Arts Encounters at the Beninis: Next Event

FEATURED ARTISTS for NOVEMBER 2006:
Saturday and Sunday | November 25th and 26th, 2006

Presentations are both days, beginning promptly at 1:30 pm & 3:30 pm | Free of charge

Weihong
Mixed Interaction: Art Journey of Weihong
Houston, Artist

My art projects involve basic principles - the importance of line, form, flow, yin and yang. They often combine multiple approaches and media. They typically are visually sharp and contrasting in response to the space, yet also conceptually with allusions to historical Chinese symbolism and other contemporary art practices. I attempt to emphasize an elegantly conceived and perfectly enacted fusion of East/West visual vocabularies.

Excerpts from 002 Magazine Review May 2004
Mixed Interaction
By Tim Moloney

A faded newspaper photo from 1989 documents the struggles of student protesters in China's Tiananmen Square. At the center of the photo is a young, striking and determined woman caught up in the energy of the crowd.

"Yes, that's me - can you believe it?" says Houston artist and around-the-world transplant Weihong with a smile. "I was right in the middle of the action, trying to make a difference."

Fifteen years later, Weihong hasn't changed. The friendly, open free-thinker mixes tradition with innovation, blurring the lines between positive and negative space, artist and audience, black and white, even yin and yang. Her paintings, installations, prints and performances - "I do all media!" she laughs - express her interpretation of the circle of life... click here to continue

For more information about Weihong, and to learn more about her work, visit www.weihong.org

Kathleen Marie
Pyrographic Art – The Process
Texas Hill Country, Artist
Hill Country Artist, Kathleen Marie loves horses, nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. Kathleen’s unique media of Pyrography or Pyro-engraving is a superb blending of realistic rendering within the abstract character of wood grain. Her technique involves burning images into wood with a delicate electric wire. Like a sculptor she sees pictures and stories in the wood and draws them out so wecan share her vision. Her work seems to live in the mysterious space between two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. The character and grain of the wood are an essential aspect of each work. Prism-color pencil may be used in some pieces to add pigments. Kathleen is a nationally recognized artist and her work is collected throughout the world.

For information about Kathleen Marie, visit www.kathleenmariestudio.com

ARTS Encounters to Resume in January

Chinese artist Weihong, pyrographic artist Kathleen Marie Wilson and sculptor Nic Noblique celebrate ARTS Encounters during last weekend's cultural event at The Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch. (photo by Mary Jo Snider) Their presentations marked the final event for 2006 - a year that brought live performances, slide shows, artist demonstrations, poetry reading, singers, ecology lessons, and exciting exhibitions to Johnson City - by artists and professionals from here - and from France, Italy, and Germany.

"ARTS Encounters evolved after the Sculpture Ranch," Lorraine Benini explained. "Once we started placing large-scale sculptures on the ranch, visitors were curious about the human element - who made them, their techniques, other work etc. So we scheduled a weekend for the artists and the curious to come together in a relaxed setting. Education is at the heart of it, but the sociability allows a free range of topics and inquiry."

The Beninis provide the arena, but they both note that is the presenters and the volunteers who allow for this to bloom. "It is to the artists and the speakers, the performers and the musicians that thanks are due," Benini said.

Artists take the time, sometimes bringing demonstration materials or even set up studio demonstrations, so visitors can try techniques or create their own artwork. During Zena Stetka Howe's monoprint workshop, for example, visitors could learn this technique and make monoprints. Local volunteers like Bill Snider, who oversees all the audio visual production, and Mary Jo Snider, who documents the activities, and Donna Macola who assist regularly have been valuable partners in making this event possible. Goldstein Fine Arts, Black Spur Emporium and Kirchman Gallery often schedule evening openings following ARTS Encounters to extend the fine arts experience in Johnson City.

"In addition to the sculptors, we have featured experts in other fields. Colleen Gardner from Selah Bamberger Preserve, for example, is an annual favorite - one year talking about bees, and this year about bats," Lorraine added. "It is splendid that so many of our neighbors and friends are taking advantage of this, bringing their families."

For further information, visit www.Benini.com or call 830-868-5244.
The events are free of charge and open to all.

