CLAYTON BASS ART
NEWSLETTER No. 14, 7.24.10
Hello Friends,
Art has the
power to inspire and affect our perception of the world. Through my work I hope
to bring viewers closer to nature, remind them of special places they have
experienced, and encourage stewardship of our beautiful planet. Your comments encourage and remind me
how fortunate we are to share this passion for art and nature.
A
new work, Embracing the Dawn,
number nine in the Nature’s Gifts Series, has been added to www.claytonbass.com. This work joins the expanded version of
The Poetry of Wildness
exhibition, which will be on display at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in
Decatur, Alabama on July 31st through August 28th. For
more information visit http://carnegiearts.org.
I hope you can get by to see the exhibition and delight in this repurposed
historic Carnegie Library.
Thanks
to faculty and staff of the UAHuntsville Department of Art and Art History for
their collaboration and support for the two exhibitions, Sanctuary Artists:
The Art of Nature and The
Poetry of Wildness. Both
shows were well attended and engaged the student population.
The
autumn season will be extremely busy with several group shows, and a new solo
exhibition opening at Artist Images Gallery here in Huntsville in November.
Visit www.artisticimagesgallery.com/
for information. A detailed exhibition calendar will be included in the next
art newsletter.
I
look forward to hearing from you soon, and leave you with food for thought:
“Nature
does not like to be anticipated—but loves to surprise, in fact seems to justify
itself to man in that way, restoring his youth to him each time—the true
fountain of youth.”
-
Walter Inglis Anderson
Enjoy
summer,
Clayton
Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART
NEWSLETTER No. 13, 7.3.10
Dear Art
Friends,
Summer is in
full bloom! I hope you are having a wonderful season, but staying cool. Two
new paintings can be seen online, Autumn Jewels, number eight in the Nature’s
Gifts Series,
and Reflected Realms is the first work in the Dreaming Pool Series. I hope you enjoy these
works as much as I did painting them.
Thanks so much
to everyone that came to celebrate the openings of The Poetry of Wildness and Sanctuary Artists: Art of Nature on June 2nd at the University
of Alabama Huntsville. With nearly 150 attending, it was an exciting evening
and a time to reflect upon the Sanctuary Artists’ fifteen months of shared
experiences. My deepest admiration and thanks go to everyone in the group, and
I look forward to new exhibitions, discoveries, and adventures. The exhibitions
at UAHuntsville continue through July 25th, so I hope you will get
to see them. For more information, see events at www.claytonbass.com or www.uah.edu/colleges/liberal/art/.
If you are in
Montgomery, be sure to see Echoes From the Woods: Image and Object on display at the Alabama State Council
on the Arts (ASCA) Gallery through July 16th. I appreciate having
three paintings included in this imaginative group exhibition that explores how
trees and wood inspire artists in various media. Visit ASCA on the web at www.arts.state.al.us/news/index-news.html#Alabama%20Artists%20Gallery
for details. Thanks to ASCA for
its great work to foster a vibrant arts scene across Alabama.
If you miss The
Poetry of Wildness at
UAH, you have another opportunity as it travels to the Carnegie Visual Arts
Center (CVAC) in Decatur for display from July 31st through August
28th. More CVAC program
information can be found at www.carnegiearts.org. Thanks to the CVAC
staff for this opportunity to share my work with their community. Speaking of opportunities, I am pleased
to confirm the Art of Nature exhibition will travel as well to multiple
venues, including the Guntersville Museum, Carnegie Visual Arts Center, and the
Gadsden Museum of Art. The Sanctuary Artists’ blog http://thesanctuaryartists.blogspot.com/
will post more details shortly.
As
you see, it’s a busy, exciting year. I’ll be in touch soon with upcoming exhibition
news. Thanks for your continued interest, and I look forward to hearing from
you soon.
Clayton
CLAYTON BASS ART
NEWSLETTER No. 12, 4.28.10
Hello Friends,
Happy Spring to
you! The recent Energen Wonders of Alabama Art exhibition in Birmingham had exciting
results with the purchase of my painting, Glowing, Going, for the Energen Corporate Collection.
