…a body of work, not yet created, of various sized paintings on silk. The paintings of architecture, common spaces, and discovered details would dance and describe the personalities of these three great cities. The collection would not seek to compare the cities, but joyously explore their magic and beauty, welcoming the viewer to respond with joy to these vibrant global metropolises.
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Keep up with the latest art and adventures from Rene Shoemaker Art!
A Street Named Desire
Returning to France now is like returning home.
There was snow, and there was cold.
There was space and light.
Long walks watching the changing colors of the fields under the mid-winter sky.
Thibault, in the snow
And now we have a dog!
Thibault has come to live with us; he is a 10-month-old English setter.
Thibault has added another dimension to our lives in France - and that has to do with a dimension of never-ending love. And lots of walks. It is nice to have another being around so that I'm not so much in my head; thinking about art, and work, all the time.
(The pronunciation of his name is "tee-bo".)
Place + Names on exhibit at Galerie des Marches, Aubusson
photo:J-M Gargantiel
I also returned to find my artwork installation still hanging at the Galerie des Marches, which made me very happy.
In mid-January, I also discovered that its companion artwork is hanging once again in Columbus, GA!
A Ribbon Runs Through It, Illges Gallery, Columbus State University
The Columbus Museum, which holds two of my works in its permanent collection, has included them both in an exhibit titled, “A Ribbon Runs Through It: Textiles from the Columbus Museum.” How appropriate, for that is exactly what I wrote about when describing the artwork in Aubusson, intrigued by the way the works from two countries are connected by the image of the river: "The work conveys a sense of continuity through the symbolism of architecture and rivers. Our lives flow, the currents merge, then break off again for new investigation and discoveries."
A Ribbon Runs Through It is on exhibit at the Illges Gallery, CSU Corn Center for the Visual Arts at Columbus State University while the Columbus Museum is undergoing renovation. I’m including here a few photos the curator, Jonathan Walz, and other friends, sent to me. My silk paintings are hanging from the ceiling, in good company!
Kristen Miller Zohn, seen smiling here, is the person responsible for the entire Columbus, GA collection being created. Thank you, Kristen, from the bottom of my heart!
These original paintings are available for purchase, and if you or someone you know would like to own one, please contact me for details.
I realize it is not possible for everyone to own a 6 ft to 10 ft original painting, so I wanted to make this work easily accessible and shareable with you. So I am also now offering prints of the entire collection of large paintings, in at least two sizes, in my online shop. You can see the collection here.
During the pandemic, the Columbus Museum created the “60 Seconds with the Artist” series. There you can see my artwork in the Museum and hear me discussing it, all in 60 seconds! Click here for the video.
To see a video walk-through while I discuss the exhibit at the Galerie des Marches, click here.
And a nice presentation of "The Doors of Athens" collection of prints can be seen at The KA Artist Shop here.
And why did I title this - ‘A Street Named Desire’? Because I love that street scene of 12th and Broadway and I am so very, very happy that it is in the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum!
Leave a comment below and let us know how you like the exhibit(s)!
Many thanks,
-René
Having Fun Making Friends
Crocq. How to pronounce the name of this town in La Creuse?
René with her art at Crocq
I say “crow” as in the bird.
I asked a Frenchman tonight, he said “cro” while swallowing the “uh” sound.
He said “it’s not ‘w’”.
See how hard it is to learn a second language?
Thursday’s event. 1001 réflets, was the annual international art exhibition held in the historic town of Crocq. Above, you can see the two medieval towers and the church on the crest of the hill.
The exhibit is housed on the second floor of the elementary school, in a large, open, and airy space that is light-filled and inviting.
The exhibition hall before installing the art
The theme of this year’s exhibit is 1001 Réflets which translates to “1001 Reflections” in English.
In support of the theme, I exhibited a large silk painting portraying the wall in my house in Georgia that includes framed art and a mirror that reflects the bathroom. The scene is from the time when my children were small (can you spot the rubber duckie?).
Positive/Negative [The Mirror]: (Reflections on everyday life)
What’s so very interesting to me, is this particular artwork is garnering a lot of interest, both in France and back home in the States. I secretly smile to myself when someone remarks on it, as it was created for, and exhibited in, my first solo exhibition back in 2001 at the Clayton Street Gallery in Athens, GA. This “new” interest in my painting tells me that my art is standing up to the test of time.
1001 réflets exhibition poster
I’ve included nine works of art in this exhibit, each with a title that reflects back to the theme of the exhibit: 1001 réflets. The prices on my paintings range from 350 to 650 euros. All but #1 includes a custom blonde wooden frame, and the euro, right now, is about equal to the U.S. Dollar, making it a great time to invest in art!
