Acadiana Center for the Arts- 101 W. Vermilion St. / 337-233-7060
Main Gallery: August 14 - September 25, 2010- Michel Varisco: Shifting
Side Gallery: September 11 - October 1, 2010- Louise Guidry
Vault Series: August 14 - September, 25 2010- Kelly Guidry

Architects + Artists- 200 Jefferson St. / 337-232-0000

Cajun Spice- 535 Jefferson St / 337-232-3061

Cité des Arts- 109 Vine St. / 337-291-1122

Galerie Eclaireuse- 535 Jefferson St. / 337-234-5492

Gallery 549- 549 Jefferson St. / 337-593-0796- "Brush With Hope"- group exhibition to benefit the Jacob Crouch Foundation for the prevention of suicide

Gallery R (at The Russo Group)- 116 E. Congress St. / 337-769-1530

Pottery Alley- 205 W. Vermilion St. / 337-267-4453

Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery- 219 E. Vermilion St. / 337-266-7999

Whoojoo Stained Glass- 532 Jefferson St. / 337-269-9310

Detail from "Survival of the Fittest" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2010

There are currently three sites posting my work, two of which include new interviews. First, as mentioned in an older post, my work was selected for inclusion on the beinArt Surreal Art Collective site. If you are unfamiliar with the site, it is an online collection of surrealist works by renowned artists (many are my personal heroes) such as Ron English, Laurie Lipton, and Kris Kuksi. I'm really excited and honored to have my work included among such great artists. Check out my profile at beinArt.org-Artists-Amy Guidry.

Two recent interviews are posted online as well. First, I had an interview with Guy Sangster Adams of the U.K.'s "Plectrum- The Cultural Pick." It's a great interview and Mr. Adams had some wonderful comments about my work so check it out at Plectrum-Exhibition/New Work Preview and Interview:Amy Guidry.

The second interview was with Silvia Moreno-Garcia of the Canadian zine, Innsmouth Free Press. Another round of interesting questions, which you can check out on their site at Innsmouth Free Press- Interview:Amy Guidry.

Artist Amy Guidry with her work at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall

No one cares about your art more than you do. It's true. It's not unlike showing your vacation photos to everyone. They mean well, but after about two minutes, the enthusiasm wears off and their eyes glaze over. I was inspired to write this after going through some old art magazines to clear out the mountain of periodicals I've saved. I came across a rather disheartening article in a very popular magazine. The author was giving advice on how to be a successful artist. Some of the author's tips? Paint what sells- not more "complex" paintings, don't bother showing in libraries or university galleries since they don't generate sales (museums usually don't either, but I don't know an artist alive that wouldn't jump at the chance to show in a museum), and sell on Ebay- specifically bright, colorful, quick paintings- no drawings. Even I know better than this and I found it depressing! I can only imagine what other artists must think.

So this is what leads me to my frustration. I don't care who they are or if they mean well, no one truly cares about your art or your art career as much as you do. This is why you are the only one that can determine what your goals are and if, at the end of the day, you've done all that you can to achieve those goals. Don't listen to the naysayers, the haters, the critics, the cynics, or the non-believers. What do they know anyway? Even some of the experts can't always predict what you, personally, need to do. That's why it's up to you to take in all this information and filter through it and find what is applicable and toss away what's not. You know what you need to do. You know if your work is the best it can be. You know what you should create. If you try to "paint what sells," you'll be chasing your tail for quite some time. Popularity changes as do marketing trends. Something that sells one day, won't the next. That's why there are trend analysts that make a living at this. Great work is great work and it will attract its own popularity. And while I'm at it- if you were to avoid university galleries, libraries, museums, or any other venue for fear of little to no sales, you wouldn't be an artist, would you? I couldn't imagine not having the experience of seeing art, especially when I was a student, at a university gallery or museum. Some of the most significant shows of our time come from these venues.