The painting can be viewed on my website at www.claytonbass.com
within the Dawn & Dusk Series.
Many thanks to the committed staff at Energen for promoting the community of
artists within the state. Also,
congratulations to fellow Sanctuary Artists Maggie Little and Katrina Weber for
also being included in the exhibition this year. A new work, Serenading
the Mountain, has been
posted on my site. It is number seven in the Nature’s Gifts Series a group of works that explore the
richness of light, color and texture in detailed views.
Two exhibitions
are about to open that I hope you will seek out and enjoy. Opening on June 2
through July 25 is the first exhibition by the Sanctuary Artists, The Art of
Nature, in the Salmon
Library Gallery at the University of Alabama Huntsville. Also premiering the
same day is my solo exhibition, The Poetry of Wildness, in the Wilson Hall Gallery at UAH, just
a two minute walk from the other exhibition. Both collections celebrate the
great natural beauty of the Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary in
Huntsville, other locations in Alabama, and beyond. I want to express my
deepest appreciation to each of the Sanctuary Artists members for their passion
for our shared project, and for their individual talents and contributions. For
information about the Sanctuary Artists and links to websites, visit our new
blog at http://thesanctuaryartists.blogspot.com/
and become a follower for updates.
Its official,
The Art of Nature, is
now a traveling exhibition and will open at the Guntersville Museum immediately
following the UAH venue in early August. In January 2011, it will open at the
Carnegie Arts Center in Decatur.
Exact dates will be available soon, and other venues are being explored.
Thanks for your
interest and support of the arts, locally, and across our beautiful land!
All the best,
Clayton
CLAYTON BASS ART
NEWSLETTER No. 11, 4.5.10
Hello Art
Friends,
Spring is in
full bloom, and the calendar is overflowing with exhibitions during 2010.
Before I go any farther, I want to congratulate my wife, Hester, for winning
the Orbis Pictus Award, given by the National Council of Teachers of English,
for her book, The Secret World of Walter Anderson, published by Candlewick Press. With
only two national awards for children’s non-fiction given annually, the award
is inspiring acknowledgement for this first children’s picture book about
Mississippi artist Walter Anderson. The book is available at independent and
all book retailers. Visit Hester’s website at www.hesterbass.com for more information.
On May 25 two new
exhibitions will open at the University of Alabama Huntsville. The Sanctuary
Group’s first show, The Art of Nature, will open at the Wilson Hall Gallery, and include
paintings, photography, poetry, verse and pottery, combined with scientific
data about the Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary. This multidisciplinary
view of nature will be an intriguing blend of art and education. For over a
year, it has been inspiring to get to know individuals in the Sanctuary Group,
and share experiences, discoveries and creativity. Our passion for art, nature, and the Sanctuary, is a
pleasure to share. The Art of Nature, will travel to two other venues in Alabama in 2010 and
2011, to be announced in my next newsletter. Several of my paintings will be
included in the exhibition. See www.huntsvillepreserves.com
for more info about the Wildlife Sanctuary.
Opening
simultaneously with The Art of Nature, will be The Poetry of Wildness, my solo exhibition, on display in the
Salmon Library Gallery, with both shows running through July 25. The exhibition
will present works from four different series, each looking at varied
perspectives of the great outdoors, from sweeping vistas, to intimate details.
Also, three new paintings are posted at www.claytonbass.com.
They are Beautyberry & Clouds (#5), Romancing the Moon (#6) from the Nature’s Gifts Series and A River Dream (#9) from the Sanctuary Series.
If you are in
Birmingham this week, the Energen Wonders of Alabama Art exhibition continues through Friday
April 9 at 5:00 p.m. Two of my paintings are included in the landscape
division.
Here’s wishing
you a glorious spring, and I hope you are able to see both exhibitions at UAH.
For information about upcoming exhibitions later in 2010, check the events page
of my website.
