YOU / Jeannie Gayle Pool

Jeannie Gayle Pool has a resume that would be the envy of anyone.  She is a composer of concert music, author of books, biographer, musicologist and a water color artist who likes to paint in the desert sometimes. She has a whole bunch of other credits, too.  Her love of the desert shows in her landscape with Coyote and YOU. 

Jeannie's YOU is the final panel, Number Sixty in an installation of sixty artists.   Her assistance and advice for this exhibit have been invaluable.  How lucky we all are. 
Michael Sheehan

IV / Deborah Ashe`

Deborah Ashe is a musician and an artist among other talents.  Her mysterious panel in the installation has IV on it that was added in green masking tape after it was hung.  Use your imagination. It's there.  "Ask not what your country can do FOR you. "

DO / Jeanne Louise Gallo

Jeanne Gallo is an artist and a dancer and a traveling woman.  She supports the arts. She paints amazing water colors.  Creates collage and assemblage within travel diaries or mail art while keeping her San Francisco home a living breathing work of art.  I'm a fan.  Her "DO" is perfect for this woman who is always doing something!

CAN / Kelvin J. Erazo

When the email blast went out to announce the Project, it was open to all comers.  I was very happy to hear from Kelvin Erazo, a high school student in... I think... Hollywood.  He is enthusiastic and full of energy. He took what seemed to be a very simple assignment and blew it out of the water.  His rendition of  CAN gets it done.  

The July Fourth Project closes Sunday, August 26th.  Artists will be notified as to the time to come and meet other artists and boosters and pick up their work. 

COUNTRY / Shree Hingnikar

Glendale Art Association painter / mover and shaker, Shree Hingnikar, is the lone architect in the Project.  His enjoyment of  pleine air landscape painting and figures / portraits all come   together in his depiction of COUNTRY.  

Shree's use of the cardboard panel adding to the texture and challenge of making the piece are representative of his well known fine work on more traditional materials.  He and the GAA have been welcoming and supportive of the Project, for which we are grateful. 

YOUR / Matthew R. Ohm

The connection to the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery yielded several fine artists for the Project. Matthew Ohm was on hand when I stopped by to connect with others there who had requested the opportunity to contribute a panel.  His YOUR is simple and to the point.  The use of cardboard and simple materials was to reflect the notion that interesting art can be created just about anywhere with any type of material. 

WHAT / Friedman and Lemoine

Glendale City Council Person Laura Friedman and Guillaume Lemoine collaborated to create their WHAT for the July Fourth Project. Ms Friedman has long been an arts advocate for the City of Glendale vocally and now personally.  The only elected member of the Glendale City Council who has responded to the call for artists, Ms Friedman's support and active participation should be noted and constituents should remember her advocacy when electing City officials in the future.  Thanks to Mr. Lemoine, too! Note the background images in this computer generated piece. WHAT? indeed, we need to ask when it comes to support for the Arts not only in Glendale, but in our country, as well.

NOT / Regina Wolford

Regina Wolford lives way out in the Valley. She (and her husband)  came all the way to Glendale to pick up her panel and then back to the Gas Station, to deliver it.  I almost changed the quote, but it would have left her lovely NOT out in the Cold.  (JFK's admonition "Ask Not What your Country can do for you" almost became "Ask what you can do for your country. "  Of course, the idea is to spark everyone's memories of all these familiar phrases, so that in viewing the Kennedy quote from his 1963 inaugural speech my hope is that not only the second part of that quote autoloads into the memory, but in other quotes extensions or the words that came before or after the quote may come to mind. 

ASK / Alta Dunst

Photographer Alta Dunst taught high school English, raised kids and is now a fine arts photographer in Colorado Springs. She's now involved with writing her first book. 

 Her photos are imaginative and document her adventures.  Her ASK is made up of images she caught in Colorado on camera, fashioned into the design she shares here.  We learned that even expensive double stick tape has its limitations, but her artwork survives the heat of the Gas Station Gallery very well! #52 of Sixty panels. 

EVENTS / Paul Chamberlain

Paul Chamberlain is a stalwart member of the Glendale Art Association, painter and all around good guy.  His landscapes are legendary.  His rendition of EVENTS, as with many of the contributors to the July Fourth Project, takes full advantage of the natural qualities of the cardboard.  
Four weeks to go. Come see the art at 1020 E. Palmer, Glendale, CA 91205

OF HUMAN / Iris Rose

One of the first artists to sign on for the July Fourth Project was my long time friend, Iris Rose.  Iris is an artist, writer, theatre producer/director and actor.  She makes video and does performance art.  She makes music, too. 

