TORNADO GALLERY

April 2012-5th Anniversary of Tornado Gallery.

2012-02-11T09:55:00.003-06:00

That is a bold statement - 5th birthday if you will for this group of people and this concept. Five years of losing money and we haven't shut the doors. I call that a success. We, Tony, Jennifer, and myself-Larry-never deluded ourselves int thinking we'd make any money-Tornado Gallery has never been about making money-(breaking even would be nice, but thats another post) its always been about doing the right thing for the right people. We just did our 56th First Friday Art Trail, 56 shows and I've lost track of how many artists thats a record to be proud of-and we are. In these almost 5 years, we created the Downtown Art Market, welcomed Sandstorm Glassworks-Lee Ware and Bren Merritt to the art community, been fortunate enough to help the Lubbock Arts Festival-Thank You Elizabeth, and done countless other things that we are very proud of, 3 JesseFests, numerous other concerts and Art Parts Parties Thanks Lubbock for supporting us.
Coming to Tornado in April is a special event-that is the purpose of this post-our 5th anniversary will be a homecoming of sorts. Tony Greer and Lee Ware will be bringing their "Electric Glass" show home to Tornado. This show is currently at LHUCA, but in April it comes here- where it will continue to grow and prosper. Those who don't know-Tony's Father and Grandfather built these buildings in the 40s and now it houses Tony's neon shop-Special Effects Neon. That is truly a homecoming to celebrate.
This show, "Electric Glass" is unique, not just in Lubbock but anywhere. There are hundreds of glassblowers, probably hundreds of neon shops, but there aren't a dozen of both, together, under one roof. The results of this collaboration are spectacular, glowing, moving, luminescent glass sculptures that come to life. Folks you just don;t see this every day-not here in Lubbock- not many places in the country.
So consider this, be proud of the Art community in Lubbock, support them any way you can, talk about it, visit it, buy something if you can but whatever you do don't let these opportunities get away. Art is as fleeting as life sometimes, take advantage of it now.

2011 The year ahead...

2011-01-08T14:33:00.004-06:00

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...

2010-11-17T00:51:00.003-06:00

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 . . . . .

2010-08-20T13:33:00.010-05:00

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

Friends Hanging while Joe Works

2010-08-19T15:14:00.003-05:00

Joe Checking Labels

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

Joe Clifford Assemblage and Paintings

2010-08-18T14:51:00.005-05:00

New works by Artist Joe Clifford

2010-08-18T09:34:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-12T11:29:00.002-05:00

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

http://www.tejasgobragh.com/

2010-08-04T08:28:00.002-05:00

Pueblo Store

by Hilton McLaurin

12" x 12"

Unframed Acrylic Painting on Canvas

SOLD

First Friday Art Trail

2010-08-03T12:55:00.002-05:00

Visit Tornado Gallery on the First Friday Art Trail this coming August 6th. 6pm - 9pm. WWW.FFAT.ORG

Lets Get This Party Started...Again.

2010-07-22T23:16:00.002-05:00

This is the official blog site for Tornado Gallery-our favorite art gallery in downtown Lubbock, or anywhere for that matter. It's our favorite because we work it. We got lots of help, help from friends, help from customers, help from everyone. That is one cool thang-help-that translates into support folks, and support will keep us plugging along. That's it. Keep plugging along is all we want to do That ain't a whole lot to ask is it.
Y'all come see us at the corner on Buddy Holly and 19th Street-beautiful downtown Lubbock, Texas.
Follow us here too...
Larry Simmons

First Friday Art Trail

2008-07-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

First Friday...on the Fourth of July...in the Hub, talk about a coin toss-but the Trail must go on and what a trail it was! It was so cool...everyone on it was just in a great mood, tons of Red, White and Blue-lots of families...an all American day in Downtown Lubbock.
Lots of new faces, old friends, people who became new friends and even reestablishing old connections and all due to the First Friday Art Trail. This 7/4/2008 event brought out the old guard of the art world...the giants. The people that kept Art in the Hub alive during those dark years and are now celebrated State wide and World wide as being among the best.
How fortunate we are to live in a city where on this, the most family, outdoor, go to the lake- day of the summer...people congregated on Downtown streets to re acquaint themselves, soak up the talent that lives here, and celebrate the sun beginning to shine on the right people.
Thanks from Tornado Gallery to everyone who came by and made this a happening Fourth of July!

first post

2008-06-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

this is my first post