Being Bruce -: art galleries
Showing posts with label art galleries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art galleries. Show all posts

Saturday, April 11, 2009

George Murray's Birthday Party Blowout - April 10th

Most of his friends and family know that George Murray hates birthdays. But obviously they could care less about that because they got together for a huge surprise birthday party for George Friday evening. George's gracious and gorgeous wife Phyllis most of the work, though some of the same family and friends pitched in, too, according to Phyllis


So starting around 6PM Friday about 80 to 100 people began to gather at Murray Art & Frame in the Olde Waterford Shoppes area (sure is convenient for the party-thrower and the party-goers with a natural party place so handy). Folks started laughing and talking and drinking in the front of the shop waiting for George to show up at the back door. By the time he arrived, around 6:50PM, most folks had gotten a good start on their laughing so we were all in a good mood when he walked in. As you can see pretty clearly in the next few photos, he was surprised. And looked pleased.


People had already started in on the food table before George arrived, but after he got there the lights came up and we all got to work on the shrimp, wraps, dips, chips, and most of all the fabulous cupcakes.
[Note - I have no clue who most of the folks were at the party and I was annoying enough jumping around with my camera so I didn't whip out a notebook and take down names. I'll mention a few names going through these images, but mostly it was about George and his family, so I'll mention them right now. His two granddaughters Jordan and Chandler were there and they were a major focus for George as he got to share his birthday and all the fun with them and his friends. How cool is it for grandkids to see how beloved their granddad is?]



I can't comment on the photo below any further without getting in trouble. If you really want to know, ask Jeff Harvell.

Brenda Bozeman brought George an Old-Timers hat with a bunch of silly buttons and saying on it. It was a hit and good-natured George wore it for the rest of the party.


Phyllis thought it was pretty funny, too.



The always hard-working Katie helped tend bar. There's a better shot of her later on.



Check out the table - and this was about halfway through the party. They just kept re-filling it all night.

George's son and son-in-law.

No comment necessary.

Phyllis gets major props for pulling off this party.


It's pretty cool to have parties at Murray Art & Frame, with all the artwork hanging on the wall. Sometimes I wonder if George and Phyllis went into this business solely to have a facility that would work for parties.

So here's Katie. According to what most of us can tell, she does much of the heavy lifting at Murray Art & Frame. George plays golf and Phyllis plans the parties.
More granddaughter shots. And George's daughter, too.


George checking out a video one of his granddaughters made of some of the artwork in the gallery.

Meanwhile, out front, people kept eating, drinking, and laughing.



There's Katie, finally getting a cupcake. She wasn't thrilled that I took this shot.

And then again, neither was Tony Vlach about this one. But they're both good sports.

So we had a great time. Happy Birthday, George! And many many more!

[Oh, and did I mention he's 60!]

Monday, January 12, 2009

Drive-in art! - Friday night at Spectrum Art and Jewelry - ArtSmartCar!!

The second Friday of each month from 6-8PM, Star Sosa holds a Second Friday of the Month Party, thinly disguised as an exhibit at her excellent Spectrum Art and Jewelry Gallery at the Forum Shoppes in Wilmington. The party (ooops, exhibit) this month was focused based on the Spectrum's General Manager (and AAiR - awesome artist in residence) Nancy Noel May's ArtSmartCar, a car so cool it has it's own website AND so trendy it's own blog . The ArtSmartCar is wrapped (courtesy of Image Monster, though I'm sure they didn't do it for free) with one of Nancy's works. When Marge and I arrived a bit later than usual around 7:30 - we'd been at the NBCC/WWAY-TV3 Business After Hours in Northwest (see previous blog post) the poor car was by itself (in the fire lane) under a tent and in lights outside in front of the gallery, while all the guests were inside - maybe because that's where the wine was?

So we went inside and what did we see, besides all the happy people? Star and Spectrum Marketing Director and all-round good buddy Nicole Wilkinson (who is also an Art Professor at Brunswick Community College) were actually selling stuff! Yippee! No recession here!



As we always do, Marge and I had a good time at Star's party (there I go again, it's an exhibit and art showing!). We weren't the only ones, either. Look at the photo below to see more happy people:

And some more in this shot:

We had a special treat near the end of the event when Nicole brought out one of Spectrum's most recent marketing pieces, a card they created using SendOutCards, which if you'd like to know about that, please do check out the web site for Fat City Cards, our SendOutCards distributorship.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Spectrum Art and Jewelry Holiday Benefit and Fund Raiser

Marge and I had a fine time at the Holiday Benefit and Fund Raiser at Star Sosa's Spectrum Art and Jewelry last evening. As usual we arrived early and left pretty early, too, but a nice group of appreciative attendees was growing when we left. The event was a fund raiser for the local Brigde Boys and Girls Club and some cute (and also appreciative) kids were in attendance.



Marge and I are big fans of Star's gallery and her assemblage of work from artists and craftsfolk who are all her friends. Last night we were particularly drawn to a display of very colorful ceramic and metal gift items. If the idea of going Christmas shopping in an exclusive art gallery throws you off because you're concerned everything will be very expensive, think again and check out Spectrum this season.


Sure, they do display beautiful paintings, jewelry, and glass works priced in the thousands of dollars, but you can also find plenty of attractive, handmade gifts for much less and you can be sure when the recipients open them they won't have seen the same gift (or given it themselves) before.

