Art and Installation photos from "Joyride" at Public Functionary

Ostriches, 4x4', acrylic/graphite on panel, 2014.

I just made an epic blog post over at JenniferDavisArt.blogspot.com to show all of the artwork and a bunch of installation/party photos from my art exhibition at Public Functionary in Minneapolis.

This show represents the culmination of my carousel project. Swing by and check it out here!

The painting above was based on this guy I saw at the Carousel and Folk Art Museum at Heritage Gardens in Sandwich, MA. (I wrote a bit about my visit here.)

These guys:

Horses, 4x4', acrylic/graphite on panel, 2014

were based on this horse from the Paragon Carousel in Hull, Ma. (Blogged about that visit here.)

Lots more where those came from (including paintings based on the following) over here.

George L. Fox sculpture at Heritage Gardens in Sandwich, Ma.

Goat from Trimper's carousel in Ocean City, MD. (My notes here.)

Tough guy lion also from Heritage Gardens.

Frog from Trimper's carousel in Ocean City, MD. (My notes here.)

I never actually got to see this pig from Fete Paradiso (as it wasn't open when I went through NY) but I got permission to use fabulous photos for painting reference via @weiweistyle.) 

Rooster from Trimper's carousel in Ocean City, MD. (My notes here.)

PSSST! Print Pre-Release!

UPDATE 3/22/14: The print is now live and you can buy it right here. 

Here's a detail:

PSSSST!
I'm releasing a BIG print from my show Jennifer Davis: Joyride tomorrow (3/22/14) at noon CST!
Big THANK YOUS to The Jealous Curator for announcing it on her blog. 

Beginning tomorrow, Sat March 22 at 12PM CST you can get first dibs. 
Only 15 prints from the edition will be released online before the opening and the rest will be available at the opening reception.
Visit the Jealous Curator for the FULL SCOOP.

"Joyride" opens at Public Functionary 3/22/14!

I just sent out my March 2014 Newsletter with a little peek at my exhibition:

I'm happy to announce my new solo exhibition featuring ten of my largest paintings ever- "Joyride" Opening Reception: Sat, March 22 at  Public Functionary "Public Functionary is pleased to announce its first exhibit of 2014, featuring new work by Minneapolis-based painter, Jennifer Davis. In the summer of 2013, Jennifer Davis set out on an 8-cities-in-8-days research trip to study, photograph and sketch antique carousel animals and classic vignette paintings. “Joyride” is the product of the findings: a complete body of large-scale paintings inspired by vintage carousel animals and traditional carousel vignette paintings. Davis hasn't previously been compelled to create a series of works based on any specific theme, nor has she attempted to create works of this scale. With a 15+ year history as a painter, Davis liberates her own conventions with this much anticipated new body of work featuring large-scale paintings that abandon comfort for an exploration of the next level." In 2012 I was awarded a Metropolitan Regional Arts Council/ McKnight Foundation "Next Step Grant" for "funding to research, create, and document a body of large-scale paintings based on vintage carousel animals and traditional carousel vignette paintings." In the summer of 2013 I set out on a road trip to visit eight states in eight days and dozens of vintage carousels (built in the early 1900s) along the US Eastern seaboard. I documented my travels/research via blog at www.merrygoroundabout.blogspot.com See how cuckoo I am for carousels?   For this exhibition I'll be showing the results of my project- * ten 4x4' paintings celebrating my love of creepy/crazy vintage carousel animals (Mysteriously blurry in attempt to entice you to visit them in person!) * 8 smaller oval shaped paintings featuring my take on traditional carousel vignette paintings * and some other fun surprises!   I hope you can join me for the celebration of my biggest solo exhibition ever! (If you can't make it in person I hope you'll swing by my blog to check out all of the artwork. I'll post everything right after the reception.) DETAILS Jennifer Davis * Joyride at Public Functionary in Minneapolis (map) OPENING RECEPTION : Sat, March 22, 2014 7pm- midnight ARTIST TALK : Sat, March 29, 1pm RUN DATES : 3/22 - 4/25 GALLERY HOURS : Thursdays: 2pm-7pm  Fridays: 8pm-12am (PF Takeovers*) Saturdays: 12pm-4pm FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: here * Each Friday night will feature special events in partnerships with local groups and organizations under the PF Takeover Series. Event Details TBA. This activity was made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) through a grant from the McKnight Foundation. THANK YOU, MRAC and McKnight!