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When you decide to take a break from our hot and humid summer days, float on down to the coolest spot in town…of course that’s Graham Gallery. The new gallery show in now installed and has many very cool pieces of art that will take your mind off the heat.

This show is the 5th annual juried show and it has a very clever premise. It is called “A Career in Art will not Pay the Bills (it will this month)”. The call to artists asked them to submit an entry to the show accompanied by a bill they would like to pay, which becomes the price of the art. Here’s an example that will make this idea very clear. A ceramic sculpture submitted by Cody Carson Brown includes the bill for $80 to buy a Granny Smith Apple Tree. Such a deal. You get a great piece of art, at a very reasonable price, and Cody buys an apple tree. Only in America.

Another piece in the show, was submitted by Michael Neary. It is a cool jazz scene in acrylic on paper. His bill is for van maintenance and socks. Michael is the plein air artist whom you may have seen camped out around town, painting interesting spots. His van was always close by and it didn’t take a look under the hood to suspect it might need a few repairs. The socks part of the bill might give you insight into his sense of humor.

As might be expected the show includes many artists and a wide variety of media. To be exact there are 27 artists represented and 21 different art forms are displayed. The diversity adds to the cool art result, but since it is a juried show the quality is at a high level. So when you cool your heels at the gallery, you won’t be disappointed.

The gallery reception, where you can meet some of the artists, is August 20th, between 7-9 pm. Some of the Artists are cool, but for sure the gallery’s namesake is, so take a break from the heat and “get cool”.

About the author: Jerry Daniels

Jeremy Daniels graduated from McCook Sr. High in 1959. He received a BA in Fine Arts from Hastings College in 1963. After almost six years in the military, he worked for Dutton-Lainson Co. in Hastings for 44 years. He was a Vice President and Advertising Manager for the firm. His artworks include most painting media, as well as sculpture. His studio is in Hastings and he can be contacted at jldan@charter.net.