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Sell your soul on Walnut Street

Artlandish Gallery hosts a blues-inspired art show.

By Emily Voss

Published Sept. 24, 2010

While walking down Walnut Street, you might not notice what looks like a rather small building. What you wouldn’t expect is this building houses both an indoor and outdoor stage and has played host to more than 100 artists’ work. Its basement is home to a number of artists' studios and even a pink piano in a corner room. Artlandish Gallery, which opened only one year ago, might appear small, but the artistic passion inside reminds visitors that this is no hole in the wall.

“We cater to the slightly strange,” owner Lisa Bartlett said. “We’re not your typical art gallery with just nature art, although I do embrace that art, and it is here.”

For the first time, Artlandish Gallery is partnering with Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ to put on an exhibit of blues art. The show, Roots ‘N Blues ‘N Smokin’ Art, opened Thursday, Sept. 23 and runs until Oct. 22, with an event Friday, Oct. 8 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during Artrageous.

“I want this to be a come and just relax, no-stress type of event,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett has had her work displayed at various locations every year of the Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ festival, but this year she is the featured artist. Her art was featured on the posters and will also be displayed at the festival.

“Lisa’s paintings of blues musicians are wonderful examples (of blues art) to me,” local artist Marilyn Cummins said in an e-mail. “They clearly sing the blues.”

Even though Bartlett’s work will not be at the exhibit, 20 other artists’ work, including Cummins’, will be displayed with more than 30 submissions. Almost all the artists featured are local artists. The submissions are diverse and don't just include works done on canvas.

“I’m not all that interested in blues,” local artisan Lawrence L’Hote said in an e-mail. “I just found this really funky, old trombone at a flea market and decided to put something together. It’s called ‘Ole Wilson.’”

Students have even had the opportunity to get involved with the gallery and exhibit. Senior Christopher Coyne began an internship with Artlandish in June. He is interested in how the viewers interpret the art.

“Blues music and lyrics are very emotional and powerful from every note to every syllable, just like every line or brush stroke in a painting should be,” Coyne said in an e-mail. “Those lines and lyrics mean the world to the artist, or at least they should, but it is about the listener or viewer who really makes the piece significant or not.”

Until Oct. 22, Artlandish gallery is giving you the opportunity to be that listener and viewer with its Roots ‘N Blues ‘N Smokin’ Art show. And you won’t have to sacrifice your soul to participate.

“The good thing about being a fine artist is that I don’t have to go down to the crossroads near Dockery Plantation and sell my soul to the Devil like Robert Johnson so he could become the greatest blues man of all time,” Coyne said. “But maybe I will try someday.”