She asked specifically for Human and got two words:  OF HUMAN.  Her wonderful felt on felt embroidery subtly discussing the journey of life and death is a stand out.  Sent all the way from New York City, she included specific instructions for mounting on the cardboard matrix and included special wire ties to secure it.  She wants to make sure that everyone who sees the panel knows that it was made by a Human. 

COURSE / Vee Oganesyan / Daily High

COURSE:  a pathway, a bearing, a way to go.  The Way? 

Vee Oganesyan's depiction of this word is straight forward, following to the letter the project guidelines to use the whole panel for the art. Nice implementation of negative space.

The Founding Fatherf fet a direct courfe to Freedom with the Declaration of Independence.  Imagine, compofing with a quill pen and no fpell check!

THE / Meg Madison

Meg Madison, a terrific photographer whom I met at the LA Municipal Art Gallery, made a point of making her "THE" using individual pixels taken from the LA River, the subject of her background photo.  When the piece began to show some issues with the heat inside the Gas Station, Meg pointed out that it's just part of the ART.  Check the installation before gravity and time creep in their petty pace.

IN / Dina Elias / Daily High

Thanks to Emily Goff at Daily High not only did art get made, but a lesson in the history of the United States got examined.  Dina Elias's IN nestles in with the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence.  One of the objectives of this art installation was to awaken us to some of the stuff that most of us take for granted. This Declaration was a big deal and when one takes the time to read the whole thing we can see that Jefferson and the Founding Fathers really and truly meant business.  

WHEN / Roger Dolin (Daily High)

We begin the final side of the July Fourth Project with muralist Roger Dolin's creation, acrylic on cardboard. This is the first word in the document that got the pot boiling: WHEN. 

Principal author, Thomas Jefferson, was elegant in his composition of the Declaration of Independence. For those who (like me) had never read the whole thing, it announces in no uncertain terms, that our United States could no longer tolerate the tyranny heaped upon it by King George III.  It's powerful.  Roger is an experienced artist whose mural work "Trees of Life" with Emily Goff and Daily High students may be seen in Glendale's Maple Park.

OF IT / Mark Lucero

Several of the pieces for the July Fourth Project were done by artists from the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery in Hollywood.  The beauty of this municipal gallery in Barnsdall Art Park is their egalitarian approach to boosting emerging as well as more established artists. 

Mark Lucero has had his work there and has also painted thousands of square feet of the walls at the gallery.  His OF IT collage completes Patrick Henry's statement bringing a little humor along with it.  The sunglasses extend behind the piece, making a photograph a bit of a challenge.

The Brand Galleries in Glendale function in much the same way that LAMAG presents shows, however, they will be closed until about 2014 for renovation.  Perhaps the City of Glendale may consider the Gas Station Gallery as a substitute for the Brand in the mean time?

THE MOST / Jeff Berman

Artist Jeff Berman uses balsa wood and brass brads to make THE MOST for Henry's speech.  Jeff also generously donated not only his art, but lugged gallons of water to the Opening Reception at the Gas Station.   Counting down the final thirty days of the Installation.  Tell a friend. Bring a lunch. Support local art!

MAKE / Rebecca and Randy Mate

The Mates, Rebecca and Randy, create MAKE with acrylics in traditional red, white and blue from Patrick Henry's firey speech.  Well involved with the Glendale Art Association, Becky has created and been acknowledged by the City of Glendale for her advocacy of Art in the City and around the world with her founding of ART DAY.  Bring a picnic.  Enjoy the park. Come see the artwork.  1020 E. Palmer 91205

TREASON / Ben Arnold

Artist / Photographer Ben Arnold combines gesso and photography for his spare rendition of TREASON. Heat inside the Gas Station made the use of binder clips necessary to make sure the piece stays together. This piece and fifty nine others await your perusal for one more month at the Gas Station in Adams Square Mini-Park.  1020 East Palmer, Glendale 91205
"Cook's" Tours arranged by appointment. Contact Michael Sheehan at directortv41 at yahoo.

