2011 The year ahead...

We are now a full week into the new year and past the First Friday Art Trail for January so this might be a good time to look ahead. Tornado Gallery has tried to be a leader in the art scene in Lubbock going on 4 years in April-4 years that is amazing. The support for our little project has been overwhelming, the crowds for the Art Walks are tremendous, the attendance and participation for the Downtown Art Market always amazes me. Now we have Sandstorm Glassworks, with artists Lee Ware and Bren Merritt, a fully functioning glass hot shop, right here in downtown Lubbock, not since Bill Bagley at TTU have we had this opportunity. Our little corner of the world just continues to get better. Watch for workshops and demos from visiting glass artists in 2011.

So what will 2011 bring well health and well being we hope, for all our friends. The return of the Art Parts Party, another summer of live events in Peggy's Garden,workshops from Sandstorm Glassworks are but a few ideas we are playing with. A new beginning for Plasma Art in Lubbock-a collaborative effort with Tony Greer and Lee Ware, this is a leading edge media and we are extremely proud of these two gentlemen for not only pushing that envelope but creating the envelope as well.

We'll have a presence at the 33rd Lubbock Arts Festival-that's a first for us and we are looking forward to that stellar event. 33 years folks that is a long tradition of showcasing the art here in Lubbock. This is the type of community event that brings all the arts together and showcases the talent here in the city. We are proud of the participation we've had and look forward to being more involved as a vendor.

The Downtown Art Market will stay a vital project from Tornado Gallery. We will be focusing on promoting the quality and diversity of handmade art from Lubbock and area artists. In addition during the farmers market season, July through October, look for more growers and a wider variety of Texas agricultural products to be on hand here. We'll be getting into our third year in May.

We would like to see everyone come down to Tornado Gallery during the year ahead and just say "Hello", bring the family and see what we have to offer you.

Thanks for a wonderful 2010...

By combining furnace blown glass with the inert gases and colored phosphors usually found in neon tubes, a world of new possibilities opens up with internally illuminated sculptural glasswork. Sandstorm Glassworks, located behind Tornado Gallery, in conjunction with Special Effects Neon (soon to be also located behind the gallery) announce the colaboration of their studios with these first two successful blown glass plasma sculptures.

Visiting glassblower Colin Knowles crafted the hollow hand blown glass sculptures while he was here, specifically to be internally illuminated. Then Tony Greer, of Special Effects Neon, added colored phosphors and xenon gas to Colin's glasswork, turning it into a very unique piece of glass art that actually illuminates itself! Pictures don't show the lightning-like movements of the luminous tendrils darting around inside the foot tall hollow glass vessel, which can be very mesmerizing to watch.

Look for much more to come from these two studios very soon!

Until "I am" was spoken, Life was still . . . . .

Darren's spontaneous creative response to a statement challenging the underlying thought process.

Friends Hanging while Joe Works

Joe Checking Labels



Three different directions at the same time (staged). You Think!

Joe Clifford Assemblage and Paintings

New works by Artist Joe Clifford

Today's activities - We will be hanging Joe Clifford's new large paintings that he delivered yesterday. Later today we'll post photos of selected works. Cleaning and reorganization of Studio for Lee and Bren's Glass Foundry opening in October.
Gallery vistors yesterday included Mural Artists Jamie Lankford and Marc Watson from White River. You can see their art at www.jamielankford.com and www.strandedstudios.com .

There is a new Tornado Gallery video on facebook, check it out.

Don Gabbert in Concert

The Blues at 8:00 p.m. in Peggy's Garden BYOB and we will pass the hat.

http://www.tejasgobragh.com/