All the best,
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART
NEWSLETTER No. 10, 1.17.10
Hello Art
Friends,
The New Year is
off to a fast pace and full of promise. Snow and ice transformed Huntsville
into a winter wonderland for several days, giving us a taste of places farther
north. It was beautiful, and is an inspiration for new works. Since the
holidays I have focused on the series Nature’s Gifts, and three paintings are featured on www.claytonbass.com. Instead of
panoramic vistas or forested river scenes, these works are intimate views of
autumn flora. A change in perspective is a good thing.
In February
fifteen of my paintings will be exhibited in Spotlight on Art, the annual
juried fundraiser for Trinity School in Atlanta. Check out www.spotlightonart.com for an
overview of one of the southeast’s largest art events. If you are in the
Atlanta area, don’t miss it.
A new change to
the website includes a news archive containing all past newsletters. I hope this
will be a useful resource for everyone as it documents this ongoing journal and
dialog with you.
Thanks to my
friend David Atwood, an Arizona resident of many years, for his suggestions for
Most Amazing Things You Must
See. David, a terrific
photographer, loves the outdoors.
- Antelope Canyon, www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm,
near Page, Arizona. If you travel there from Phoenix through
Flagstaff you cross the Navajo reservation. There are interesting trading
posts along the way. North of Flagstaff is the ancient Wupatki ruins
of the Anasazi civilization that disappeared a thousand years ago. A
huge lava flow nearby consists of acres of basalt.
- Drive the Apache Trail, www.apachetrail.net from Apache
Junction, just east of Phoenix and Mesa, to its end near Globe. Much
of the road is unpaved and takes you through several miles of unspoiled
Sonoran Desert.
- Heard Museum, www.heard.org, features exhibits of the
Native American history. The grounds are quite nice too.
- Grand Canyon, www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.
Drive to Williams, AZ and
catch a train that takes you through the wilderness to the South
Rim. You can hike into the Canyon from there or walk along the rim
and enjoy the view.
- Sedona, www.visitsedona.com, is the home of
red rock country. The park service has roads that travel through the
backcountry among some of the most beautiful rock formations ever
seen.
- Oak Creek Canyon, www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/sedona/slide_rocks.html,
north of Sedona. Slide Rock, is a portion of Oak Creek that travels over
slick, descending rock. People use it like a water slide. It
is a beautiful setting and visible from the highway.
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum,
www.desertmuseum.org, in
Tucson. An open-air museum featuring flora and fauna of the Sonora
Desert.
Everyone get out your binoculars, paint brushes, hiking
boots and head west! I look
forward to more of your must see
suggestions about art and nature. Remember to visit Artistic Images Gallery and
Littlehouse Galleries to experience my art, and works by many others, in
person.
Thanks and best wishes,
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 9, 12.09
Hello Art
Friends,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL 2010. Thank you for your ongoing interest in
my artworks and for being advocates for the arts in your communities. Please
send me your suggestion for the Most Amazing Thing You Must See in your
area and in the New Year, I will share it with the expanding group who receive
this newsletter.
I have posted a new painting, Carolina Moonseed In
Autumn, from the Sanctuary Series on www.claytonbass.com.
This work brings the viewer into close proximity with the small but amazing
flora within the Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary. See if you can locate
this beautiful plant, its scientific name is cocculus carolinus, or "little berry from Carolina”, in your area.
Other detailed and broad views of the Sanctuary are in process and will appear
shortly.
Painters, photographers, writers, and naturalists comprising
the Sanctuary Group continue regular hikes in the Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife
Sanctuary and share creative endeavors, plus data about flora and fauna.
Several individuals in the group have websites or info on the web. Check out
the websites below to learn more. A significant amount of artwork and data is
being gathered for an exhibition later in 2010. More information soon to
follow!