THIS BE / Emily Goff

Thanks to Daily High Art Instructor Emily Goff on a couple of fronts.  Early in this project she was the only Glendale Schools teacher to respond to the call for artists. She took four panels, planning to do one herself.  Her students were so enthusiastic that she gave up her word to one of her students. (Daily High contributed the first four words of the Declaration of Independence).  Then, THIS BE became available and she stepped right in and in the spirit of the project, took the assignment and ran with it.  Acrylic on the cardboard panel.  Simple and elegant. Nice. One month to go to see the Installation.  1020 E. Palmer 91205

IF / Pat Quinn and Tim Spain

A wonderful thing about living in Adams Hill is that the old neighborhood is eclectic and filled with brilliant artists. Pat Quinn and Tim Spain, long time friends and neighbors... musicians, artists and animal lovers, too, worked together with Pat's photographs and Tim's design (I think.. he carved the panel) for the first word in a saying attributed to Patrick Henry:  IF.  Their perfect use of the provided cardboard panel follows the Guidelines to a 'T' with this Fortieth artwork in the show. 

ALL / Deirdre Anderson

Deirdre Anderson sneaked in through the back door and we are glad she did.  A calligrapher and fine artist, her ALL is simple and elegant.  She describes the work as follows: "the background is paste paper layerd with acrylic paints & stroked with combs.  The ALL was drawn/painted onto the paste paper with gouache."

Support like Deirdre's has made this installation the eclectic success it seems to be becoming.  1020 E. Palmer in Glendale, 91205.  Gallery is not tended.   Daylight viewing is great. After dark it takes on a completely different aspect. Closes about August 26, 2012.

FOR / Katie Hipke

Katie Hipke is currently studying art in college and it shows.  Coming from an arts oriented family helps.  Her mom, Laura, created THAT for the installation.  Her use of precise drawings of hands creating FOR is an inventive and well done collage on the cardboard panel.  Katie's drawings are superior to photographs of finger spelling that I've I've seen recently. 

JUSTICE / Michele Pashayi

The support of elected officials and staff at City Hall in Glendale contributes this impressive panel / JUSTICE /  by Michele Pashayi to The July Fourth Project. 

Ms Pashayi  facilitated the distribution and collection of panels from City Manager  Scott Ochoa and Councilperson Laura Friedman as well as contributing this piece herself.  Michele's piece is deceptive in its simplicity.  The neat thing about it is that her use of metallic spray paint on a white background makes the word shift and change as light changes depending on the time of day or night one visits the Gas Station Gallery.  Just over one month remains to visit the Gallery and enjoy the artwork. 

& / Kate Fredricks

Kate Fredricks' unique take on "AND" uses the ampersand &. It mirrors her love of the ukulele.  In 1889 Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian islands.  She was summarily deposed by the government of the United States.  Kate used scans of Aloha shirts and a lei for the ampersand in tribute to Hawaii's last reigning monarch.  Ironically,  Kate's & falls between Liberty and Justice, neither of which did the Hawaiian natives enjoy by the deposition of their Queen. 

LIBERTY / Scott and Sophia Ochoa

Glendale's  City Manager, Scott Ochoa collaborated with his wife, Sophia, to create their collage reflecting the spirit of LIBERTY.  

To have City Management take time to be involved in a Community Project may be an indication that the folks who run things actually care about the citizenry. What a concept! 

Number 35 of sixty panels.  The work will be returned to the artists about August 26th, so come on down. 1020 E. Palmer 91205 at Adams and Palmer in Glendale.

WITH / Teri Deaver

Artist Teri Deaver is  a practicing advocate for artists and the Arts.  Her WITH examines this conjunction's relationship with other ideas and things. As chair of the Glendale Arts Commission, Teri remains a valuable  interpreter of how the City works vis a vis the Arts.  

PEOPLE / Rob Reger

Rob Reger is an artist with many interests.  His "Emily the Strange" has morphed into dozens of books, products (including a special edition Gibson guitar) and is burgeoning around the world.  His paintings and recent collages (as seen in his contribution PEOPLE) are (or were) available at the Minna 111 Gallery in San Francisco.  http://www.111minnagallery.com/2011/rob-reger-2/

An artist, musician, entrepreneur, Rob's versatility simply expands exponentially.  Watch for coming attractions via Facebook.  And, I was Best Man at his parents' (Nan and David Reger's) wedding.  We go way back! 

