Painting at Utopia with The Dubber in Columbia, SC

Utopia....

One of my favorite things to do is painting to music... and the opportunity to paint to LIVE music is such a treat . I have been very blessed lately to paint on a regular basis with a multitude of musicians performing live. Here I am at Utopia.. and I am painting at the CD Release party of "Global Warning" performed by The Dubber.

The Dubber...

Some of you know, I have been following The Dubber's music since I first heard him back a few years ago at H20 on State St in West Columbia. I remember seeing this giant of a man with dread locks and muscular arms and noticing he wore a turban. Having no idea what his music would be I sat there with artist friend Michelle Rogers and this man sat down and closed his eyes and started playing; the lively crowd silenced as we all sat in awe listening to the gentle voice and unique music from the guitar played by Wendell Culbreath. It was at that moment, I literally was under the spell of the music, just as when I paint...I am so into the painting... I am at one with the painting.

It was probably close to a year before I found out exactly who he was and where else he performed... and this time when I heard him I had a front row seat and introduced myself. I saw he was one with the music like I had felt ... so many times when I paint. We exchanged cards and I wrote to him telling him how I noticed all these things and from then on I went to as many shows as I can. In fact for a while I went to every one. I still try to, but my time is divided by my own art interests and other music as well. Watch this blog for more info on The Dubber!

yours truly,

Jean Bourque

Artist :0)

Art and Music Networking the Scene

Well hello to all my readers new and long termers....

I haven't been here much and some of you have a pretty good idea, why. Basically, I have really been working the art and music networking scene the past year and now I am so entrenched with so many friends and events to attend that its like I can no longer attend every event I would like to, because many evenings there are several events happening with friends performing or showing their art and or music. So... I now have to say no sometimes. It literally kills me to miss some of my fave musicians performing; or my art buddies that are having shows I end up missing for one reason or another. Often times how I end up selecting where to go will depend on whats happening in my art career first. Then secondly, what events my friends have chosen to attend... I love hanging out much better than going solo. As ya'll know I was solo for many years and I am so over that. LOL!

Like, right now I am showing 8 paintings at White Mule on Main St. in Columbia, SC. You could say its the blues... and it's influence in music and my art as all eight have some blue in them. Lots of light blues and a few cobalts and ultramarines thrown in for good measure. Of Course many pieces also have heart and soul...as that is what my art is actually about... well, for the most part. They will be on display there for 3 months, so take a peek and if you are interested in any of them, just let me know. I will be at White Mule, for at least a few hours on the ... first Thursday, June 3rd.

Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson, SC

The Anderson Fine Arts Center held there recent juried show and there were over 600 entries and they could only accept about 100. I was truly blessed to have "Visual passion" accepted as an entry to this show. This show will stand out in my mind this week as it is in it's final hours and artists will be picking up their work Tuesday and Wednesday. Road trip... but its such a joy to see all the work there. Even the work that was rejected was wonderful...it just makes me realize how much great art is being made in SC and I want to suggest...instead of going to Europe or even just Atlanta to buy your art... you really should think about supporting our local economy here in SC. So many artists are struggling to make a living and your purchase can make the difference of artists having to do "odd jobs" or being able to actually do "their art."

with love yours truly Jean

Hard Knox Grill on Knox Abbott Dr. This week

Hard Knox Grill on Knox Abbott Dr in Cayce SC.... featured entertainment this week:

4/1 Team Trivia 7:15pm come test your trivia knowledge

4/2 Drive South (9:30pm)

4/3 Modern Disruption (10pm)

4/4 DB Bryant and Friends Jam(8pm) If you are going to this show, be forewarned the place is packed after 10PM and will be standing room only ...so buy tickets early.

Go have fun and a good meal at Hard Knox Grill.

Easter Egg Hunt in Cayce, SC this Saturday

FREE Cayce Community EASTER EGG HUNT
sponsored by the Cayce West-Columbia Jaycees
to raise funds for Camp Hope

Bring your children!

Granby Park off 12th street in Cayce
10:30 am Saturday, April 3rd

Free hot dogs from Steve Cohen of Home Concepts, Too
Free photos with the Easter Bunny!
PRIZE BASKETS FROM
THE VILLAGE DOLLAR SHOPPE
WILL BE AWARDED!

