I am so looking forward to the opening happening next Friday at Rue du Pont Galerie! One of my favorite artists, Laurence Young, will be visiting from Provincetown, MA. I have written about Laurence before which you can read here.

Laurence Young is one of my favorite American artists. Not just a Provincetown or Rue du Pont artist, but across the board. For those of you in Louisiana, this is an absolute not to be missed show! Laurence Young is deservingly the most acclaimed artist in Rue du Pont Galerie's excellent stable of artists. 

Rue du Pont Galerie will be open this coming Friday from 1 pm-8 pm to welcome Laurence to Louisiana. I SO hope to see you there!

A very special time and place is captured in each of Laurence Young's paintings. Whether the subject is boats on the water:

The Waters of March

Oil/Wax on Canvas

16" x 20"

$ 1,800.00

Biding Time

Oil/Wax on Canvas

20" x 16"

$ 1,800.00

or figurative:

Blue Boy

Mixed Media on Paper

18" x 24"

$ 200.00, matted (unframed)

Unrequited Love

Oil on Panel

16" x 16"

$ 1,500.00

or a structure in a landscape:

Mindful Presence

Oil/Wax on Canvas

18" x 24"

$ 2,000.00

....the result is the same: the luminescent capturing of a special moment in time that can not be forgotten.

To read more about Laurence Young's past and current shows and awards, visit his website:
www.laurenceyoung.com

Inspired Design!

Sometimes all it takes is a bit of inspiration to get me moving in the right direction. Last week I attended the Cathedral Antiques Show Inspiration House and found that inspiration in a few rooms designed by great talents of the Atlanta design community.

The deanery of St Philip's Cathedral is the location, twenty designers did rooms, and divine design is the result. This is the final weekend of the show house at 2799 Andrews Drive. It is open today and tomorrow from 11 to 5. 

There are several very well done rooms but hands down the biggest, brightest gold star goes to my brilliant friend Lindsey Harper. A Georgia native, Lindsey worked for Richard Keith Langham before striking out on her own by launching Lindsey Coral Harper Interiors (website is LCH). The beautiful red head is a spitfire both in personality and in her design work. Lindsey is well deserving of all of the press she has recently received (a project is the cover story of this month's House Beautiful) because of rooms like this:

Vintage furniture is mixed with new lighting and modern art is hung from the pilasters of the bookcases. 

Window treatments show off Lindsey Harper's tailored and fun, yet elegant, design sensibility.

Lindsey Harper commissioned New York artist Jay Lohmann to do a series of Rorschach test watercolors.

Lindsey took the small library to a level that is just fab-u-lous! A room with no walls (literally...the entire room is either built-ins or windows) is now a jewel box study for the imagined lady of the of house to catch up on correspondence and reading, host an intimate gathering of friends, or to simply relax and unwind. Swathed in Benjamin Moore's "Mulberry" and bookcases lined in paper by Twigs that looks like old fashioned book paper, the room was born after Lindsey found this rug from Doris Leslie Blau in New York:

Madagascar Rug by Doris Leslie Blau, New York

www.dorisleslieblau.com

and this incredible Tony Duquette inspired fixture from Remains Lighting in New York:

California Sunburst Chandelier by Remains Lighting

www.remains.com

and this incredible painting from Atlanta's Emily Amy Gallery is a major focal point in the room. 

Go Rimbaud

Jen Bradley, Massachusetts artist

Mixed Media on Canvas

36" x 48"

from Emily Amy Gallery, Atlanta

www.emilyamygallery.com

Throughout the house are really good pieces of art and furniture. I will share some of my favorites and the other top ranking rooms in my next blog post. More information on the show house, go to:

Cathedral Inspiration House blog

Enjoy!

Under 30: Louisiana's Fresh Crop of Talent

I cannot believe it is already February and I am doing my first post of the year. I started the year off with a bang and spent January installing projects. One of the exciting January moments was the installation and opening of a show I curated for Lounge Gallery in Lafayette, LA. "Under 30: Louisiana's Fresh Crop of Talent" features ten young artists that I selected because I believe they are the next wave of brilliant Louisiana artists. Names that might not be familiar to you now but will certainly be soon.

