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		Home January 31, 2009 Janette Kennedy Gallery Dallas, TX Photos by Jenice Johnson and Dee Hill
		Art Love Magic: Underground By Ufilm house View in HD Download 720p Version Visit Ufilm house's ExposureRoom Videos Page	Photo by Dee Hill
		a report of ArtLoveMagic's Underground by Deborah Driscoll
		Welcome to ArtLoveMagic. These words were sung silentely, and spoken out rightly into all ears in attendance on January, 31st 2009 at the Janette Kennedy art gallery. ArtLoveMagic is in its third year, demanding effortlessly the attention and imagination of artists and art enthusiasts, alike. The name given to this event, 'Underground', featuring Dallas hidden talents, put emphasis on the scene that has been pushing its head up and through the concrete that was paved over it for a decade or better. Dallas was once a Mecca for art and live music with the influence of Deep Ellum and all the eccentric characters who urged it forward. This is not a flash back in time...the city is waking up. And the coffee is strong. At 8pm lines of eager attendees were already formed at both entrances. The staff of volunteers were glowing, greeting each person into the spectacle of mixed media art, with live (and sometimes solely improvised) music, Pulitzer Prize winning photography and interactive adventures. If the entrance you graced was to the main Gallery, you were welcomed by enlightened, karma-colored-pencil drawings by Kelly Ervin; and by bright, Amazonian women in painted flesh created by Riki Johnson. The space located inside of South Side on Lamar is typically set up as any other gallery with framed art for sale on each of its walls, a few centerpieces, and of course the price tags. What generally is missing from these galleries is so obvious that we usually take that lacking for granted - the creators responsible for the artwork. Photo by Jenice Johnson Photo by Jenice Johnson	Check out photos by Hal Samples, Jenice Johnson, Dee Hill, Flickr Photo credit unknown
		ArtLoveMagic is known now for its ability and continuing mission to get these talented artists to interact and "break down the walls" between themselves and the audience. As for the price tags, the artists are conscious of this city, its diverse people, and the need to offer inspiring pieces at varying price points. Owning something special from a night to remember was as affordable as $20. The painters, musicians, jewelers, graphic artists, and sculptors were warmly enthusiastic towards the guests that walked curiously through the exhibits, taking care to explain unique pieces and answer questions about how they are made, what type of materials and mediums are used, and the inspiration behind their ideals. The opportunity to really grasp the heartbeat of art that speaks to your soul is a rarely granted jewel in this atmosphere, and begs to question why that is.

		Watch Artist C. Kirk at ArtLoveMagic 1/31/9 in Entertainment Videos \| View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com		Why, indeed would anyone now want to hang a piece in their homes, listen to an album in their cars, or place freshly cut flowers in anything other than the truth and beauty of individualized art? Why would you now bother going to some generic store to buy a framed print-off of some generic couple kissing in Paris when you can instead commission an ethereal, all-pencil portrait of the real you kissing the real love of your life in diamond definition from ArtLoveMagic artist, Jason Kinney? This
		event didn't just break down the walls...it evolved the way many people think of art and its impact on their lives and the world.

		Live music was in the middle of it all, so as to completely saturate each attendee with the concept of this event. Not only were their eyes seeing, their hands joining in and their mouths moving in conversation; their ears were being tantalized by dulcet vocals, thought-provoking spoken word poetry and body-moving beats. The sounds thrived not only in the main gallery, but also downstairs from the second stage. Pottery spun and paint flung while an open stage continuously put the spotlight on local Dallas singer/songwriters and improvisational delights. The headliner for this stage was a medley of guitar masters who had never played together before, creating a truly exclusive ArtLoveMagic experience for the attentive audience to savor. Fresh folks joined in, lending beat boxing, pacifying vocals, ardent harmonicas, buoyant tambourine jingles and the audience clapped along in time. Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, David Leeson who appeared at ArtLoveMagic's "Visions" show, was back again and better than ever, dynamically working
			Photo by Roderick Pena
		with live subjects, throwing paint and neon dyed powder at each, and then literally spitting mineral water into their faces. The colors splattered on bare skin, and gyrating passion that moved each of them under David's directive instantly became a part of that subjects' being, and livened the crowd that witnessed it. Electric movement from one of its participants, and original founding member of ArtLoveMagic, Michael Lagocki was powerful enough to keep a huddled audience hanging onto each moment...involuntary sighs and gasps of revelry and effervescent marvel surrounded the experience in the radiance of an untamed clarity. No wonder Dallas is waking up. Welcome to ArtLoveMagic.
		David Leeson shooting Michael Lagocki at Underground: Photo by Jenice Johnson Riki Johnson's interactive paint: Photo by Roderick Pena Photo by Jen Shu Proposing at ArtLoveMagic Thanks to LA Gourmet Pizza for bringing us some incredible pizza for our performers! Return to the top