OF THE / Dick Heimbold

Dick Heimbold is a master painter and president of the Glendale Art Association.  His oils and acrylics are well known with a special one hanging in our Sacramento State Capitol.  Dick's beautiful script "OF THE" connects Government and People from Lincoln's famous speech.  Interesting to see how even the least of these words creates the invaluable whole.

GOVERNMENT / Nan Wollman

Artist / teacher / quick as a bunny Nan Wollman whom I connected with at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery took up the word GOVERNMENT after a formerly committed participant bailed out.  Her interpretation of the word cut out of the funny papers tells the whole story.  Nan's apt collage is word #31 of sixty words for the July Fourth Project and part of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. 

LIBERTY / Glad Jimenez

All the way from San Diego, Glad Jimenez submits the last word (in our installation) from Patrick Henry's fiery speech:  LIBERTY. Paint on patriotic wall paper fits right in.

ME / Ruth Golden

Burgeoning painter, Ruth Golden comes to the Project via Clara Berta and submits her personal pronoun "ME" via Patrick Henry.  The passionate writings of the early patriots who formed the United States were assigned without context to most of the contributing artists.  Ms Golden's painting directly on the cardboard matrix reflects a sentiment that I think most modern people share. The "Nuclear Disarmament / ND" symbol ie. the Peace Sign may be at once antithetical to Henry's speech and representative of it. 

GIVE / Araks Johannes

Fine Artist Araks Johannes is an organizer,  a video maker/ photographer and mistress of many media. Her work with the Glendale Art Association is legend.  This simple interpretation of the word "GIVE" followed the guidelines to the letter.  Simple and straight forward, this word begins one of Patrick Henry's most famous lines:  "GIVE me Liberty."

SPEECH / Jeannie Detweiler

The Big Easy is home to Jeannie Detweiler, sister of LAND contributor Bonnie Detweiler Shorr.  Jeannie's "SPEECH" came ready for installation from New Orleans and is the essence of the First Amendment.  Thanks to the City of Glendale for this opportunity to exercise Free Speech in this unique setting. 

OF / Soren Axene

Artist Soren Axene is Five.  His main objective with his OF was getting it three dimensional. This photograph doesn't really do it justice, so Please Come to the Gas Station and see it for your self.

FREEDOM / Clara Berta

Clara Berta's unique technique is visceral and colorful.  In her studio she makes huge canvases with this scumbled technique as well as teaching other artists while serving wine and cheese.  Classy.  FREEDOM is important to her. Clara's larger works are currently going for reasonable prices from her gallery shows. Message her on Facebook for information.

THE / Angel Ortega-Lopez

Emily Goff and her students at Daily High School in Glendale were the first and only participants from Glendale schools. The original plan for the July Fourth Project hoped for students from all grades to participate. Only Ms Goff and her students came on board. THE by  Angel Ortega-Lopez verges on the abstract, adding to the First Amendment. 

ABRIDGING / Jill Bell

All the way from Kansas (she isn't in Kansas any more for a week!) Artist / Calligrapher / Jill Bell of Jill Bell Design submits ABRIDGING from the First Amendment.  One of the most important words in the installation, Jill's simple Red and Blue on White reminds us of the sanctity of Free Speech.  Jill has been a supportive friend since the eighties.  Her work is impeccable.

LAW / Izabella Wardas

Long time Glendale Art Association member Izabella Wardas sticks to a traditional Independence Day theme with her interpretation of LAW from the First Amendment to the Constitution. She and several members of the GAA enthusiastically embraced this idea, bringing years of experience to the Project. 

NO / Alvino Najar

Alvino Najar's silk screen on interesting metallic matrix is emphasized by foam letters to form NO for the installation.  A mainstay at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Alvino's interest in print making prompted this piece.

MAKE / Robert Saslow

Robert Saslow expresses the verb MAKE in a crisp straight forward way.  He arrives at the Project via a coterie of calligraphers who came on board thanks to fontographer / graphic designer / calligrapher Jill Bell.   The installation continues through August 26, 2012 at 1020 E. Palmer, Glendale, CA 91205

SHALL / Fonda Hall and Max

When the first artist who had been assigned SHALL had to drop out of the July Fourth Project, Fonda Hall (and Max!) took the challenge and created SHALL with paint that matches their interior design in their home.  Shall is a 'helping verb' that directs our country in a very positive way in the First Amendment to the Constitution.  "Congress SHALL make no law... abridging the freedom of speech."  Painted directly on the cardboard panel, Ms Hall (and Max's) effort works within the installation perfectly. Her assistance with the Opening Reception was terrific, too!