There are nice items at Spectrum starting at $12 and many under $25 and $50, so unless your budget is limited to only a couple of dollars, take a break from the noise and bustle at the bigger stores and check out Spectrum Art and Jewelry in the Forum Shops in Wilmington (opposite Mayfaire).
There are two other benefits to shopping at Spectrum: you'll be supporting the arts, which is always a good thing in my mind, and you get to meet some super nice people as that's the only kind Star work with. (Like I said, Marge and I unabashed fans. And, oh yeah, we did find -and buy- a gift for an important person in our life but we not going to say what it is or who it's for because she reads this blog. Hint - it's not ceramic or metal art.)


I have a new tag line for Spectrum Art and Jewelry (not that they asked): "Home town people - big city art!"

Great Benefit Tonight - Spectrum Art and Jewelry

If you're looking for a special gift for someone artistically inclined, if you would like to support a good cause, or if you'd just like to hang with some cool folks, head over to Spectrum Art and Jewelry early this evening, December 12th from 6-8PM for their December Open House & Fund Raiser.


Join them for hot cider and holiday treats and meet the good folks from the Brigade Boys & Girls Club. Buy a whimsical hand painted ornament and $10 will be donated to the club to continue their great work mentoring local kids. Take time to check out Spectrum's great collection of gift ideas, starting as low at $12.


While you're there you might also be able to see Spectrum's General Manager and RAA (Resident Awesome Artist) Nancy Noel May's SmartArtCar in the parking lot.


See you there!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Smart Car Morphs into Art Car

Perhaps you remember a few weeks ago I posted a blog entry about Nancy Noel May's new Smart Car. Nancy is the General Manager of and one of the artists whose work are featured at Spectrum Art and Jewelry in the Forum Shops in Wilmington. This morning I went to a meeting of the Wilmington Bloggers at The Connection Cafe and guess what was in the parking lot!!


Nancy went to the folks at Image Monster and had them wrap her Smart Car with an image of one of her paintings. For more information on the newly adorned vehicle, which Nancy has named "Bebe", check out her website http://www.artsmartcar.com/ and her blog http://www.artsmartcar.blogspot.com/.




Sunday, November 9, 2008

Holiday Bazaar at Blue Moon Gallery

We've been looking forward to a trip to the Blue Moon Gallery and Gift Shops in Wilmington so this weekend's Holiday Bazaar was a great time to go. Before we arrived we had to run some errands around town and then decided to explore a different way to get from our last errand to the gallery. Well, as luck had it, we passed right by a Krispy Kreme store with a 24-hour drive through window.

Actually, we didn't exactly drive by, because when we were halfway through the intersection where we had to execute a tricky right-handed double slide U-turn, I just happened to notice there was no line at the drive through window. Being a child of the moment, and wanting to respond to clear signals from the universe, I hooked another U-ie and while Marge held her breath, got into the parking lot and up to the order box. All we really wanted, and ordered was a single large cup of black coffee to share and a couple of glazed donuts, but it seemed silly to only order two, so I ordered a half-dozen, and then, well wouldn't ya know, the order box lady said, "For only $1.55 more you can make that a whole dozen, Hon." So I did

The coffee was hot and so were the donuts. I explained to Marge that one Krispy Kreme is really like half a regular donut because they make 'em so light, but after I had four (count that as really only two regular donuts), Marge put the box on the back seat. (Which, as you can imagine, made it much tougher to reach back to snag another one or two while keeping one hand on the wheel and two eyes on the road. But I managed.)

Eventually we did make it to Blue Moon Gallery, which is what this is really all about, and once my lips stopped twitching from the sudden sugar assault, we went in. Marge didn't feel like it was picture day for her so there's me below, heading into the gallery.

If you've not been to the Blue Moon, you're missing out. There is a legit art gallery, but the gift shops with little booths and displays for artists, craftspeople, and a few other copacetic businesses is the big draw for Marge and I. The displays change regularly and the folks who work at the gallery are always very nice.

We wandered around a bit just soaking in all the art and culture (see Marge below in an unwitting shot - "Sorry, Meg.")

One of the non-art or craft permanent displays is the Old Wilmington Tea Co. and today the owners were on hand to dispense samples of their teas and scones made with their tea-based recipes.

The festive Old Wilmington Tea Company's booth is a popular stop just inside the gallery entrance. Check out their website at http://www.oldwilmingtontea.com/ or call the company at 800-404-5124.
We also saw our friend Jeanette Borton who has a permanent display inside the gallery but was set up and working on an adjacent patio. Jeanette makes very high quality baskets using pine needles. Often the baskets incorporate other materials like shells, agates, or stone. If you are interested in more info about her work, you can reach Jeanette at 910-790-5342 or jaborton@bellsouth.net.

Gary Longardo, who we don't know, works in several media - my fav is the metal two-level desk with chain legs below.

Artists with permanent booths at Blue Moon include Ivey Hayes

and William Hubbard.

One of the most stunning displays is the booth for Simply Must Have!, specialty gifts and home decor. Captivating things in that booth. E-mail smusthave@yahoo.com.


On the way out I also noticed a small wall display with handmade soy candles which were very attractive.


We had a nice time, saw some friends, looked at a lot of cool art, and even bought a few Christmas presents. Win-win-win.

And there are still 4 Krispy Kremes left, for now.