Robert Bean, painter www.robertbeanart.com
Jerry Brown, painter
www.artbyjerrybrown.com/
Dee Burt Holmes, painter www.artisticimagesgallery.com/art_Holmes.html
Maggie Little, painter
http://maggielittleart.blogspot.com/
Sam Tumminello, photographer, printmaker www.knology.net/~samjt/
Katrina Weber, artist
www.artmusictrees.com/Art/index.html
Other group members include:
Margaret Anne Goldsmith, naturalist; Marian Lewis, naturalist/photographer;
Sara McDaris, storyteller/author
Finally, I had the opportunity in 2008 to
hear Terry Tempest Williams speak in Chicago, and I encourage you to seek her
out at www.coyoteclan.com
To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it
means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate
from. – Terry Tempest Williams
Here’s to a great year ahead!
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 8, 11.09
Hello Friends,
Happy Holidays!
My website, www.claytonbass.com, has
been redesigned and features a new work on the first page, Glowing…Going, from the Dawn and Dusk Series. It’s a busy time in the studio with
four new Sanctuary Series
or related works on track for completion soon. They will be added to the site
in December.
I hope its been
a joyous season thus far spent with people you care deeply for and activities
that spark your imagination. See below for ideas to add to your list of
holiday, creative outings
In Huntsville in
2009 there was a growing sense of community among artists, and those who
embrace creativity. The development of artists’ studios on the third floor at
Lowe Mill was an exciting step forward for the presence of the arts in this
community. If you have not visited, it’s the ideal thing to do on Saturday, or
during the week. Don’t forget to visit Flying Monkey Arts on the second floor
as well. For more info online visit www.lowemill.net
and www.flyingmonkeyarts.org.
The upcoming
Holiday Gallery Tour on December 3, from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., is a great
opportunity to visit a wide array of galleries, the Huntsville Museum of Art,
and other creative spaces. For more information, contact the Museum at info@hsvmuseum.org, or www.hsvmuseum.org. This is one of the
year’s best ways to support the arts, and tackle the holiday shopping all at
once!
Enjoy the
season, and I’ll be in touch before year’s end.
All the best,
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 7, 10.09
Hello Art
Friends,
Wet days in Alabama are producing extraordinary Fall color, so those glimpses
of sun bring great gifts! I hope your Autumn season is going well, and thanks
for recent messages and suggestions. Just want to alert you that my 2010
exhibition and auction calendar is available under events at www.claytonbass.com. Its going to be a busy year, and more
opportunities are in the works.
Look for a new
painting on my website, called Holes In Heaven in the art collection called Dawn and
Dusk. Inspired by a
sunrise over Lake Michigan, it explores the magical interaction of atmosphere,
early light and water. Another new
work called Glowing…Going
is nearly complete and will be added in a few days to the same on-line
collection.
New works are on
display at Artistic Images Gallery in Huntsville and Littlehouse Galleries in
Birmingham, so drop by and enjoy them in person when time allows.
Thanks to the
wonderful people at Progress Bank here in Huntsville for creating an exciting
new event, Local Color,
to showcase the rich visual arts in our city. It was a great evening with a
tremendous response from the community!
Hikes continue into the
Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary with a group of artists and nature
enthusiasts. A growing body of paintings, photography, short stories and field
research is gathering from these ongoing outings. In an upcoming newsletter I
will focus on the Sanctuary Group and the inspiring work that continues to
unfold.
In closing I
leave you with a thought that resonates deeply for me.
The true
meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
- Nelson Henderson
All the best,
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 6, 9.09
Hello Friends,
Welcome to
autumn! Its great to feel the changing air and know cooler days are ahead. When
it comes to clear skies and amazing color, it doesn’t get any better. This is
my favorite season, and no doubt it is reflected in my paintings.
Congratulations
to my wife, Hester, upon the September 8 release of her new book, “The Secret
World of Walter Anderson” on Candlewick Press. She captures his simply lived,
but profound life dedicated to becoming one with nature, through art. I believe
you will connect with Anderson’s art, the luminous illustrations of E.B. Lewis,
combined with Hester’s lyrical text. For information see www.hesterbass.com. The book is available
at through independent booksellers, www.amazon.com
or major retailers.