For more information, Contact Chase Cothran @ 807-0995

Artists Call for Entries The Contemporaries CMA

Columbia, SC – Calling all emerging artists!

The Contemporaries, a Columbia Museum of Art membership affiliate group, announces a Call for Entries for its sixth annual Artist of the Year Soiree and Silent Auction. Entry is open to all South Carolina residents. Three-dimensional work must weigh less than 50 pounds and two-dimensional work must measure no more than 60 inches in either direction, including the frame. The registration deadline is Friday, April 9 at 5:00 p.m. This event is designed to increase awareness of and support for emerging artists in South Carolina and to promote the Contemporaries' membership. 
 


The jury members are:

Brownell McIntosh Graphic Design artist and owner Laurie McIntosh,

HoFP Gallery owner Alice Perritt,

Palmetto y Luna director and professional artist Alejandro Garcia,

Columbia Museum of Art outreach manager Darion McCloud and

Contemporaries' board member Rhett Brewer -

selects one winner, The Contemporaries' Artist of the Year, who receives a cash prize of $500,

a feature in a Columbia magazine, a Contemporaries' membership and is presented with a Contemporaries' Artist of the Year Award during the Soiree. Event guests vote on the People's Choice award, and the winner is presented with an award and a cash prize of $100. The selection of the winning artist is based on the following criteria: originality of concept, technical execution, consistency, professionalism, and the degree to which the work was aesthetically interesting. 


Winners are announced at the Soiree and Silent Auction on Thursday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Columbia Museum of Art. Tickets are $30 or free for Contemporaries members. 
 
To enter, visit http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103104452772&s=1012&e=001B5kkq8vUHTq1QtVpFfLMeY6pJ5jZ20OnRPFXacmNda_wASRtlLw4Ez5QdNrnfAk00Q9RgVAbEw1Y-eWL-xUNGqP9EA8SFvj53bTSZbEtkTU= or for more information on submitting artwork, contact Brittany Gridine at 803.343.2197. 
 
The Contemporaries, a Museum affiliate membership group, represents young professionals who support and build awareness for the Columbia Museum of Art. A portion of the proceeds from the Artist of the Year Soirée goes toward the Contemporaries' Art Acquisition Fund, designed to acquire a significant piece of art for the Museum. For more information about Contemporaries' membership, visit columbiamuseum.org or call 803.343.2197.

("Trio" an acrylic painting by Jean Bourque)

Call to Artists July 4th Crafty Feast at Sandhills

75 booths for an arts and craft fair available at the Village at Sandhills during their gigantic 4th of July Freedom Festival and I’m inviting all Crafty Feast artists to apply. For all of you outside of Columbia, this village is a large outdoor market center with stores, restaurants and a town center. This festival is a little bit different. First of all, we are expecting over 5,000 people to come out during the day to shop, listen to bands and stay for the fireworks display. The Village has teamed up with Richland County and will be advertising all over the state including billboards, radio and print advertising. In true Crafty Feast fashion, this show will be juried and include only handmade or repurposed crafts. In addition to “Indie” crafters we are also accepting applications for all styles of crafts as well as visual artists. This festival will require that individuals provide their own 10 x 10 tent, tables and chairs. Tent sharing WILL BE ALLOWED and I will make all efforts to link up crafters that would like to share a tent. Tents, tables and chairs will also be available to rent ahead of time if needed. Please consider applying at http://www.craftyfeast.com/ and I look forward to seeing you this July!

Debi Schadel

Coordinator Crafty Feast Productions

(Photograph "Palms" by Jean Bourque)

Hypnosis Session with Dr. Fredric Mau

One night on my way into the Art Bar for poetry night a few years ago, I parked by the side of the ice cream shop, when an array of colors hit my eyes. I stopped and peered in the window, wondering if we had a new gallery in town. My eyes feasted on an array of wind chimes, stained glass and art work in the small Park St. shop. I noticed all the dragonflies in particular because a friend of mine that was slated to get married within the week loved dragonflies so much she had one embroidered on her wedding veil. Making a mental note of the shop, I looked up to see the name of this stunning little gem and discovered it wasn’t a store at all, it was home of Watermark Hypnosis.

