Reflections of "Herstory"@ Peace and A Cup of Joe, Baltimore, MD

We had a blast at the opening of Making Herstory: A Feminine Perspective in Art and Words at Peace and A Cup of Joe on March 3, 2007! This exhibition is co-sponsored by The ThickArt Collaborative. Thanks to all who were among the estimated 100 people who came out to support the 25 women artists on display as well as the poets and spoken word artists.

We invite you to explore the artwork and poetry presented at this unique venue and hopefully you will discover something that speaks to you or the women in your life. Peace and A Cup of Joe is located at 713 West Pratt Street in Baltimore, Maryland. The exhibition is on view until April 7, 2007. Be sure to check out the Making Herstory Blog for poetry and to comment on the art, artists and the event in general at http://makinherstory.blogspot.com.

Authentic Art featured on CTV of Prince George's County, MD

If you live in Prince George's County, Maryland, don't miss Marcel Taylor, James Hicks, a DC- based photographer and Yours Truly of Authentic Art Consulting on “Cosey’s Lounge”, a Community Television of Prince George's County, Maryland television program during the month of March 2007!

Cosey’s Lounge is a locally produced program that features art and culture related news and personalities in the Washington, DC area. The interview features interviews and artwork from Taylor and Hicks as well as information about Authentic Art Consulting. The show will air on Monday evenings during the month of March at 9:30 p.m. on cable channel 76 in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Our artists Marilyn Banner, Elizabeth Linares, and Kevin Holder are accomplishing wonderful things as well....read more about what they are doing here!

Image: Artists and poets that participated in "Making Herstory" strike a pose at Peace and A Cup of Joe.

Diana Miller-Pierce

Diana Miller-Pierce’s works have been exhibited in numerous professional shows and have garnered many awards. Her work was featured in the article ‘Shadows’ in the Summer 2004 edition of Informart Magazine. She was named to the ‘Trendsetter’ page of Art Business News, in Februrary, 2004. In 1995 she was named one of Indiana’s top ten “most collectible” women artists by Indianapolis Woman Magazine. Her painting “We missed the Big One” featuring fishing boats has been published by Wild Wings Publishing company in March, 2005 as an open edition print as well as her work has been licensed and appears on various products.

In addition to being a professional artist, Ms. Miller- Pierce is a psychotherapist in private practice, and frequently draws from her artistic side in her therapy with clients. She finds art to be both a therapeutic and a diagnostic tool

Read more about this wonderful artist below:

Where are you originally from and how long have you been an artist?

I’m originally from Kokomo, Indiana, and I’ve lived all my life in Indiana. I currently reside in Fort Wayne. I’ve been an artist all my life. I knew as a very young child that I wanted to be an artist. Since my parents wouldn’t financially support me getting a college degree in art, I chose to get a bachelor’s degree in psychology since I intuitively sensed that it would in part fulfill my need for creativity. I then went straight on the grad school and received my master’s of Social Work degree. Two years after I began practicing as a psychotherapist the pull from art again became too strong not to paint. I began taking art classes again thru the Indianapolis Art Institute with my Great Aunt Rosemary Lawton Thomas and later with Floyd Hopper. Within a year and half I was entering professional show and have painted consistently ever since.

What inspires you in creating your art?

I’m inspired by light and shadow. I love the strong cast shadows across buildings and I get very caught up in the patterns they form. I love nature and gardening and thus my love of painting flowers. I love to play with color as I paint a flower. I honor both its fragileness and strength in the painting. I enjoy how a dark shadow will create the light in the painting.

Read more about Diana Miller-Pierce here.

Image: "Celebration", watercolor by Diana Miller- Pierce

Notes on Collecting: The Good and Bad of Charity Auctions

by Jacquelyn Lewis of ArtInfo.com

When it comes to charity art auctions, the hottest commodities might be the flowing wine, chill music, camaraderie and conversation with fellow art lovers— and, of course, the warm fuzzy feeling that comes with donating to a good cause.

But what about the art? These auctions are primarily social and philanthropic events, but for savvy serious collectors, they appear to be an excellent opportunity to find quality works below market value. Or are they really—as some critics have proposed—just a repository for artists’ and dealers’ undesirable works?

Read more and including a quote from Authentic Art here.

“CITYSCAPES” Images by Marcel Taylor

Co-sponsored by Authentic Art Consulting and
Vaughn Christian Furnishings & Interiors

Opening Reception: Sunday, April 15, 2007, 3-6 pm

Vaughn Christian Furnishings & Interiors
11398 Livingston Road
Fort Washington, Maryland
Phone: (301) 203-1200

Vaughn Christian Furnishing and Interiors will host Marcel Taylor’s “CITYSCAPES” series during from April 15 through June 16, 2007. CITYSCAPES is a bold collection of paintings that interprets the many moods of urban space by capturing the essence of light, shadow, sound, symmetry and rhythm with vibrantly painted brushstrokes. Marcel Taylor offers hallucinatory acrylic cityscapes overflowing with blues in their dreamlike imagery. His work was recently included with other emerging African American artists across the country in the art book, UNVEILED, Series I, Photography by New and Emerging African American Artists featuring photography by jazz musician, Will Downing.

Come meet the artist at the opening reception and check out this wonderful series of artwork. The book UNVEILED will also be available for purchase. For more information, please contact us.

Image: "Nonchalant Shadows", acrylic on canvas, by Marcel Taylor

“I think the creative process is not about creating something else; it’s about the process itself creating who I am.” Mayumi Oda, Artist