Art's Art
A Retrospective of the Many Moods of Art Priddy

August 3 - August 24, 2008
Opening: 2 - 4PM on Sunday, August 3, 2008

	"In the Garden" by Art Priddy, Watercolor.

“Art’s Art” includes many media, but most pieces are in his favorite….watercolor.  Visitors to the exhibit will also see oils, woods, weavings, ink, marker and mixed media pieces along with his design work. Priddy’s works have been in one-man shows and traveling exhibits and are in private collections all over the United States including those of lawyers, college instructors, physicians, and libraries.

Priddy was born and raised in Kanopolis, KS, the son of a salt miner. He has a BS degree in Elementary Education and M.S. degree in Art from Fort Hays State University. After teaching fifth and sixth grades in Tescott, he moved to Russell in the fall of 1957 and taught fifth grade for ten years.  The remainder of his career was as an elementary art teacher in Russell, Gorham and Dorrance. 

In his retirement, Priddy maintains a variety of interests. He was involved with the conception of the Russell’s Original Art Review (R.O.A.R) in 1968 and in some capacity with every art show since, including positions as chairman, co-chairman, and committee member.  Live theater is also one of his passions.  Priddy had a part in Russell’s first community play in 1976. Since then, he has been an actor, director and assistant director, and has designed posters and programs for over 20 productions. He holds theatre season tickets in many nearby cities and has enjoyed plays and musical theatre across the nation and in Europe.

Clowning has been a real joy for Art Priddy. He has entertained many children and elderly over the years and was part of God’s Clods, a clown ministry group.  He also collects clowns, books and records.  A small portion of his clown collection will be the Deines Cultural Center during his exhibit.

Priddy to Be at Closing Coffee
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Closing: 2 - 4PM

The August exhibit at the Deines Cultural Center, “Art’s Art…..a retrospective of the many moods of Art Priddy,” closes with a coffee with the artist on Sunday, August 24th, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Priddy was unable to be at the opening for his show, but plans to attend the closing festivities. 

Art Priddy is well known in the Russell area both as a career art teacher and as his clown character. A small portion of his clown collection, many of which have been gifts from community members, are part of the Deines Cultural Center exhibit. “Art’s Art” includes many media, but most pieces are in watercolor, his favorite. 

Deines Cultural Center hours are 12:30 – 5:30 Tuesday through Friday and 1:00 – 5:00 Saturday and Sunday. The Center is located at 820 N. Main and is accessible to those with disabilities.

Artist's Statement

	Art Priddy

My work is rather eclectic as I’ve included many different styles, colors, moods, media and subject matters. In my travels all over the United States and in much of Europe I was fortunate to see many exhibits of artworks by masters from many eras of history. In studying these masterworks, I have tried using many of their techniques and adapted them to my purposes. Some of the masterpieces and exhibits included Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Matisse, Mondrian, Monet, Caravaggio, Cezanne, Picasso, Dali, Degas, Escher, da Vinci, Miro, Munch, Manet, Rembrandt, Rodin, Seurat, Birger Sandzen, and many, many more! Over the past fifty years of my life, I have haunted local exhibits, galleries, museums, and any other art shows it is possible for me to attend.

Although watercolor is my favorite medium, I often use many different ones to achieve my goal. Each painting was deliberately unique as I would want to create a certain feeling or mood such as a feeling of calm and quiet as in "The Hawaiian Coast," "Sunrise," and "Tranquil Mountain." "Fire Mountain," "The Lightning Bolt," and "The Eruption" portray power and excitement. "Lefty" and the Simpson School murals are humorous.

Impressionism inspired me to do "Spring in the Dunes," "Bouquet and "In the Garden" as it gives a soft pleasant look at the world.

When you see my abstract paintings, please don’t just pass them by--take time to read the title: it may give you a clue as to its purpose. If you take a long look at "Tranquility," the colors and placement of the shapes will give you a feeling of peace and contentment. "Into Space" can pull you in with a feeling of huge depth if you give it a chance. It may take awhile for you to see "The Jester’s Face," but you will see it plainly when you find it: look for the large oval. "Abstract in Brown and Black" and "White Study" were meant to be pleasing to the eye. The placement of color and shape say it all.

"Reitzel’s Basement" and "Mrs. Louder’s Window" are from personal experiences. I merely painted or drew what I saw around me as Vincent van Gogh did. I lived in Mrs. Reitzel’s basement apartment for seven years. This was my window and part of my palm tree. Mrs. Louder was a different matter. She was retiring after fifty years of teaching. The majority of the drawing depicts the front of Simpson School and the window of Mrs. Louder’s room with geraniums in the sunlight. Overhead is the older North Side School where she taught and two things she loved--children and birds.

The last one I’ll discuss is not a pleasant picture and was not meant to be hung in your home. It simply depicts what Hades is like, not as former artists showed it. Revelations says it is a lake of fire and people who are there will be isolated from all others in the dark.

I’m glad you have come to see “Art’s Art...the Many Moods of Art Priddy.” You will surely see some artistic expressions you’ll like.

Art Priddy