A few years before that I had attended a mass hypnosis session to quit smoking and was successful for many years with that. Not long after seeing the shop, I was at the SC State Fair where they did a group hypnosis which was actually quite funny. They sought volunteers, however, I felt it would be more fun to watch and it was. I since discovered that hypnosis is a great technique for behavior modification. In fact, hypnosis is said to be the most successful method for quitting smoking and losing weight.

Last fall, I had an art show at Frame of Mind on Main St. and this is where I met Dr. Fredric Mau and we became facebook friends. Although we had read each other’s news feeds and saw each other at various art events, I didn’t know he was a hypnotist or the owner of Watermark Gallery until I was in search of a canopy for an art show where someone suggested that Fredric may have one for sale. After talking with him I finally read his profile and discovered who he was. The idea of hypnosis and finding out more about it from an expert intrigued me and I thought it might make an interesting story, so I offered to do a story on him and his business of hypnosis.

Dr. Mau explained to me what hypnosis is, how it is used and what it actually does physically in the brain and body to alter human behavior. He tells me there are many levels of awareness and relaxation and hypnosis done correctly can slow the brain waves to various levels depending on what you are trying to achieve. Most of us operate in daily life somewhere around the beta state with brain waves of 14-20 cycles per a second. Many artists operate at 9-14 brain wave cycles per a second and this is a great state in which to be creative, it is a state of mind in which you lose track of time. When one is dosing off or deeply relaxed the brain waves slow to 4-9 cycles per a second. It is in this state, the theta level that the stress hormone cortisol is reduced, serotonin and beta endorphins increase, making you feel good and you become open to suggestion.

The hypnotist and the client may chat a bit first and decide on goals for the hypnosis session. Once the client is relaxing at the theta level, the hypnotist can make suggestions in line with the client’s goals. If the patient wants to lose weight for example, reducing the level of cortisol is a huge help as high levels of cortisol in the body is known to increase body fat especially around the mid section. The hypnotist can make suggestions which lead to better food choices, increased activity and the combination results in weight loss. This is how Dr. Mau became interested in hypnosis through his own weight loss using this method.

Using hypnosis for behavior modification can lead to many areas of improvement in the client’s life. Hypnosis can be used to help and improve muscle movement memory which means it can give athletes and dancers better performance. It also is very effective for pain relief for chronic pain sufferers and people with fibromyalgia. When the brain waves slow down, it physically changes which are equivalent to an anesthetic without the drugs.

For creative types, (like myself) it opens what Dr. Mau refers to as a learning channel. The subconscious draws connections between things you didn’t connect consciously. The hypnotic process actively engages the part of the right brain which enhances the non-verbal creative side of the person. The suggestions for this process will be to engage the creative side with new insights and openness to new connections to see, feel and hear more possibilities. Thus it is like opening up a learning channel for visual artists, musicians and enhances the kinesthetic for performers as well.

After our discussion Dr. Mau offered me a sample hypnosis session. He had me put on headphones and wear some strange glasses and lie back in the recliner. I was awake yet relaxed throughout the session. I could hear his voice and the sound in the headphones was a very gentle pulsing music. He talked about seeing me flying and I could see myself flying; from there I saw painting after painting. His suggestions were merely to relax, be myself and meet people that would enhance and expand my interests and creative life. I felt very happy and was certainly under hypnosis. I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to laugh because I love laughing.

After the session I was totally relaxed even though I had been stressed when I got there. At the time I met with him, I was struggling with a habit and am pleased to say within 24 hours I totally lost all interest in that habit and have walked away from it without any problems. He gave me a cd of the session and said I could use it anytime I wanted to relax. I really enjoyed my meeting with Dr. Mau at Watermark Hypnosis and would strongly recommend others to try hypnosis to increase their creativity.

Dr. Mau has since moved Watermark Hypnosis from the Park Street storefront and is now located near the Governor’s Mansion at 1903 Gadsden St. Suite 202 in Columbia, SC 29201. Dr. Mau was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church and later went to work for corporate America. After a layoff, he began doing consulting, lost weight and eliminated pain, through hypnosis. This intrigued him and he decided to get trained and certified in hypnosis. Dr. Mau offers hypnosis to clients and also offers training for interested students of hypnosis.

