Occupy Wall Space 2: Art Show Promotes Love, Art, and Houston Artists

This week, I’ll highlight ways that artists, designers, and photographers are using Valentine’s Day as a way to promote more personalized and meaningful gifts.  Let’s start with a Valentine’s Art Show and Market in Houston designed to benefit area artists.

A Celebration of Many Facets of Love

With all the turmoil, struggle, division, and inequality in the world, maybe what the world needs now is an art show to pay tribute to love in all its forms. At least that’s what Houston photographer and antique dealer Gordon Greenleaf believes.

So, when he decided to do a follow up to the first “Occupy Wall Space” art show he held last November, he settled on Sunday, February 12 as the date and chose this theme: “Occupy Wall Space 2 – For Love and Art, A Valentine’s Market.” The event will be held at Rudyard’s British Pub, 2010 Waugh Drive, Houston, from 4 to 8 pm.

Greenleaf started the “Occupy Wall Space” show as a way to help local artists sell their work with no upfront gallery fees or deducted commissions. The first event was an impromptu show at Cecil’s Pub in Houston. Artists were charged nothing to show their work, and kept all of the proceeds from their sales.

“It is difficult enough for aspiring artists to make a little return on their art,” says Greenleaf. “Of course, art galleries need to make money to stay alive and viable. And most Houston galleries do a great job and have the Houston art community’s best interests at heart. But some just charge the artist for wall space and then really don’t do much to promote the show or get buyers in.”

Greenleaf believes his event will actually help the art galleries and the entire art community by directing people to other places that the artists show their work.

“But primarily my goal is to put a little extra money in the artist’s pocket and promote their talent,” he says. “And by showing at some unusual, non-typical venues, the art gets to some people who may not otherwise seek out the galleries.”  If the public can buy works from up-and-coming artists at more affordable prices, Greenleaf regards it as a situation that benefits everyone.

Greenleaf reports that his first Occupy Wall Space show brought in a large number of people and most of the artists sold work.

For the Big-Hearted and Broken-Hearted

Some people ask him if the Occupy Wall Space moniker represents a political affiliation. “Absolutely not,” Greenleaf says. “Alluding to Occupy is simply a tip of the hat to those who would protect the little guy and his free speech.”

As for the Valentine’s Day theme, Greenleaf says, “A lot of people write off Valentine’s Day as just another big business commercial day, created to make more money from the hardworking citizen. But I envisage that it could also be a day for celebrating love in all its colors through art: romantic love, love of life, love of country, love of family, love of food and drink, brotherly love, sisterly love, love of humanity, erotica, even love of dogs and cats.”

At the upcoming show local artists will hint at, portray or poke fun at some of love’s many facets with painting, drawings, photographs, cartoons, jewelry and sculpture.
Greenleaf is promoting it as a show “for the erotic and the neurotic, and for the big-hearted and the broken-hearted.” He expects the afternoon to be more of a party than an art show.

Some of the artists to be featured in the show include:

  • B.D. Himes – Cartoon men and women
  • Tara Jordan-Greenleaf – 3D paintings
  • Johnny Rojas- Sculpture in Iron
  • Tracy Pierce – Found object art
  • Bhavana – Eastern and spiritual influenced art
  • Lynn Chapman – Blue ladies and Vivid hearts
  • Robin Winfrey – Brazen photography of women
  • Gordon Greenleaf- Then & Now (35yrs of photos)

Vendors at the show will be offering gifts such as handmade valentines, french postcard art, pin-up art, homemade chocolates (made with local honey), nautical items and Hawaiian shirts. Greg Harbar will provide gypsy music, and the owner of Rudyard’s Pub will be offering champagne specials.

FACEBOOK: Occupy Wall Space 2