. Have an updated list of your friends and clients you can email announcing your work at the gallery. This goes a long way to endearing you to the gallery, especially if you update occasionally when you have new work there. Be sure to send a copy of the announcement to the gallery for “goody-points!”

And now for our 5 top “Don’ts” taken from real life here at the gallery:

1-Don’t tell me I should want you in my gallery because you are what the locals buy.

2-Don’t show up off the street with a book of napkins you did last night at the local pub.

3-Don’t “bag” on other galleries in town. They are probably friends of mine.

4-Don’t butt in if I am talking to a customer.

5- (My favorite) Don’t roll up your sleeve to show me the naked lady you tatooed on your arm 30 years ago when you were in high school telling me it was difficult because you did it upside down, and now the colors are fading because you used acrylic paint in the tatoo!!!

Thanks, Jamie, and to all, here’s to an amazing 2012!

You can find us at The Beat Gallery, 109 West Perkins, Ukiah CA. 707 462 4180

our website: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com

and on our new Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

What’s New at the Beat

artassemblage — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:32:05 +0000

: “Forgotten” Susan Spencer

Well, finally! Last Saturday we put together the studio for working in while here at the gallery. Yipee! All it really took was a pair of used shelving units (25% off even) and 2 days of cleaning and sorting, putting stuff away, and turning on the lights. Now we can work in the back room when nobody’s in the gallery. We could do that before, but not comfortably. And we can invite the public into the back occasionally for studio demos. I’m already back there working today….

And, we are gearing up for a Sunday afternoon “Dreamboard” session coming up in January. What a great way to kick off the new year! Come by and sign up for an information email on that.

Our new and improved Etsy store is open, and we are adding to the store daily. So check it out for some fun and funky deals on vintage finds, and art by Michael and I. “Forgotten” on the left can be purchased through the Etsy store and we will be adding some great art books we found at our friend and fellow artist here at the gallery, Malcolm West. Malcolm is letting go of a very extensive library of art books collected throughout his life. Guess I better get on that…

Find us on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

Find us in Ukiah: The Beat Gallery, 109 West Perkins, Ukiah,CA 707 462 4180

Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer, artists, owners.

What’s New at The Beat

artassemblage — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:17:11 +0000

Unsigned Floral

What a charming work came into the gallery last week! I was drawn to the brush strokes, the rich colors, and the warm, golden light hitting the table on the left. But this painting is unsigned. I’m nosey. I wonder who did this painting? Was this a study done at the artist’s window? I imagine a quiet moment to start the painting. Then coming back to paint and paint quietly. Then softly calling it complete. But, I’m probably wrong, (this happens to me more often than I care to disclose.)

Here’s a thought by the artist Georges Rouault that may apply to this unsigned painting:

“Of all criticisms, of judgements more or less enlightened, biased or rash, of all miseries and vanities of the moment, there remains a mute, though sometimes eloquent witness. I mean the poor fragment of canvas or paper before which our contemporaries and those to follow will sing “Halleleuiah” or “Miserere,”sometimes without having any idea of the conditions under which the creator may have been constrained to work.”

Who knows from where this little painting comes? And I suppose that is just okay. The canvas bore witness. And we are graced.

You can purchase this little mystery on our new Etsy store! 16″ by 16″, it’s modestly priced at $90. just that sweet.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

The Beat Gallery is located at 109 West Perkins, Ukiah, CA

707 462 4180

Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer, owners.

Happy Holidays to All!!!!