The nine paintings are listed here:
1) Positive/Negative [the mirror]: The Rubber Duckie (Reflection on Everyday Life)
2) Les Fayes / La Faye (Reflection on the Creation of Two Villages)
Les Fayes / La Faye
3) Brugmansia Sunset Trumpet Flower 1 + 2 (Reflection on the Beauty of Nature)
Brugmansia Sunset Trumpet Flower 1 + 2
4) At the Aubusson Train Station(Reflection on Travel)
Aubusson Train Station
5) Lee's Coffee Shop (Reflections on Japan)
Lee's Coffee Shop
6) View From the Library, Felletin (Reflections on Learning)
View From the Library, Felletin
7) Between Grande Rue et rue Chateaufavier, Aubusson (Reflections on Space)
Between Grande Rue et rue Chateaufavier, Aubusson
8) Château d'Arfeuille (Reflections on Time)
Château d'Arfeuille
9) Reflections on a Magical World
Reflections on a Magical World
Which is your favorite?
EXPOSITION! Decouvrir: Felletin et ses villages
Photo Credit - Yveline LeGrand
I’ve been really busy in my studio and beyond here in central France! The reception to my exhibit, which opened on June 1st at La Mairie de Felletin (Felletin City Hall), was so well received. It was my second exhibition about (and in!) Felletin in two years; I am happy to share that my audience grew! And to also see the arrival of familiar faces among those that attended my first vernissage... well, I’m proud. And the Mayor and her office are happy to now share my work with their visitors and dignitaries!
Many attendees noted that my work has progressed exponentially since last year. I heard that it was more free, that the the colors were more alive, and that my subjects grew to include more diverse places and spaces.
I was honored to hang larger silk paintings this year (last year it was forbidden), as creating large work makes me especially happy. It was a challenge as my studio in France was not yet set up for making large-scale silk installation pieces. Now it is! The larger work gave us the perfect scale to create a perfect announcement banner, which hangs in the front of the wonderful, historic building - welcoming all to come in and see my works of art.
La Montagne wrote an article about the exhibition and reviewed it quite complimentary. I find it a sweet synopsis for the people who have yet to attend, and an inspiration for those who still have time to stop by. Decouvrir: Felletin et ses villages runs through July 27th. (*article and translation below) You can see images from the exhibition, purchase work, and read more about it HERE.
Our Community Interpreted by René Shoemaker
By Robert Guinot
Just one year after having an exhibition here, René Shoemaker has retuned to the Felletin City Hall. The American artist, who lives in the commune of Saint Maixant, is this time sharing here the discovery of Felletin and its villages. She presents a selection of paintings on silk that represent a year’s work.*
Artistic Stroll around Felletin
René Shoemaker walked past Pont Roby to the Chatueau d’Arfeuille, then to the library. She went up Rue de Beaumont, climbed to the summit of the bell tower to experience a panoramic view of the town and the countryside. She studied the engraved inscriptions in stone buildings. Her journey is displayed in blue and green. She plays with the horizon line and sometimes departs, deliberately, from reality. Her exhibition delivers her perceptions of Felletin and its surroundings, from Arfeuille to Lavaud and to La Croix-Blanche. Her work has developed into a body of work that is dear to her, between poetry and naivety, with great attention to line and color choice, all with a very personal style. It is understood that the artist and her husband, who live here 1/2 the year in the Creuse, often leaves Saint-Maixant for Felletin where René is fascinated with the countryside and the monuments, where she observes the houses and architectural details. Her wandering journey inspires her paintings on silk, designs that are between figurative and abstraction, which is always elegant and personal. Her chromatic range is limited, contributing to the uniformity of the exhibition, that is, both understated and joyful.
(*) The ceremony of inauguration was held with the presence of Wilfried Celerien, deputy mayor, Gérard Chabert, the mayor of Saint-Maixant, Thierry Roger, who has framed the collection of work…
An exhibition, and all of the work that goes into them, can be really exhausting. In the next few weeks I plan to share some of my process with you!
I am also excited to share with you my next exhibit, opening at AM’Carta Gallery (Atlier-Musée des Cartons de Tapisserie d'Aubusson) in Aubusson on August 17th. I have allowed myself time for new research, new paintings, and new large scale work — I can’t wait to discover what I create!
As always, I’m so happy to have you along on this adventure with me!
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM LE VERNISSAGE (OPENING RECEPTION)
Photo Credit - Yveline LeGrand
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