Billy was pleased to be included in the invitational landscape show at the Krempp Gallery in the Jasper Arts Center, which opens today and runs through January 29, 2018. We’re driving up for the opening reception tomorrow evening. This little picture is not in the show but is appropriately titled “On the Road to Jasper” and was made after a summer road trip to the area.
On the Road to Jasper by Billy Hedel 2016
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Dragon’s Eye charm by Billy Hedel ($25/22 sale)
The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (318 Main, Evansville, IN 812/422-2111) will be open regular hours Friday, December 22 from 10 am to 4 pm AND a shopping bonus time on Saturday, December 23 from 2 – 4 pm. Whether you are looking for a major gift, a stocking stuffer, or some other holiday present, you’ll find something special at the AC.
All of Billy Hedel’s work is discounted 10 % or more for this sale, which will continue into the new year until January 9.
We wish you a happy new year and thank those who “shop small and local” in support of the arts.
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George Haynie established his legendary drug store in 1887 at the corner of Second, Parret and Adams, a corner that would eventually bear his name and from which the Haynie’s Corner Arts District draws its name. After Haynie retired in 1928, a drug store operated from this building until it was destroyed by fire in 1944. Today the site is a temporary green space awaiting redevelopment.
Haynie’s Drug Store, circa 1920 by Billy Hedel (acrylic on canvas, 40×30″, 2017, $ 775)
This picture – Haynie’s Drug Store, circa 1920 (acrylic on canvas, 40×30”, 2017 $ 775) – is one of Billy Hedel’s story paintings and is his imagining of the store in its heyday. The scene shows two of his own dogs, the owner’s wife on the second floor balcony, a strutting goose, and many other whimsical details, all incorporated into a funky, colorful yet accurate architectural portrait of one of Evansville’s lost landmarks. Billy used historic photos from local archives and conversations with descendants as reference material. George Haynie, a civic leader on many fronts, was known as the Mayor of Goosetown. Today you can learn more about this local, colorful history by reading and looking at the historic marker at the fountain.
We salute small business owners like George Haynie, who was so much more than that. So this Saturday, November 25 (and every day, for that matter) we encourage you to shop small, shop local.
With thanks,
Billy Hedel’s Studio
The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana kicked off its annual member holiday sale last weekend. In addition to regular gallery hours (Tuesday-Friday, 10 am to 4 pm), the AC will be open this Saturday, November 25 from 10 am to 5 pm in observance of Small Business Saturday. Main Street, Haynie’s Corner, and West Franklin Street are three places you’ll find that city sidewalk holiday bustle.
Billy will be hanging out at the gallery for part of the day. This is a good time to buy, as we’ve discounted this entire recent body of work by at least 10%. He has urban views that are a jazzy variation of his usual ‘Billystyle’. A trio of mellow landscapes balances these city views and show his work in oils on board.
For the younger crowd – whether in age or mindset – check out Billy’s emerging collection of ‘magical art.’ Harry Potter fans and the otherwise mystically-minded would appreciate these absolutely unique charms, books, boxes and potion bottles.
Blank Spell Book w/magic wand by Billy Hedel ($ 65/58 sale at the AC)
Taking the El to Cubs Park by Billy Hedel (acrylic on canvas, 10×30″, 2017, $ 295/sale price $ 265)
The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (318 Main Street, Evansville IN, 812/422-2111) will be open this weekend from 12 to 4 pm on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday November 19 for its annual Holiday Art Sale. Billy Hedel will be selling his work – a selection of urbanscapes, landscapes, and magical art – at discounts of 10% or more on everything in the show. If you miss this weekend, drop by on Small Business Saturday, November 25 when the gallery will again be open from 10 to 5 pm so you can ‘shop local.’ Regular Arts Council hour are Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Drop by and visit Billy and other artists. And if you are shopping in Vincennes, Billy has work at The Open Gallery and the Northwest Territory Art Guild.
St. Louis (jazz version) by Billy Hedel (acrylic on canvas, 10×30″, 2017, $ 295/sale price $ 265)
Another worthy event this Saturday, November 11 is Patchwork Central’s annual Holiday Art Sale (9 am to 3 pm, 100 Washington Avenue). This long-standing tradition featuring professional, folk and children’s art is just a couple of blocks from Empty Bowls. Billy will not have a table this year, but encourages you to come down, support our local not-for-profits, and explore the Haynie’s Corner Arts District.
The Tower at Patchwork Central is all that remains of the Washington Avenue Temple erected in 1904. This is Billy’s cover illustration for the Washington Avenue Historic District brochure.
These past months people of all ages throughout the city have been making ceramic bowls which will be sold with a container of soup to raise money for community food pantries. Billy Hedel did not make a bowl, but he did make a story painting called Empty Bowls in support of this important effort. It takes place this Saturday, November 11 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Ballroom at Sauced, 1113 Parrett Street at Haynie’s Corner. Look for the building in Billy’s picture.
Empty Bowls by Billy Hedel (acrylic on canvas, 2016, $ 175)
Your purchase of an empty bowl will fill another for a hungry person.
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Billy Hedel’s ‘To H#ll With the Chief!’ stands in front of ‘The Four Freedoms Monument’ at The Open Gallery
After a successful run up in Vincennes, The New World Order: 1-20-2017 has come home to roost in The Window on the Walkway at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (318 Main Street, Evansville, IN 47713 812/422-2111). This special exhibit of engineered 3-dimensional art can be viewed 24/7 and will be up until mid-November. TNWO collection is an intense departure from Billy’s customary public work, but in keeping with a long tradition of making art as social commentary (see the Commentary page on this site or at the exhibit). It is the culmination of his art sabbatical taken this past year.
For fans of Billy’s more traditional work, there are three galleries carrying his art this holiday season. The Arts Council’s annual holiday sale begins on November 18 and will have Billy’s most recent work – new urbanscapes, some soothing landscapes, and magical art. Shoppers in Vincennes can head to The Open Gallery (329 Main Street, 812/881-6475) for three-dimensional work or to The Northwest Territory Art Guild (316 Main Street, 812/881-8344) for a selection of paintings of trees and flowers.
So, just head to Main Street this season, and support the truly local economy and feed some hungry artists! Bon appetit!
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Town & Country: Portraits of Urban and Natural Landscapes launches this evening at The Open Gallery (329 Main Street, Vincennes IN, 812/881-6475). A reception takes place from 5:30 to 9:00 ET during which Billy will talk with visitors about the stories the paintings tell and the stories about how the pictures came to be. There also will be a blocks-long street festival, music at the gallery, and art exhibits at other galleries. Billy’s show runs through October.
If you can’t visit in person, follow this space. We will be posting the stories about the pictures during the course of the month.
Last night we cruised through the vintage bus rally organized by the Bus Boys Collection that’s being held at the historic Greyhound Station in downtown Evansville this weekend. The event concludes with a bus parade on Sunday.
Here is one of Billy’s many renditions of the iconic bus station, done after last year’s race and the restoration of the station and its re-opening as Bru Burger Bar. Called “In the Pink: The Greyhound Station Restored,” the 16×20″ acrylic on canvas painting ($100) depicts the distinctive blue-tiled building against a pink background. It is one of the pictures included in Billy’s upcoming ‘Town & Country’ show at Vincennes’ Open Gallery next month.
In the Pink – The Greyhound Station Restored by Billy Hedel (acrylic on canvas, 16×12″, $ 100, 2016)
Billy Hedel Studio 