Meet the artists of the 2010 Magic City Art Connection
By Wade KwonThe 27th annual Magic City Art Connection takes place Friday through Sunday in Linn Park downtown. We’re featuring 15 randomly selected Alabama artists out of the 200 or so expected to attend.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Update April 23: The event is canceled for Saturday because of inclement weather, but will resume Sunday.
Painting
Ron Lewis
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Ronald Lewis Art Gallery
- Bio: Since graduating from the University of Montevallo, Ronald Lewis has won over 95 awards for his paintings in oil, watercolor and acrylic.
“Night Rider,” Ron Lewis
Jewelry
Kelly Olshan
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Kelly Olshan Designs
- Bio: Kelly Olshan is a visual arts student at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and makes jewelry on the side.
Bracelets, Kelly Olshan
Mixed media, 2D
Tracy McKay
- City: Pleasant Grove
- Site: Tracy McKay
- Bio: A mutt, athlete, self taught artist and poet using roofing paper, found objects and whatever house paints and stains that are available. I have a loose idea of what I want to paint, I trust on an impulsive process layering paint and dragging my knife and fingers around the shapes.
“Land of the Midnight Sun,” Tracy McKay
Photography
Michael Mixon
- City: Alabaster
- Site: Hanging Around Hoover
- Bio: Since opening Hanging Around Hoover. I must say that this business has been one of the most rewarding endeavors I’ve ever taken.
Photo, Michael Mixon
Clay
Jason Anderson
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Jason Anderson Ceramics
Red raku-fired vessel, Jason Anderson
Metal
Robert Taylor
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Southern Artistry
- Bio: My first experience with metal working came in 1986 when I became a member of the Alabama Forge Council. The council meetings and conferences allowed me the opportunity to learn by working hands-on alongside domestic and international master smiths.
“Cahaba Lily,” Robert Taylor
Fiber
Terry Martin
- City: Birmingham
Scarves, Terry Martin
Sculpture
Jinx Bentley
- City: Odenville
- Site: Trash Dog Sculptures
- Bio: Jinx likes to surprise people. A creative sculptor, she is an extremely passionate and self-motivated artist exploding with fresh new ideas.
“Benji,” Jinx Bentley
Glass
Jeff and Jaky Felix
- City: Titus
- Site: Joyful Imagination
Fish, Jeff and Jaky Felix
Wood
Carl Smith
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Nature’s Art by Carl
- Bio: In 1979, I started with driftwood and discovered that there weren’t many places to find it in my area. In my quest to find driftwood, I began to notice pieces of decaying wood with strikingly odd shapes. I began to venture into wooded areas in search of a variety of woods, such as oak, walnut, cedar and wisteria vines.
“Miriam the Dancer,” Carl Smith
Mixed media, 3D
Frank Ledbetter
- City: Theodore
Site: Artistic Metal Creations - Bio: Metal artist Frank Ledbetter creates functional metal art using stainless steel, carbon steel and aluminum. Because his dad always had a metal shop in the back yard, he grew up around steel fabrication and welding.
Seahorse pedestal sink, Frank Ledbetter
Watercolor
Richard Russell
- City: Birmingham
Site: All Things Gallery - Bio: Having sold over 1,000 Russell original paintings, this artist got started in several upper end New York galleries.
“Temple Emanu-El,” Richard Russell
Drawing
Rob Clifton
- City: Hoover
- Bio: Most of what I draw looks like something that you would see from a wild dream, and that is because many of my ideas come to me during sleep. In my drawings I try to depict stories, as well as ideas. My primary instruments are ink pens, and I use a variety of sizes.
Drawing, Rob Clifton
Computer generated
Binx Newton
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Binx Newton
“Birmingham Street Fountains,” Binx Newton
Printmaking
Ashley Lindsey
- City: Birmingham
- Site: Ashley Lindsey
- Bio: Through printmaking, I have a connective methodology. My first artistic love is drawing, preferably with colored pencils, since color has multicultural meaning.
“Blue,” Ashley Lindsey
Also:
- Corks and Chefs features 16 chefs on Saturday and Sunday. $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
Friday, April 23, 2010, 7:51 am
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Monday, April 26, 2010, 6:35 pm
Looking for an artist that I saw in the show. She had no cards out. She had lamps that were vintage with a twist. She was to the right of the park sort of in front of the library. Would love to find her. Can you help?
Thanks,
Linda
Monday, April 26, 2010, 7:45 pm
I suggest you visit the Magic City Art Connection website and look through the artists’ list.