L to R: Dominique Begnaud, Connor McManus, Mallory Page

Working with young artists is rewarding. To be a part of their journey from the beginning of their career is very exciting. The ten artists I selected range in age from 19-30 and are in different phases of their life as artists. A few are still in undergraduate school, some have recently finished school, and a couple are already living the life they were intended to live--that of a professional artist working in a studio and represented by galleries around the country.

L to R: Erin Jagneaux, Mallory Page, Ryan Cormier, Cayla Zeek, Mark Rabalais

L to R: Kyte Aymond, Cayla Zeek, Connor McManus, Mallory Page

The Independent Newspaper in Lafayette chose the show as its cover story for the January 18th issue in a story titled "Youth Culture":

I was interviewed for the story and asked how I selected artists for the show. My answer:

“When selecting artists I look at an entire body of work before selecting any pieces,” McCullough says. “I need to see that the artist is consistently strong,” he continues. “I look for artists who can be successful and well-received in any city.”

And the artists I selected did not disappoint me! The show is diverse, features several mediums, and is cutting edge which is representative of the group featured:

Mallory Page, New Orleans artist (www.mallorypage.com)

Connor McManus, Brown University student (www.etsy.com)

Erin Jagneaux, Lafayette artist (www.erinjagneaux.com)

Forrest Montgomery, Lafayette artist

Jacob Broussard, Lafayette artist (jacobbroussardartist.wordpress.com)

 Ryan Cormier, Lafayette artist

Mark Rabalais, Pineville artist (www.rabalaisart.com)

Dominique Begnaud, New Orleans artist  (www.etsy.com)

Cayla Zeek, Lafayette artist (click here for website)

Kyte Aymond, Lafayette artist

L to R: Mark Rabalais, Forrest Montgomery, Mark Rabalais, Jacob Broussard

Lounge Gallery is in the incredible gallery space that was formerly Grand Contemporary. Behind Tsunami & Lounge, the gallery is open for all Art Walks (the second Saturday of each month) and by appointment.

L to R: Connor McManus, Erin Jagneaux, Mallory Page

When asked about the importance of young artists, acclaimed artist George Rodrigue said:

“As long as we have young artists coming up and wanting to express themselves, the visual arts will continue to thrive in south Louisiana and throughout the United States,” says Rodrigue. “Thankfully, there will always be new young artists with fresh ideas. The arts factor into our economy as a unique slice of this part of the country. Not only the artists but also their collectors help to preserve our cultural economy and heritage.”

A piece that has produced a lot of buzz is the paper, wire, and net installation by artist Erin Jagneaux. Titled "1,000 Fish for the Gulf" this piece was part of Jagneaux's thesis show at Massachusetts College of Art & Design.

L to R: Kyte Aymond, Erin Jagneaux

L to R: Erin Jagneaux, Dominique Begnaud, Connor McManus, Dominique Begnaud

Savvy collectors know that artists with promise of a great career are best to buy now while pieces are still affordable. Pieces in this show range from $ 230 to $ 2,850 with most pieces being under $ 1,000.

L to R: Jacob Broussard, Mark Rabalais

L to R: Dominique Begnaud, Cayla Zeek

For information on any piece in the show or to make an appointment to see the show, please email me at jefferymccullough@hotmail.com. 

The gallery will be open for Art Walk on Saturday, February 11th from 4-6 pm.

Connor McManus pieces

When Anna Purdy, writer for The Independent, asked me what my goal for the show is, I said:

“As a curator and agent my mission is always to give good exposure to artists,” McCullough says. “Whether this is accomplished through a show that I put together or through a blog post that I write, I hope the ‘right’ person sees it and thinks, ‘Wow, I have to have that’ and will seek out the artist to see all of their available work and make a purchase.”

all gallery photos by Brooks Dufrene

photos for The Independent by Robin May

to read full article in The Independent, click here.