New Work by Fran Knueppel

Monroe Williams work

Monroe's paintings of life in rural Fort Bend County in earlier days have been really popular.  We sold four in the last 3 weeks.  Come by and see for yourself.

"The Farmer's Wife" Monroe Williams

"The Well Diggers', Monroe Williams, Acrylic

Morton Street hosted a lovely evening with friends of TEXANA last Tuesday

OPENING SATURDAY, OCT. 16, 5:30 TO 7:30

Come to the Gallery for one of our fun openings.  Meet the artists!  See fine paintings!  Partake of some light refreshments!  Tell us what YOU might have selected to describe Fort Bend County, Texas.  These pictures are only a sample.

SEVEN ARTISTS PAINT FORT BEND COUNTY, TX

Steve Conrad, Fran Knueppel, Jean Olliver, Chuck Rawle, Billy Rotter,  Reg Stark and Monroe Williams have put together some interesting work dealing with the past, present and future of Fort Bend County, Texas.  In case you've not heard of us, we're located southwest of Houston, Harris County, Texas.  Ft. Bend is one of the fastest growing counties in the country today with new subdivisions popping up everywhere.  Founded in 1823, before Texas became a Republic, it was like most places of its time, rural with large land owners thriving growing sugar cane, cotton and cattle.  In the mid 1900's, oil struck in a number of areas, and, as they say, the rest is History.  Sugar Land, the largest city in the county was recently selected as one of the best places to live.  Morton Street Gallery is located in Richmond, an historic town of about 10,000 and the County Seat.  These artists live in different areas and have used their various talents to depict something about the nature of the place.  We hope you enjoy this preview.  If you want to see the rest....we're here.

"The Matriarchs", acrylic, 20"X24", Monroe Williams, $ 850 SOLD

"Summer Sky", Oil on linen, 24kt gold frame, 30"x40", Chuck Rawle, $ 6,000

"Fast Train to Tomorrow", oil, 48"x60", Reg Stark $ 4,800

"One Day in Autumn", oil, Monroe Williams

ART CLASSES

We begin a new season for art classes this month, for both oil and acrylic at any level.  Classes meet on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  For more information, call the gallery 281-341-8033 next week after the Labor Day Holiday.

Bridal Shower at MSG Saturday 14th, 1-3

  Group of 40 had lots of fun and
good eats from Italian Maid.
  The Gallery looked very festive.
  Remember us when you plan your next party.

Some More Art at Salute to Fort Bend

Safari Texas Salute to Fort Bend 2010

Our artists are working hard to bring outstanding new work to this event.  We want to provide you with all the information on this event.
Website:  www.safaritexasballroom.com
Title:  "A Tapestry of the Past, Present, and Future"
Time:  Saturday, October 9, from 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Place:  Safari Texas Ballroom, 11627 FM 1464
The beneficiary of this year's Salute is the new Mamie George Community Center, a program of Catholic Charities.
For more information about sponsorships or tickets, contact Dee Koch at 281-980-2909 or
"deesuekoch@gmail.com"  or  Joyce Kennerly at 713-385-5592 or "joyceck@hal-pc.org"

Morton Street Gallery will provide decor at Safari Club Event

This painting is just one of about 18 that will be in place at Safari Clubs "Salute to Fort Bend" October 9th.  All of the Fort Bend Artists in the Gallery will be depicting the Past, Present and/or the Future of the County at the Annual Event.  Among them are Steve Conrad, Jean Olliver, Reg Stark, Billy Rotter, Chuck Rawle, Monroe Williams and myself.  It's a big challenge for us and we are delighted.  All of you, mark your calendar and join us at the Safari Club where Allison Wen will provide us  with good times, good food and a good cause.  We'll keep you posted.

Business Blender drew a big crowd

Our blender was very successful and we had a lot of people who appeared to have a lot of fun.  Of course the wine may have had something to do with it.  Will and Marie from the Snake Charmers were fantastic as a duo...the music was lovely and the volume just right.  And Italian Maid from across the street had some great food.  The meat balls were a hugh success.  Several of the artists provided door prizes, as did the gallery, and fun was had by all.  Will send pics asap.

SHOW OPENING SEPT. 22ND, 5:30-7:30 @ MSG

Come by the Gallery after work for some Food, Art, Live Music and Fun, and see our new show.

WATCH OUT

Things are beginning to hop around here.  Don't forget the "Business Blender" this Thursday, July 22nd.  Keep watching for more news on an exciting project for October, as part of the Fort Bend Salutes Event.  We're excited about things along that line.  Also, just a little preview.  In September we're having a fun show with aRosenberg artist.  Keep watching for more news!

Business Blender here, Thursday, July 22nd, 5-7:30

"The Last Wave", oil by Reg Stark.

Fresh off the easel. This ought to cool you off.

Enjoy the a beautiful landscape inside our air conditioned building!

I think we will surpass our expected 95 degrees here today.  It is HOT, HOT!.....

