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.

… to everyone who came to the fundariaser at the Chat Room last night. It was an immense success.

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

Note: These works are showing at the
Chat Room Pub through the end of the
July.

1263 W Magnolia Ave.

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.

This is the first in a two part series featuring the works of Andrew Kendall.

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.

Gallery Opening for Paul T. Leicht Displaying his Photography Based work. artist reception is free. 6-8pm

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.