You may reach him for consultation and hypnosis therapy at 803-750-2000 or check out his website at http://www.watermarkcolumbia.com/. Dr. Mau also teaches classes in religion, philosophy and humanities at the University of Phoenix in Columbia, SC.

yours truly,
Jean BourQue
Fan my art on facebook :)

Damian Norwood at Hookah Bar Sat. 3/27 at 10PM

Playing good ole rock n roll (cover tunes) is the sound you'll hear when u listen to Damian Norwood. He played CCR and Nirvana just the way they should be played. A native of Clinton, SC I had the opportunity to hear him sing and play his acoustic guitar at the Puddlin Duck near Spring Valley in Northeast Columbia, this past Wednesday evening, which happened to be St. Patrick's Day! Arriving late as I often do, I missed his introduction and also missed the St. Patrick's dinner at the Puddle Duck since their kitchen had already closed. My understanding is he played 2 hours straight through with no break.

Last Sunday, I had a little "Mad Hatter" gathering at my art studio and several friends had seen and heard Damian Norwood, the night before at the Hookah Bar. Their musical taste is diverse as my own and they often attend many of the same musical events I attend. So, trusting their judgement I checked all my events and found where he was playing next.

Not only is he a talented singer and guitar player he is also an interesting conversationalist, peppering his words with humor throughout the night. He told a story about playing at The Hookah Bar (a private club) into the wee hours on Sunday morning. After which, his girlfriend wanted to go to church, a Catholic Church with all the kneeling, standing and sitting. Somehow, he made it through the service without losing his breakfast or his religion. He noticed a little girl in front of them that kept turning around looking at him. He said he was just waiting for her to say, "You smell like my drunk Uncle."

At any rate, he will be playing again at The Hookah Bar next Saturday March 27th starting at 10 pm to 1 am. Yes, it is a private club, just pay the door charge and tell the people at the door, you are the guests of Jeanee Bourque and come on in! The Hookah Bar is located at 803 Sumter St. Columbia, over the Beezer Sandwich Shop and across from USC. One of the unique factors of the Hookah Bar is that they have an oxygen bar, with a variety of unique flavors. You should try it, out.

Yours Truly,

Jeanee Bourque

Spring Awakening at the Peace Center NOW

Spring Awakening playing NOW at The Peace Center 300 South Main St, Greenville, SC ticket info: 864-467-3000


Sitting front row center I had a great seat, best in the house actually and was truly amazed at the talented singers and performers in this production. The theme was the turning of age and like all adolescents they faced the important decisions of sexuality and how to express and experience that. One young straight couple lost their virginity on stage, while a gay couple discovered their passion for their own gender. I heard gasps and whispers in the audience which reminded me I was in Greenville, SC; known for teaching teens "abstinence" instead of reality and one of the biggest anti-gay communities in SC, USA.

The male lead Melchoir played by Jake Epstein and the supporting role played by Taylor Trensch were both mesmerizing and convincing with their captivating alto voices. Trensch especially drew the audience in with "Don't Do Sadness" while doing a unique demanding dance routine. His experience in The Rocky Horror Show was evident in his portrayal of Moritz.

The female lead of Wendla was played by Christy Altomare who earned her BFA in Musical Theater from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. She lead the play with her graceful solo rendition of "Mama Who Bore Me." The role Christy played often called for a depth of emotions and realistic tears, that many young actresses would find difficult. Her age appropriate performance showed talent beyond her years. The female supporting role of Ilse was played by Steffi D a top 5 finalist in the "Canadian Idol". Her solo of "Blue Wind" was spell binding and you knew you were watching a star.

The play reminded me of several other shows and it seems like it could go on to be a cult classic. With lively and diverse music ranging from hard rock to peaceful notes...it reminded me of "Hair", "The Rocky Horror Show" and "High School Musical" all rolled into one. Yet, it was different and it was none of these. With songs entitled, "The Bitch of Living" and "Totally Fucked" you know this is ground breaking, before the show begins. The best advice I can give you is get your tickets now, this is going to be one you do not want to miss.

Truly, Greenville and the Peace Center have broken new ground and Greenville may never be the same again!

Yours Truly,
Jean Bourque
3/19/10

Spring Awakening at The Peace Center 300 South Main St, Greenville, SC
Friday, Mar 19, 2010 8:00 PM
Saturday, Mar 20, 2010 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM
Sunday, Mar 21, 2010 2:00 PM, 7:30 PM

For tickets and information: 864-467-3000