The summer was
productive with trips to Chicago and the West Coast. Images from those areas
will soon appear. Majestic vistas of the Pacific and Great Lakes are pure
inspiration. Three new works, First
Light, Daybreak
Encounter, and Gentle
Cascade continue the
Sanctuary Series and can be seen at www.claytonbass.com.
Currently two of
my Sanctuary photographs and reproductions of two Sanctuary Series paintings
are on display at Huntsville’s Burritt On the Mountain Museum in the Goldsmith-Schiffman Family
exhibition. For more information see www.burrittonthemountain.com. In October four paintings will be seen
in the Progress Bank invitational exhibition, Local Color, in Huntsville. Other projects are in
development for 2010, but more about those soon.
Thanks for your
continued interest in my work and for sharing suggestions of exhibitions,
artists and places you enjoy.
Get outside,
look, listen, and breathe deeply,
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 5
Hello Art
Enthusiasts,
Georgia
O’Keeffe, in her eloquent way, said:
I found I could say things
with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words
for.
Artists’
individual journeys share common ground through our personal visual language
and the message each conveys. My desire to communicate through my work is a
primary motivation for painting. Why do I paint landscapes? The answer is
simple. I want the viewer to experience the beauty of natural places I see and
interpret. Certainly the process of painting provides a deeper understanding of
the subject.
I hope my
paintings encourage you to explore, to look, listen and breathe in the natural
world. The process is an ongoing conversation between us. Your contribution is
equally valuable, so I look forward to your observations, and suggestions of
natural places that you hold dear.
Three new
paintings can be seen at www.claytonbass.com:
- River of Clouds
is number twelve in the Flint River Series.
- Spring Awakens, Dancing Shadows & Clouds continue the Sanctuary Series.
Be sure to visit
Artistic Images and Littlehouse Galleries to enjoy these works, and others. I
look forward to hearing from you, and hope you will forward this message to
others who will enjoy it.
Best wishes,
Clayton
Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 4
Hello Art
Lovers,
Thanks for
your messages and ongoing interest in my work. There is much to report since
the last letter. My painting “Stillness” was accepted into the Energen 10th
annual juried exhibition, The Wonders of Alabama Art. The show runs from March 23 through
April 5 at Energen Headquarters at 605 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North in
Birmingham. Energen provides great exposure for Alabama artists as it expands
its corporate collection.
Two new
paintings have been added to www.claytonbass.com.
The figurative work, “Check This Out” captures a moment of discovery for my
children on the beach in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The second work, “Seeking
the Source” launches the new Sanctuary Series inspired by the beautiful vistas within
the Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary south of Huntsville. This wilderness
area consists of 300 acres of forests, meadows and tupelo groves next to the
Flint River. A gift by the Goldsmith Family to the City, the Sanctuary will
open to the public later in 2009 with three miles of hiking trails. For more
information visit www.huntsvillepreserves.com.
Work continues
on the Flint River Series,
with five paintings currently on view at Littlehouse Galleries in Birmingham.
Still life paintings are also on view at Artistic Images Gallery in Huntsville.
See the Galleries area of my website for more information.
Special thanks
to the amazing volunteers and artists who made the Huntsville Museum of Art’s
recent Gala and Wine Tasting art auctions a great success. We are fortunate to
live in a community with such strong support for the arts.
Plants are
budding and Spring is almost here. Get outside and be inspired!
Keep in touch!
Clayton Bass
Art is the
need to create. Nothing less than the creation of man and nature is its end.
- Ralph Waldo
Emerson
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 3
Dear Friends,
I hope your New Year is going well so far, and great days
are ahead. Please visit my website at www.claytonbass.com
to see two new paintings “Stillness” and “Sanctuary” from the Flint River
Series. Both works on canvas, plus four others from the series, are now
available through the Littlehouse Galleries in Birmingham. My fascination with
this wilderness area south of Huntsville continues with eleven works completed,
and others in development. I encourage you to visit the Hays Nature Preserve
and the Flint River. It is truly the nearest faraway place where you can
recharge in quiet, natural beauty. If you are still, you will see many birds
and other wildlife, so enjoy!
