Use PayPal to send $15 per record to addisbritt@yahoo.com along with your mailing address and we will get the records right out.

But it all builds character as one laboriously builds characters on a page.

In this next show there is a cast of characters (artists) that are tied to exploring different avenues of “characters.”

Thomas calls his exploration “Obsessive Compulsive Doodling.” Through stream of conscious drawing which always yields a character that somewhat resembles a mesh of ideas or emotions that he finds floating around.

Diana Urbino exploits the fantasy of “suggestive” characters one would find in the back of any weekly magazine.

The character of one’s own identity is explored through self portraiture and some aspects of the work presented comments on society stereotypes that are found in the “cartoon type.”

The cast of artists for “Character Building” are in no particular order

Rick Fuentes

Daniel Bennett

Jessica Fuentes

Eddie Burrell

Thomas PH

David Degrand

Emily Donjuan

Matt Hogan

Diana Urbino

Artist reception from 6-8pm, Free

Music by Yanari, Hentai Improvising Orchestra, and Pff(f)t! at 9pm. $5

Free artist reception from 7-9pm

Music by Twigs and Yarn from 9-11pm, $5

This Monday was extra special Ben Rogers,  Eddie Burrell, and myself were the judges for the weekly event.  There were so many talented artists that attended.  Picking a first through third place winner was not easy.

I highly recommend that people of all ages attend Drink & Draw.  Especially if you’re an artist.  It’s a great way to get to know your peers,  stay active in the Ft. Worth art community, and of course win some goodies.

I hope to see you next week, and thanks to everyone who participated in the past.

Public Domain: Cyanotype prints by Rene West

In our Engine Room, we’re proud to present collages created from photographs and drawings found on the internet. Rene West develops fragments of images juxtaposed with one another to become an unspoken language, where meaning lies within the relationships of the seemingly unrelated. The images are created by making handmade negatives and contact printing them on paper coated with cyanotype chemistry, and exposed to UV light.

Currently residing in Amarillo, West has taught photography for many years in the metroplex at Tarrant County College and the University of Texas at Arlington. She has exhibited in musuems and galleries throughout the the United States, and is also a singer/songwriter.

Ooga Booga: Photo Collage  by Mark Penland

In questioning the static vs. evolutionary nature of memories, Mark Penland creates photo-based collages using found-objects, dictionaries, textbooks, cabinet cards, tape, paint and other materials. The dense collage work is then re-photographed, and the resulting photomontages are then either output as negatives and printed using the antique Van Dyke photo process, or printed as ink jet prints and worked back into with mixed-media.

A seventh generation Tarrant County home boy, Penland has worked at the Photographic Study Center at Tarrant County College since the 90’s, and received a BFA in photography from Texas Women’s University in Denton.

Artist Receptions are Sunday, August 9th from 7-9pm at the Firehouse, and are free to the public.

Performances will follow the reception from 9-11pm, and we ask a $5 donation to pay the musicians.

Nick Hennies, of the Weird Weeds will perform electro-acoustic improv, and James Talambas of the Theater Fire will play a no-input mixing board.

The bands were stellar, everyone had a blast, and we raised enough money to get caught up on rent.

Oh yeah, and it was the best birthday I’ve ever had, hands down.

-Ben

photo courtesy Layla Blackshear

Currently searching for new icons by sifting through old beliefs and a disposable contemporary society, Richard Ross is no stranger to NTX arts.

Hailing from Irving, Texas, and holding a degree in History from U of Dallas, his formative years were spent concentrating on music, and he sold his first drawings as a founding member for the now-defunct Denton-based band Brutal Juice.

Utilizing a careful craft of mixed media, Ross communicates his search for beauty and glimpses of the Platonic Forms into a new mythology.

Ross’ works on display at the Chat Room Pub are priced $40-$50.

Starting on January 1st of this year, Andrew challenged himself to create one new peice every day during 2009. Using found objects blended with his unique styles of illustration, block printing and screen-printing, this body features some of the best of the first six months.

We’re starting this one a little later than usual, artist reception at 8pm, with music by Book of Shadows from Austin at 10pm.

Reception is free, music is $5.

Music Performance at 8.30 pm by Wanz Dover $5.

Wanz Dover has been composing and performing music of all genres since 1993. For this intimate gallery performance he will be focusing on his laptop, acoustic guitar and theremin compositions that is best described as Steve Reich and David Lynch teaming up for a King Tubby tribute.