CONGRESS / Nils Lindstrom

Nils Lindstrom is a professional artist who brings a sense of humor with his rendition of CONGRESS from the First Amendment to the US Constitution.  The  iconic Hollywood Sign is familiar to us all. What may be difficult to see from a distance is Nils' use of what appears to be the Congressional record to create his three dimensional letters for the artwork.  

The work will stay up until August 28, 2012.  Bring a picnic and enjoy the new lawn (as soon as the yellow tape comes down).  
1020 E. Palmer, Glendale, CA 91205.  Adams and Palmer. Contact me for a guided tour.  (Leave a message here)

STATES / Linda Stewart

The second word on the back side of the Gas Station, STATES, was created by Linda Stewart of Temecula, California.  She and her friend, Robin (UNITED) were enjoying the permanent collection at MoCA when I recruited them early in the process of gathering all sixty artists.  Linda's homage to her husband and his military career features photographs of him in uniform.

UNITED / Robin Dixon

Robin Dixon appeared out of the blue with her friend, Linda Stewart (STATES coming up soon) at MoCA (before the big shake up).  We discussed the Rauschenbergs and both women were invited to create a panel for the installation.  Living in Temecula, the ladies took their assignments home and went to work.  Linda's came rolled up in a tube and Robin's came later in a big bag.  After wrangling with the letters she'd made for UNITED,  this was the result.  Many positive comments continue to come in. 

Congratulations to Robin, an artist in a totally unrelated field, for this interesting take on UNITED. Come and see it for yourself at The Gas Station Gallery in the Adams Square Mini-Park  1020 E. Palmer, 91205. 

OF THE / Nancy M. Ruff

Nancy Ruff's collage includes the way many artists may feel as we continually attempt to find ways to share a message.  A filmmaker and entrepreneur, Nancy's Cat in the Lotus boutique at 123 N. Maryland Avenue in Glendale will soon feature a screening room for independent filmmakers. 

As I instigated this project with the City of Glendale, I felt a little like Nancy's Sisyphus dealing with the 'O' in OF.  The guidelines specified that the words be readable from a distance of fifteen feet or so.  I love it that Nancy made "OF THE" with dyslexics in mind.  It works!

THE PEOPLE / Shirley Cromb

Shirley Cromb is a calligrapher / artist who comes to The July Fourth Project from the Society for Calligraphy/ SFC.  Thanks to word of mouth, this Shirley squeeked in with two words: The People:  all of us. Her visual comment is subtle, but bold.  Do you see the common bond in the collage?  This patchwork quilt of artwork makes many comments beyond the strong vision of the words of the American Patriots who inspired this installation. 

WE / Pamela Hope Edler

An artist in her soul, Pamela Hope Edler contributes "WE" as a 'distant artist' living in Washington State as well as part of the year in New Zealand.  Having known Pam since the seventies, this simple statement is personal and fitting.  Each piece of these sixty works of art is unique and like the patchwork quilt the project has been compared to, each one tells its own story.   


Ten twenty East Palmer Nine One Two O Five. Come see the Art.

SOULS / Family Paszkiewicz

Good friends and family effort created this funky rendition of SOULS by Mark and Alex Paszkiewicz of Tustin, California.  Mom, Linda wrangled the boys into harness and in record time using spray paint, theatrical lighting gel and brads, this "SteamPunk" piece was created.  Using the supplied cardboard and family ingenuity, this piece takes on a different aspect depending on the time of day... or night.

MEN'S / Jenifer Palmer-Lacy

Fine art painter Jenifer Palmer-Lacy makes a 21st Century statement in her edgy rendition of the word "Men's" from Thomas Paine's "The Crisis." Crisp and subtle, women are remembered in a very special way.  As the American patriarchy fades reluctantly into a human way of thinking, Palmer-Lacy's word is current and totally appropriate.  Come to The Gas Station Gallery and see the other fifty-nine works of art. On view in the Adams Square Mini-Park now.