When in Huntsville I also encourage you to visit Artistic
Images Gallery on Whitesburg. Two of my works are currently on view, and others
will soon be available there. Visit www.artisticimagesgallery.com
for more information. Also, new events are listed on my website and there are
several links that I believe you will also find of interest.
In closing, consider the words of Annie Dillard, a favorite author.
If we were to judge nature
by common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed.
Her book “A Pilgrim At Tinker Creek” takes the reader on a
powerful, transforming journey.
Your ideas,
recommendations of other artists and exhibitions, or other creative pursuits
are all welcome. I look forward to hearing from you, and hope to see you soon.
Enjoy winter,
spring is coming,
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 2
Dear Friends,
Fall color in north Alabama has reached new heights of
richness this year. I hope you have taken time to get outside and soak in the
beauty. If not, it’s not too late! Autumn provides nearly endless inspiration
for this artist when the earthy colors and textures of trees meet those clear
skies. To me, it just doesn’t get any better.
Many thanks go out to Nancy Hanning and RB Black at Artistic
Images Gallery here in Huntsville for a fun and creative collaboration on my
recent painting exhibition. Visit www.artisticimagesgallery.com
for more information, plus three of my paintings remain on view. Also, be sure to put the annual Holiday
Gallery Tour on December 4 from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. on your calendar. It’s a
great art event!
In December I will have six paintings included in the
popular Holiday Exhibition at Littlehouse Galleries in Birmingham, plus six
works are on display through the end of the year at Kala’s Cottage Gallery in
Guntersville, Alabama. For more information check out the gallery section of my
website.
I encourage you to visit www.claytonbass.com to see new paintings
from the Flint River Series, plus other areas of work that I continue to
explore. Visit the City of Huntsville’s website at www.huntsvillepreserves.com for
more information about the Hays Nature Preserve and the Flint River. During the
winter I plan to explore and paint the Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary,
which adjoins Hays, and enjoy this important addition to our City’s wild
places.
As the holidays draw near, here’s wishing you and yours the
very best of all that you hold dear.
Enjoy art, enjoy life!
Clayton Bass
CLAYTON BASS ART NEWSLETTER No. 1
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you doing well and in good health. Art
making continues to be a rewarding journey for me, and I appreciate your
interest in my work. I want to briefly update you on current events and
introduce my website at www.claytonbass.com.
Please enjoy exploring the site for exhibition news, gallery info, links and an
extension selection of paintings.
New opportunities to see my recent work include a featured
artist exhibitions at Artistic Images Gallery in Huntsville through October and
Kala’s Cottage in Guntersville through December. I hope you get to visit both,
but if not, visit on-line at www.artisticimagesgallery.com
and click on The Gallery and Artists to view the works. Also, visit Kala’s
website at www.kalascottage.com.
My work is now represented by Littlehouse Galleries in
Birmingham, and six works will be presented in their December holiday
exhibition. The Littlehouse web site is currently being rebuilt, but will be
available soon.
Landscape subjects continue to be a strong focus for
me. The unspoiled beauty of
Alabama’s Flint River with its reflections, bottomlands and majestic tupelos
provide endless inspiration. This natural area is near my home in southeast
Huntsville and I love to visit with my family and dog! Check out www.huntsvillepreserves.com for
information about the Flint River.
Earlier this year the Guntersville Museum hosted my work
with Tennessee painter Budd Bishop. At the close of the exhibition, A Sense
of Place, the Museum acquired two of my
Flint River Series paintings, plus two Bishop works for its permanent
collection. Many thanks!
I hope you will be in touch and I will connect via this
e-newsletter on a quarterly basis. I leave you for now with a favorite quote by
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Art is loved by what is best in us.
Enjoy a beautiful autumn,
Clayton Bass