But NOT in the Gallery.  We keep out thermostat at a pleasant 74.  So, come in to a room filled with lovely mountain landscapes by Chuck Rawle, and rocky shores with waves crashing and desert mountains under a lovely sky by Reg Stark, and Jean Olliver's bits of Texas, and Mark Stewart's amazing watercolors of southern spots that make you want to sit and have a glass of lemonade, and, of course, me.  Pull up a favorite chair and sip something cold of your choice.  I'll be here all summer (except for a week in August.  Even store owners need a vacation).  Mary will soon be spending some cool winter time in Australia visiting old friends, so while I may not be as efficient, I love to visit and enjoy art.  We're pretty laid back around here as most of you probably know by now.  So, come on over! Check us out!

Some great new traditional landscapes on display

Chuck Rawke;s work, pictured here, is inspired by his travels throughout the Western United States.  Some of his work was featured in the "Western Art Collector" in October of 2009, and more will be featured in the next issue of "Southwest Art".  We are so pleased to have a few of his oils on display here at MSG, along with the traditional watercolors of Houston Artist Mark Stewart and the beautiful representational oils of Jean Olliver. All three of these premier artists live in our area.and we are so pleased to show their work here in Richmond.
Of course, we also have all our artists' work on display but these three painters are featured for the next few weeks.

"River's Song", oil, 8x16, by Chuck Rawle AVAILABLE

"A Warm Summer Day", oil, 9 x 10 by Chuck Rawle, AVAILABLE

99 Cent Special, oil by Steve Conrad

Summer Showtime

Things went well for our opening and we all had a good time.  I always hope more people will come, especially to this show because it is a really good one and Reg Stark and Steve Conrad had some wonderful work.  These two are such fine artists and their work is always fresh and interesting, and so are they.  We aren't having a show in May because most of the weekends are busy with end of school parties and stuff.  But we're back in June with our first "Emerging Artists" exhibit for two talented young men just starting their careers.  I'll give you more about them soon.  In July we will have a well known Rosenberg artist who paints the rural history of our community.  In the meantime, come by and see what's left of the show as well as some new pieces from all our artists here at Morton Street Gallery.

"Lonely Farm", oil, Steve Conrad

"Casa in The Trees", oil, 18"x6", Fran Knueppel

"The Waiting Room" by Reg Stark

"The Unexpected" exhibit to open Saturday, April 24th, 5:30 to 7:30

Paintings shown will be work by Reg Stark, Steve Conrad, and Fran Knueppel.  Please see more of their work at http://www.mortonstreetgallery.net/  , http://www.thestarkcollection.com/, or http://www.i'llpaintthat.blogspot.com/.
Just to whet your interest, though, here is a sneak preview of some work.

NEXT OPENING

Our next opening will showcase three of our most popular artist, Reg Stark, Steve Conrad and Fran Knueppel.  With this group you never know what will happen so be sure to give come if you can.  Reg has been going more and more into Surrealism, and Steve Conrad....well, who knows where his mind roams.  But they're always interesting.  Stay turned and I'll soon have a sneak peek for a little enticement.

"Chisos Mountains" oil by Chuck Rawle.

Here is a sample of Chuck's work.

Straight from the Headlines

Richmond artist Chuck Rawle has work in an exhibit at the Texas State Capitol.  His works in "The Stampede Show" includes landscapes and western themes.  Chuck show here at MSG, and we are very proud for this recognition of his work.  The Stampede show will be on display in Fredericksburg through March. 

What's Up Now at MSG

We have some excellent new work at the Gallery, and a new artist Kenneth Pierce.  Kenneth does extremely detailed drawings in Prismacolor.  He is a young artist, just getting started, with a  lot of talent.  We feel he has no where to go but UP.  Also Houston Watercolorist Mark Stewart brought in some wonderful new scenes from central Texas, and Kelly Bailey has some small works that are a real departure from his detailed watercolors.  Hope you'll take the opportunity to come by and see what's new.  There is more detail on our website.

IT'S SHOWTIME AT MSG

Fran with Congressman Pete Olson & wife Nancy at Party

The Snake Charmers entertain at MSG

Successful Anniversary Party

Fun was had by all who came to our 6th Anniversary Party. " The Snake Charmers " provided great bluesy, rockin' music with Marie Angell on vocals assisted by Gail Bixler on back up.  Will Blumentritt was on bass, and Larry Meeker on guitar, and his dad Larry, Sr. subbed on drums.  For more info on the band, go to http://www.thesnakecharmers.com.   Guests enjoyed new work by the gallery artists.  Italian Maid Cafe took care of the appetites, and owners Fran and Hal Knueppel met and greeted the multitude of guests.  For those who couldn't make it the exhibit contines through March, 2000.

Work by Fran Knueppel

New Work by Gallery Artists

"Feeling Blue" by Wm Kelly Bailey

NEWS ABOUT OUR ARTISTS

Watercolorist, Wm Kelly Bailey's painting "Feeling Blue" was selected by the Houston area author, Jo Hoye, to be on the cover of her new book, "Living the Blues".
He's also going to be doing quick sketch portraits at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts on Feb. 14th , at the opening of the John Singer Sargent Exhibition.  He will be located by the "Curtain" sculpture next to the entry doors on the West side of the Beck Building, under the porte cochere, from 12:30 to 4:30.  So stop by, see the wonderful exhibit, and say "hello" to Kelly.  And of course get a quick sketch while you're there.  Good going Kelly.