One Day Art Sale! This Saturday!

Here's the email blast that went out yesterday about Saturday's one day art sale. It's going to be exciting. There's a lot of wonderful work in stock and now's the time to get it. What you see on the blog is just a small representation of the fabulous artwork that's here. So come and get it! Oh, and if you're wondering why you didn't get the email blast, you probably aren't on our email list. You can sign up over there on the right hand column.

GUEST ARTISTS - Jill Bliss, Amy Rice, Sarah HaBa

I was thrilled to get in the work of artists Amy Rice, Sarah HaBa, and Jill Bliss for our current exhibition. These talented ladies are doing quite well for themselves in the art/design blogosphere. To have their work makes a humble gallery owner quite happy. I love "Olivia and Olivia's Mom" by Amy. Pink perfection! And I would love to watch Jill in action as she inks the miniscule details of her tree houses. Sarah's namesake piece "Sarah," is so gorgeous with it's painterly brushstrokes and thoughtful subject matter. For more information about these artists please contact YES Gallery + Studio at yesgalleryandstudio@gmail.com or call (401) 245-7174.

Chris Crites

I wonder if Chris Crites got a paper bag lunch for school every day? After all, it's his favorite surface to paint on. His mugshot and criminal records are exquisitely detailed and rendered in eyepopping colors. Of the original photos that inspire Chris's work he says these are "portraits of people who had just been caught. Despair, frustration, anger – so many expressions could be read on the faces. Each one of these images has a story." I could ponder them all day, and, apparently, other folks can too. Chris won an award at PONCHO (based in Seattle) this year, has had two solo shows, and was in a group show at the Robert Berman Gallery in L.A. Somehow he still found the time to do some curating of his own as well as some graphic design work. Currently, Chris lives in Seattle with his wife and cats. For more information about Chris Crites' work please contact YES Gallery + Studio at yesgalleryandstudio@gmail.com or call (401) 245-7174.

More Gallery Photos!

I just finished updating our Flickr page with new photos of the gallery. On the right hand side there...no lower...yeah, right there... are links to the latest YES Gallery + Studio happenings. You can see images of the current Nature/Nurture Exhibition, which has received rave reviews (okay, maybe not "reviews," but certainly rave commentaries). There's also photos of our first "Music Under the Pergola" concert with the lovely Hannah Devine. Finally, I threw in a couple more photos of Warren. Enjoy!

Music Under the Pergola - Hannah Devine

I never thought I'd be the type of person to use the word 'pergola,' but here I am doing it. (It's good to rebel against your sensibilities from time to time.) Anyway, I have one - a pergola. In the gallery backyard. And it's gorgeous. So tomorrow we'll inaugurate the pergola with a concert by the fabulous Hannah Devine who, at just 17 years of age, is a true talent. I first saw her at Ward's Publick House in Warwick playing fiddle with her dad in a traditional Irish Session. On a break Hannah picked up her guitar and belted out an original song that made the conversation in the room stop. Since then Hannah has taken home top prize in the Rhode Island Idol competition, and Best Female Vocalist (Americana) in the Motif Music Awards. Tomorrow is Hannah's last show before leaving for Ireland for a year so don't miss out. The show is free, but reservations are required. Click here to hear some "Devine" music. For reservations call (401) 245-7174.

Jenni Freidman

Jenni Freidman and I went to college together at Hartford Art School in the early 90's. Because life often makes a circle, Jenni's back there again, this time as a professor of printmaking and drawing. In the years between the rowdy days of art school and, well, the less rowdy days, Jenni's managed to start a family and get a masters degree. Her drawings and prints are so beautifully rendered. The internet just does not do this work justice. It's incredible subtle and thoughtful, and there are so many lovely variations of color and textures within each piece. Jenni has shown her work in print and book exhibitions around the U.S. and abroad. She's also collaborated with her favorite musician, Dar Williams, to illustrate limited edition books of Dar's lyrics. For more information about Jenni Freidman's work contact YES Gallery + Studio at (401) 245-7174 or yesgalleryandstudio@gmail.com.

NATURE/NURTURE EXHIBITION

Great things are afoot at YES with another gorgeous exhibition, running June 6 - 27 with a reception tonight from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Featuring YES Artists exploring the theme Nature/Nurture and its many interpretations. I love Cynthia Consentino's ceramic sculptures which are dark, humorous and just ridiculously well-crafted. Kathrine Lovell's magnolias are straight up masterful. Then there's Jessica Gonacha's "Feed the Birds" piece which I find just plain intriguing and lovely. Rachel Austin's map pieces are popular as always. (Got one for myself this time around.) We've also got some awesome guest artists including the coveted Amy Rice who sent along "Olivia and Olivia's Mom," Jill Bliss's groovy ink drawings of houses, and Holly Murray's bee-inspired gold and oil paintings (like the one below of the queens bee's reproductive organs.) Finally, as with all YES exhibits, 5% of the proceeds go to a non-profit. This time we're helping out the awesome Manton Avenue Project, which is a local version of the 52nd Street Theater. For more information about "Nature/Nurture" please call (401) 245-7174 or visit www.yesgalleryandstudio.com.