__________________________________________________________________
CONTACT:
The Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch | 377 Shiloh Road | Johnson City, Texas USA 78636
830-868-5244 Studios Building | 830-868-5224 Studios Building | 830-868-2247

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FEATURED SPEAKERS ARCHIVES PRESS AND MEDIA PHOTO GALLERY VISITING LINKS COMMENTS	FEATURED ARTISTS for NOVEMBER 2006: Saturday and Sunday \| November 25th and 26th, 2006 Presentations are both days, beginning promptly at 1:30 pm & 3:30 pm \| Free of charge




	Weihong Mixed Interaction: Art Journey of Weihong Houston, Artist My art projects involve basic principles - the importance of line, form, flow, yin and yang. They often combine multiple approaches and media. They typically are visually sharp and contrasting in response to the space, yet also conceptually with allusions to historical Chinese symbolism and other contemporary art practices. I attempt to emphasize an elegantly conceived and perfectly enacted fusion of East/West visual vocabularies. Excerpts from 002 Magazine Review May 2004 Mixed Interaction By Tim Moloney A faded newspaper photo from 1989 documents the struggles of student protesters in China's Tiananmen Square. At the center of the photo is a young, striking and determined woman caught up in the energy of the crowd. "Yes, that's me - can you believe it?" says Houston artist and around-the-world transplant Weihong with a smile. "I was right in the middle of the action, trying to make a difference." Fifteen years later, Weihong hasn't changed. The friendly, open free-thinker mixes tradition with innovation, blurring the lines between positive and negative space, artist and audience, black and white, even yin and yang. Her paintings, installations, prints and performances - "I do all media!" she laughs - express her interpretation of the circle of life... click here to continue For more information about Weihong, and to learn more about her work, visit www.weihong.org

	Kathleen Marie Pyrographic Art – The Process Texas Hill Country, Artist Hill Country Artist, Kathleen Marie loves horses, nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. Kathleen’s unique media of Pyrography or Pyro-engraving is a superb blending of realistic rendering within the abstract character of wood grain. Her technique involves burning images into wood with a delicate electric wire. Like a sculptor she sees pictures and stories in the wood and draws them out so wecan share her vision. Her work seems to live in the mysterious space between two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. The character and grain of the wood are an essential aspect of each work. Prism-color pencil may be used in some pieces to add pigments. Kathleen is a nationally recognized artist and her work is collected throughout the world. For information about Kathleen Marie, visit www.kathleenmariestudio.com
ARTS Encounters to Resume in January Chinese artist Weihong, pyrographic artist Kathleen Marie Wilson and sculptor Nic Noblique celebrate ARTS Encounters during last weekend's cultural event at The Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch. (photo by Mary Jo Snider) Their presentations marked the final event for 2006 - a year that brought live performances, slide shows, artist demonstrations, poetry reading, singers, ecology lessons, and exciting exhibitions to Johnson City - by artists and professionals from here - and from France, Italy, and Germany. "ARTS Encounters evolved after the Sculpture Ranch," Lorraine Benini explained. "Once we started placing large-scale sculptures on the ranch, visitors were curious about the human element - who made them, their techniques, other work etc. So we scheduled a weekend for the artists and the curious to come together in a relaxed setting. Education is at the heart of it, but the sociability allows a free range of topics and inquiry." The Beninis provide the arena, but they both note that is the presenters and the volunteers who allow for this to bloom. "It is to the artists and the speakers, the performers and the musicians that thanks are due," Benini said. Artists take the time, sometimes bringing demonstration materials or even set up studio demonstrations, so visitors can try techniques or create their own artwork. During Zena Stetka Howe's monoprint workshop, for example, visitors could learn this technique and make monoprints. Local volunteers like Bill Snider, who oversees all the audio visual production, and Mary Jo Snider, who documents the activities, and Donna Macola who assist regularly have been valuable partners in making this event possible. Goldstein Fine Arts, Black Spur Emporium and Kirchman Gallery often schedule evening openings following ARTS Encounters to extend the fine arts experience in Johnson City. "In addition to the sculptors, we have featured experts in other fields. Colleen Gardner from Selah Bamberger Preserve, for example, is an annual favorite - one year talking about bees, and this year about bats," Lorraine added. "It is splendid that so many of our neighbors and friends are taking advantage of this, bringing their families."
For further information, visit www.Benini.com or call 830-868-5244. The events are free of charge and open to all.