FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE CONTACT: Melodie Spears
Phone: 512-345-0706
Email:
melodie@spiritechoes.com
SPIRIT ECHOES, INC.
SECOND ANNUAL FINE ART FESTIVAL
Austin,
Texas (4/1/05) - Spirit Echoes, Inc.
announces the second annual Spirit
Echoes, Inc. Fine Art Festival, an event that is quickly becoming known for
it’s exceptional quality of craftsmanship and diversity of artwork.
WHAT: The juried festival will feature an array of unique hand-made items on
exhibit and for sale by over 100 quality artisans from Texas and across the
United States. Everything from bronze
sculptures, paintings, drawings, pastels, hand blown glass and ceramics, to contemporary and Native American
jewelry, fetishes, photography and woven garments.
WHEN: July 9th
& 10th, 2005
WHERE: The Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas
900 Barton Springs Rd.
OTHER: Various artists will be demonstrating
their media on Saturday and there will be lots of "hands on" arts & crafts activities for the
children. Donations for children's activities go to VSA
Arts of Texas - assisting artists with disabilities.
COST: $5.00 Teens & Adults
$2.00
Children (Children under 7 are free.)
(Portion of proceeds to benefit VSA)
INFO: For more information call event
organizer, Ms. Melodie Spears, at 512-345-0706 or visit www.spiritechoes.com.
# # #
Beyond Unique: Jewelry Designs by Barry Perez
The 2005 Spirit Echoes SHOWCASE ARTIST
It
has been said that an artist has “come into his own” when each piece he creates
is totally different and unique, yet there is a commonality that is immediately
recognizable. Such is the case with the
unusual jewelry designs of Barry Perez.
Having studied anthropology, his work is a unique mixture of different
cultures with an obvious influence from Asia.
He uses various metals, including sterling silver, 18k and 22k gold, and
incorporates different stones, both precious and semiprecious, as well as found
objects.
“I
look for something unique in my stones – they have to pique my interest to
motivate me,” relates Perez. “I am
always thinking of how I could incorporate things that I see into my designs. I
could never let myself go to gem shows too often because it is entirely too
much fun and I could spend five years’ income in one day if I let myself!”
Barry
travels across the United States participating in dozens of shows annually as a
full time professional artist. When
asked about what drives him, his comments reflect on job satisfaction. “When I
listen to my friends talk about interpersonal conflicts at their office, about
facing traffic every morning of their lives, about evil or ignorant bosses…
when I hear these things I remember why I work for myself. When I am excited about a new piece that I
have just created there is nobody around to pop my bubble by telling me it
doesn’t fit with the mission statement or corporate vision.”
Perez’ work is often more sculpture than jewelry, art to be displayed on the body. He has won “Best of Show” and “Best in Jewelry” in numerous juried festivals nationwide including the Spirit Echoes First Annual Art Festival last year, thus the illustrious title of “Showcase Artist” for 2005. The Spirit Echoes Fine Art Festival is proud to honor Barry Perez this year and encourage the public to visit his booth #302 and meet this quiet, unpretentious, and extremely talented artisan.
News Release April 1, 2005
Spirit
Echoes Fine Art Festival For Immediate Release
Honoring
the Spirit of Creativity…
Renowned
Artists Join Disabled For Unique Art Festival
The Spirit Echoes Second Annual Art Festival finds a
new home this year at the Palmer Events Center at 900 Barton Springs Rd on July
9th & 10th. The show promises to have an interesting mix
of original one-of-a-kind treasures by well known artists from across the
United States, as well as the works of artists challenged by their own personal
disability. Over 200 artists applied to
participate and 95 were accepted.
Coming from Santa Fe, New Mexico for the event is
renowned artist, Amado Pena. Amado paints images depicting the essence of the Southwest
with bold colors, forms and dynamic compositions that capture a vision of a
people, a land, and its art.
Individuals and major corporations from across the nation have collected
Pena’s work for decades. Also traveling from New Mexico will be Sabine Becker,
a spokesperson throughout the U.S. who advocates disability awareness. Sabine creates “Spirit Dancer” dolls with
only the use of her feet, for she was born with small arms due to her mother’s
use of the prescription drug, Thalidomide.
Sabine will be demonstrating her media on Saturday.
Texas artist, George Boutwell will be on hand
exhibiting his typical Texas bluebonnets and southwestern landscapes as well as
vintage automobiles, while Jo Slight will be displaying her images of fish,
flowers, and animals. Jo experiences her world as oceans of noise and flashes
of light through her autism. She learned as a child to “turn off” her ears and
focus on small visual details. After
fifteen years of speech therapy, she created art as her primary form of
communication. Other accomplished
painters in the show include Karen Vernon (water color), Ken Muenzenmayer
(acrylic), and scratchbord artist, Sally Maxwell.
Hand blown glass artist, Dierk Van Keppel from
Kansas will be displaying his colorful original glass vessels at the event,
while weaver Patricia Day, of Wimberley adds her luxurious hand-woven garments
and scarves. Sculpture, ceramics and
mixed media booths will be exhibiting in addition to the selection of jewelry
at the show, which promises to be outstanding.
From vintage and contemporary southwestern jewelry by Zuni and Navajo
Native Americans, to contemporary gold and silver jewelry by Barry Perez, Tami
Kegley and Gail Kincaid. Eighteen
jewelry booths will include beaded, sterling silver, gold, hand cut stones and
inlaid pieces as well.
For a donation, the kids
will love the Kid’s Krafts area sponsored by VSA Arts of Texas, serving artists
with disabilities. Demonstrations by
artists will take place at the top of every hour on Saturday. Spirit Echoes Fine Art Festival hours are 10
AM – 7:00 PM Sat., July 9th and 11 AM – 5:00PM on Sun., July 10th. Admission is $5 for Adults & Teens, $2
for children (under 7 free). A portion
of the proceeds of the event benefits VSA. For more information call
512-345-0706 or visit the web site at www.spiritechoes.com