In my own personal experience, I've heard it all. I've been told what I should paint, how I should paint, and I've even had a drunk non-artist tell me what is and isn't art. When I made the decision to paint and to try to get into a gallery exhibit, even one of my "good" friends told me that I couldn't do it. It's a good thing I didn't listen to any of these people, otherwise I may not have even been an artist at all. Anyone listening to that kind of advice would quit before even starting. Don't make that mistake. If you're already a working artist, just keep on trucking. If you're just starting out, stay focused and put your blinders on. And maybe invest in some good ear plugs.

Being a true artist takes grit. There's a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and you'll need to develop a thick skin. However, I can't imagine a more rewarding experience.  I always like to think of these words by Ralph Waldo Emerson:  "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

If you'd like to learn more about my own work and what I've been up to, check out my website at www.AmyGuidry.com.

"Untitled (Heads)" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2010

One of my most recent works has found a new home already. My painting, "Untitled (Heads)," sold while at Wally Workman Gallery's 30th Anniversary exhibit in Austin. The show is still up, so if you've missed it (or would like to go again!) there is still time to see it. The exhibit ends September 4th and gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5. I should also mention that two more of my recent works are also in this exhibit- "The Wild West" and "Survival of the Fittest." So if you're in the area, be sure to get a look at these in person since photos can never do the art justice. For more information, visit www.WallyWorkmanGallery.com. And if you would like to see my entire portfolio, visit www.AmyGuidry.com.

"Everything's Coming Up Roses" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2010

Yes, I know that titling this "Homecoming" conjures up thoughts of football and brightly colored taffeta. However, that's not the type of homecoming I'm referring to. I'm exhibiting in the "Where Are They Now" exhibit at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall in Slidell, Louisiana.  I was a student in the Talented Art Program during my junior high and high school days in St. Tammany Parish, so as an arts professional, I have been invited back to take part of their exhibit. The Times Picayune recently posted an article about the show, featuring one of my paintings- the direct link - www.nola.com.  (Though it was too late to correct this for the papers, my work was featured on MTV's Real World: Hollywood, not New Orleans.)  Opening night will be this Friday- August 27th from 7-9pm.  The exhibit will remain up through September 25th at City Hall.

I also found out that the Slidell Commission on the Arts has selected my work to be featured in a solo exhibition in the 2011-2012 cultural season.  The exhibit will take place at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall.  I'll be sure to post more details closer to time.  More information regarding shows can be found at www.AmyGuidry.com.  You can also sign up for my newsletter on the Contact page of my site.

Amy Guidry's painting "Food or Pet? How Do You Decide", Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX

I get a lot of visits to my website. Most of those are from people genuinely interested in my art. But then there are those that are not. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE to hear from people. I love to answer questions- really, I can give you numerous examples. And I help out those that ask me for my advice, opinion, etc. However, on occasion I get an email from someone that clearly did not look at my site or if they did, they decided to ignore it. So in this post, I'm going to take a recent inquiry and use this as an educational opportunity. (Don't worry, I'm not outing anyone.)

How to approach a gallery: (Note- for those that keep assuming I'm a gallery- I'm not- so please don't ask me to show your work)

First, do your homework. Check out galleries that you think may like your work. Never just blindly send out your portfolio, resume, what have you to a gallery without determining if they're the right fit. And this should go without saying, but be sure that they are a gallery! Attend openings, meet curators, dealers, gallery owners and directors. If you can't physically make it to a gallery, at the very least, you should check out their space online. Get to know the artists that they show. Can you see your work fitting in with a group exhibit of these artists?

Once you've determined which gallery or galleries you are interested in, you should prepare your presentation. These days, email is so common (sometimes it's preferred) that I think it is okay to submit your work via email. However, if a gallery has a submissions policy, be sure to abide by that. If not, they'll toss your work in the trash. If the submissions policy is not a clearly stated link on their website, try looking under the Contact Us page. If there is absolutely no information, contact the gallery for their guidelines.

