Wet Paint: New Exhibits at Archway

WUntitled_Acrylic-and-metallic-foil-on-paper_54x50_2018
WUntitled_Acrylic-and-metallic-foil-on-paper_54x50_2018

Archway Gallery’s latest exhibit, Spill, which opens Saturday, is actually a three-in-one experience. Abstract artist Donna Perkins’ paintings are the central component to Spill, and themselves fall under two categories: large frameless watercolor pieces pinned to gallery walls, and smaller works painted on wooden boards. Perkins observes, through her art, that the word “spill” has a range of meanings and connotations — as in spilling the beans or spilt milk.


Accompanying Perkins’ swirling paintings are two performance pieces that also riff on the “spill” theme. Choreographer-singer-dancer Jhon R. Stronks’ presents his mouthful The Loosening Grip, #WorkingWide, Spill, Drip, Slip, Slide the evenings of March 22 and 23. He demonstrates a collaborative spirit and a “lifetime of memories, moments and fantasies” amid the paintings.

And Alexandre Farris Soares, a Brazil-born performance artist and UH grad, composed the piece vR for three dancers, who explore how each of their choices impacts the others’ movements. His piece can be viewed on March 29 and March 30.

As for Perkins, she chats with viewers and takes questions at the opening reception on Saturday evening.

AT TOP: Untitled, acrylic and metallic foil on paper, 2018

Dispatches

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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