A New Business Adventure...

...has kept me busy in the last week...my dear friend and former broker Stuart Dalrymple, are currently working on a new project for downtown Searcy. There is a story behind this...a couple of years ago, I sold the building that housed the Van-Atkin's Department store for decades to Stuart...it was owned by Rick, my husband and his family...they did not wish to keep it even though I adored the place and would loved to have worked and lived in it...with that being said, Stuart purchased it with the intention of keeping retail space on the lower floor and turning the upper area into lofts...

The ground floor consists of 10,000 square feet, 5,000 of which is shared by The Boutique and Tara Dalrymple's Dance Studio...that leaves us 5,000 square feet and an idea of what to do with it...

Stuart knew that I love art and was looking for a place to display and sell it, that I love the building in particular with it's history and beautiful old details that it presents, such as the ceiling tin shown here...(it was built in 1895 and is included in our Main Street Searcy District which we became a part of a couple of years ago)...so he called me in to see if I would like to help in making the place into a gallery type rental spaces for artists, crafters, gifts, decor, etc...we are currently looking for interested parties and are working out the details...if you have always wanted a small business but didn't want the big overhead, or if you are looking to show off your work and a place to sell it, contact me today with what you have in mind...we are very excited about bringing a great place to Searcy where you can find something for everyone or a great place just to come and browse and see what's happening...you can reach me anytime by email...kelly@cbcompleterealty.com!

A New Found Friend...

is Pamela Kelso Craig, artist and owner of Rivertown Gallery in Memphis, TN! Rivertown Gallery
is a small, independent, artist-run gallery located on Mid-America Mall (Main Street) directly across from a trolley stop and one block north of The Orpheum. I am currently working on a new business venture (I will fill you in on the next post!) and she has so graciously shared information and ideas with me after I sent her an email with questions regarding her wonderful place...

You know how it is...some people love to help others...others not so much...I don't know why that is, but I do know that Pam has continued to be in contact with me and I'm grateful...I feel like she is going to be a great friend, even though I have never met her in person...I so look forward to going and seeing her beautiful work in person, along with the other artists currently displaying their work...shown here is a sold piece from Pam entitled "Yellow Afternoon"...I thank my new found friend and if you're Memphis, stop in and see her...

Soaking Up Art in the Rock...

My hubby Rick and I started the day off last Saturday by going to the Arkansas Arts Museum in Little Rock to see the Andy Warhol, 15 Weeks of Fame exhibit...

Warhol was and still is, a pop art artist, international celebrity and cultural icon. Warhol changed the art world's definition of what art truly is. The exhibit features Warhol's paintings, drawings, celebrity silkscreen prints, three-dimensional objects, famous screen tests and his Silver Clouds installation, which we both really loved. This show is the first of its kind in Arkansas and we are lucky to have gotten to see it! The exhibit runs through February 1st, so be sure to go and check it out...

Our next pitstop was to the Cox Museum, simply because it's located in the library parking lot where we usually end up! I love the Cox Museum building and would live in it if I could! Kathy Bay is one of my favorite artists that you will find there...

Next it was on to my favorite gallery, the River Market ArtSpace...I wish I lived closer so I could go in more often! Megan Chapman's current work is available there, so I wanted to see it in person...I've enjoyed her blog and she is also fellow Etsy seller artmaven, so I had to support her in some way! Three of her paintings are shown here and she has a new body of work entitled "Fire and Noise", that will be on display starting February 13th! She is a beautifully talented artist and is very inspiring to me...Debra Wood, the owner of the ArtSpace, has done a fantastic job of bringing the world of art to Little Rock and I appreciate all of her efforts...go by and see her when you are in town and soak up some wonderful art yourself...you will be so glad you did...

Artwork by Megan Chapman

First Thursday Art Day...

...with my mother, Pat Eaton of birdnestontheground and some of her friends...they have a regular KNOT meeting every month where they discuss what they are working on, etc...but decided they would love to get together on a different day, strictly for the purpose of trying new art and craft projects! They all specialize in different areas of art, but like me, want to broaden their horizons!

It was such a fantastic idea...mom decided on an abstract art project, as some of the group had never painted OR did more fine art pieces instead of the freedom that comes from painting abstracts...with that being said, since that's what I enjoy doing, she wanted to have it at my house! I was tickled to be a part of their day... they are extremely inspiring and motivational, funny and like me, love trying new things...it was quite fun and I look forward to hopefully getting to attend more of their First Art Thursdays!

A Few Days Late...

...but we wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year! We hope you try something new in 2009 that has always interested you, but you never took the time to do...

Rick, my sweet hubby, you know - the one always golfing, lol, is definitely into painting...he is totally entertaining to watch, he's loving it and we've had a blast doing it together. Stay tuned to my Etsy shop, as I will be adding some of his work soon!

We wish you much happiness, hope, prosperity and health in 2009 and thank you for a fantastic 2008...