'Fresh' fruit, ripe for the painting

Here is the link to the article in the Torch by David Branham.

In the Torch

Thanks to David Branham at Land Community College's newspaper The Torch for the article on my exhibit at the David Joyce Gallery. I will post a link to the article when they post it on their web page. I have to mention a typo on the URL for my web page; it should be http://www.johnholdway.com . The show will run through April 12, 2010. I would love to hear from you if you make it over to see it. You can post a comment on my blog.

David Joyce Gallery
LCC Main Campus
Building 19
2nd Floor
The Center for Meeting & Learning
map

Fresh Installation

Here is a photo right after the installation of my show at David Joyce Gallery. Right to left Julie Fether (Special Projects Coordinator), John Holdway (me), Susan DeTroy (Exhibit Designer).

Here is a link to the Facebook event listing for the show.

Fresh: new still life paintings

I am having a new show at David Joyce Gallery at Lane Community College (map). It opens Wednesday February 12 and runs through April 12, 2010.

opening reception:
Wednesday, February 10th - 5-7:00 PM
David Joyce Gallery
LCC Main Campus, Building 19, 2 nd Floor, The Center for Meeting & Learning

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres & cash bar provided. Call (541) 463-3518 for more information.

Fresh preview

Here is a video preview from my studio.

Museum of Unfine Art

My painting Hosoi Vans is on display at The Museum of Unfine Art. Prints are available here.

2nd and Blair Sale

The 2nd and Blair Artists are having their holiday sale and open house this weekend. Since I moved my studio last spring to my home I won't be participating. If you are looking for my work, you can buy my work through my etsy store or reproductions from my collection at Fine Art America. My work is still on display at Ratatouille Restaurant in Eugene. I will be having a solo show of new work at the David Joyce Gallery at Lane community College in January.

2nd and Blair Holiday Sale and Open House
Friday, December 4th 5-9pm Opening Gala!
Saturday, December 5th 11-5pm
Sunday, December 6th 11-4pm

Essential Tools Sale

I will be doing a painting demonstration at Oregon Art Supply's Essential Tools Sale Saturday November 7th from 12-5. I have switched to a solvent free technique. I mainly use M.Graham oils and their representative will be will be there too. I will be doing a simple still life and be available if you want to pick my brain about painting techniques.

Oregon Art Supply
1020 Pearl Street, Eugene, Oregon 97401
Phone 1-866-683-2787 or local 541-683-2787

Shrines and Reliquaries

This is a picture of the piece I did for the Shrines and Reliquaries show at the Arts Center in Corvallis. This piece has a stump sculpted from polymer and painted then mounted on a base that uses techniques common in architectural or scale-railroad models. I used metal leaf gilding on the frame of the painting. There is a topo map lining the inside of the box. There are sewn cloth banners on the doors. I made the box from fir and it has a handle made of nylon rope and stitched leather.

I titled it Logger Priest's Portable Shrine. The idea comes from having heard of loggers who believe and feel that trees have a living spirit as we do ourselves. Each time a tree is cut the spirit is honored for its sacrifice. My contribution to the Shrines and Reliquaries show honors the spiritual connection of loggers to the forest. Borrowing the visual language of shrines in Christian art combined with the utilitarian tools of the logger I have created my own vision of a shrine that focuses the spirit of reverence for the forest. I am very sensitive to the environmental movement and feel a strain in the natural polarization of opinion on the subject. I see the concept of the tree harvester as priest a powerful Utopian notion. The weight of the sacrifice is carried by the one performing the sacrifice. And so entrusted by society to the sacred duty of providing wood while protecting the forest.

The Journey Begins

I released a new print available through Fine Art America. This painting is called The Journey Begins. It is a fantasy style picture which is a new thing for me. I am curious to hear what people think. I have lots more ideas like this. There are lots of little details to suggest a story. I have my own story but people often are inspired to invent their own.