ADDRESSING THE WAR AGAINST WOMEN

An exhibit is coming soon to CERES Gallery, called ADDRESSING THE WAR AGAINST WOMEN. I am finishing up a painting that I hope will be included in this exhibit, next OCTOBER, the month before our next national election. We must vote to stop this voracious monster. Too bad our opposition is in such disarray. Such it often is with gentle folk. We don't march in step very well. Our advantage, though, is courage. Art is a discipline of courage.

RHAPSODY IN BLUE, the painting

My painting titled RHAPSODY IN BLUE, was manipulated and used for the cover art of pianist,EMILY WHITE'S, CD named AMERICAN COLLECTION. It is marvelous piano music, rare and moving. I am so very honored to be part of this.

TAKING MY ANT FOR A WALK

This is a small painting but it is another bit of play with a palette knife (and fairy tales). I named it Taking My Ant For a Walk and love the frivolity of such an idea. Ants are fierce beasties but very useful in this world!

And here is another small knife painting called THE LOST INDIAN PAINTBRUSH. I do love these wildflowers that bloom right after the bluebonnets.

WE WILL MISS THEM

Some article I read somewhere asserted that life on this planet would/could last about 3 weeks without bugs. I wasn't clear from the information presented how fast everything would die. The article presented information to support a rather rapid demise of Life. Whereas If all humans die, there would be some adjustments but Life would continue as jolly as ever! So HOORAY FOR BUGS!! Homage to some of my Favorites

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BLUE BEE EVOLVES AND MULTIPLIES

I started playing with this painting in 2012. The first image is from 2012. Then 2022. Then 2023 and 2024. Still messing with it. It has changed and grown. This has been exhibited at the different stages. The bees have the blues with their golden gifts to life and love. This homage to their wonder is my homage to their place in the Ribbon of Life.

This such a great image of two of my favorite immigrants. The butterfly leaves and returns but the Statue remains with us, heart and mind.

WATER IS THE THEME

    Hope for Spring: Texas Water 50 Austin Artists in One Historic House! RHAPSODY IN BLUE by MJ Hickerson acrylic on canvas

Hope for Spring: Texas Water March 20th - April 28th, 2024 Included with Museum admission! Learn More Here! Spring has returned to the Neill-Cochran House Museum, and with it the fourth annual Hope for Spring exhibition. This year's Hope for Spring exhibition is a celebration of, and a reflection on, our most precious resource: water. Fifty Austin-based artists present 89 works on the theme of Texas water; artwork that will be on display throughout the historic house! Visit now through April 28th to see this vibrant show. And don't miss the Opening Reception on Saturday, March 23rd, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. It's free and open to the public!

  GOOD MORNING MJ Hickerson acrylic on canvas Hope for Spring: Texas Water Opening Reception Sat, March 23 | 4:00pm - 6:00pm Free and open to the public! Kick off Hope for Spring: Texas Water at this opening reception. Enjoy a cocktail and meet the artists. The winners of the juried art competition will be announced at 5:00PM! Complimentary cocktails Can't make it to the Hope for Spring Opener? See the show on Good Friday at the Easter Egg Dye-o-Rama! Easter Egg Dye-o-Rama Design an Easter Egg that's a Work of Art! Easter Egg Dye-o-Rama Friday, March 29 | 12:00pm - 4:00pm Free Museum admission all day! Join us for a day of live music, games, and dyeing eggs! Access to the Museum and lawn will be free all day. The NCHM will offer blown eggs to dye for a $2.00 donation each ($20/dozen), or bring your own eggs! Dyes, wax resists, and decorations will be provided for all to use. The Two Goat String Band will put a spring in our steps! Free Event - Learn More Here!     Contact us: Neill-Cochran House Museum 2310 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705 (512) 478-2335 | nchmuseum.org   Follow us:     Neill-Cochran House Museum | 2310 San Gabriel, Austin, TX 78705

WOMEN IN ART at THE HIVE

I have two painting in this exhibit. I just love this one called JUMP! It really strikes me as so joyous, hopeful and brave. LOVE AND HOMEGROWN TOMATOES is such a fun joyous artwork also!!

HOW THIS CAME TO BE

This new painting is named DANCING WITH MORNING GLORIES. It went through a number of titles. One I liked a lot was WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE. Titles kept coming to me while the painting emerged. But that's it really. It is all just a dance.

MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM OPENS ITS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

A wonderful event every year. Mexic-Arte invites artists to make 12" x 12" artworks on boards they supply. From Ampersand art boards. The party will be February 2, 2024. This is named the MORNING GLORY SONG.

Mix and Match! Friends and relatives, too, will have their work available to support this wonderful institution!

SEEING THE PAINT, IN PERSON

At the BEE CAVES ART FOUNDATION, a person can see the paint. Paint is different from the digital reproduction of paint and paintings.These two will be on display for a couple of months at the Hive Gallery at the Bee Cave art Foundation. The one with the doll and Quan Yin is named LOVE AND HOMEGROWN TOMATOES. It's paintied on 1 inch thick cardboard. Oops. The other, one named JUMP!, is my homage to dichotomies everywhere. Notice the paint in the upclose details of the paintings.

FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY AT CERES

The Diversity of Women’s Voices CERES at 40 and Invited Guests January 9 – 27, 2024 This is an enormous exhibit. Powerful, moving and beautiful. Women in our culture have come a long way in the last 40 years. My painting in this exhibit is named CERTIFICATION. It is a narrative metaphor for chasing our ambitions, our goals.