Whether you submit your work via email or postal mail, be sure that your presentation is professional. First, get the name of the person you need to contact. Whether it's the director, the curator, or the manager, find out their name. I know from personal experience, many just blindly send an email without even acknowledging my name. Why would I want to show their work (again, I'm not a gallery, but let's pretend for a second) if they don't even know who I am? So find out their name. Google it, ask someone, or contact the gallery itself- just find out!

The rest is easy. This is where you should put together your bio and/or resume, portfolio, and any other relevant information. You should have all of these at your fingertips already, but if not, now is the time to start. Make sure that all of your information and images are up to date. And be sure to spell check! It's the little things that matter, so be sure to dot your i's and cross your t's.

If you send your information via email, be sure to use small image files. If you load down their inbox, they won't be happy or they may not even receive your information at all. It could bounce or end up in a spam filter. So keep it small- 4MB total is best.

Sounds simple, and it really is if you keep everything up to date, but I'm surprised by how many artists don't follow these golden rules. Again, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. www.AmyGuidry.com

Oh, and for more photos from the 30th Anniversary exhibit, check out Michael Barnes's post on Austin360.com. I am featured in one of the photos from the opening- here is the direct link- www.Austin360.com. And to view more of my work, visit www.AmyGuidry.com.

Installation view of Amy Guidry's work at The Alamo, Lafayette, LA

Two posts today... lots going on, but I wanted to inform everyone of Lafayette's Artwalk schedule for this month. Artwalk happens this Saturday, August 14th in downtown Lafayette, LA. Gallery showings are as follows:

Acadiana Center for the Arts- 101 W. Vermilion St. / 337-233-7060
Main Gallery: August 14 - September 25, 2010- Michel Varisco: Shifting
Side Gallery: August 14 - September 4, 2010- Rajko Radovanovic: Last Line of Defense
Vault Series: August 14 - September, 25 2010- Kelly Guidry

Cajun Spice- 535 Jefferson St / 337-232-3061- Tina Thibodaux: Reflections

Cité des Arts- 109 Vine St. / 337-291-1122- 23 Photographs by Angelle-Leigh

Galerie Eclaireuse- 535 Jefferson St. / 337-234-5492- "Louisiana Landscapes" group show featuring the work of Erin Chance-Fenstermaker, Pegi Derby, Colleen McDaniel, Jane Noble, Steve Schneider, Jon Schooler and Dennis Sipiorski

Gallery 549- 549 Jefferson St. / 337-593-0796- Donald LeBlanc- "Landscapes and Little Head Totems"

Gallery R (at The Russo Group)- 116 E. Congress St. / 337-769-1530- Artwork of Michael Russo

Pottery Alley- 205 W. Vermilion St. / 337-267-4453- Art Under Wraps

Another bit of news to mention- Avi Abrams of Dark Roasted Blend recently featured my work as part of their Surreal Art Update.  It can be found under the page "Schizophrenic Episode Simulation." View it at Dark Roasted Blend. And to view more of my work, be sure to visit www.AmyGuidry.com.

"Survival of the Fittest" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2010

Well, after several months of diligent painting, I have finally finished my latest work. The photos here don't do it justice since this piece is insanely detailed and a fairly good size, so check out the larger pic on my website at www.AmyGuidry.com. This painting is from my "In Our Veins" series and is acrylic on canvas, 36 inches wide by 18 inches high. I almost forgot- the title is "Survival of the Fittest." I've always been interested in the notion that one species will harm their own kind in order to survive. In addition, humans will use other species for their own survival, hence the cows. The cows that are falling (or jumping or floating- that's the viewer's call) are injuring the cows below them. They are reminiscent of the images from slaughterhouses I've seen of cows hanging from large hooks, while the cows below mimic those that have been skinned or butchered. To summarize, the entire image is surreal and maybe even a bit absurd, but I think many times the reasons we kill, be it animals or humans, are absurd.

If you would like to see this painting in person, it is currently at Wally Workman Gallery and will be part of their 30th Anniversary exhibit. The opening and blowout party is August 7th from 6-8pm at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX.