Public Displays of Pretty Cool Art by cjo

Coming Soon!

From July 25 to August 22, 2015 we are very pleased to be displaying my Pretty Cool Art at Hyde Park Bar & Grill, the south Austin location in West Gate Shopping Center. This exhibit will features acrylic paintings with Austin themes and several of our “cubish” beer, wine and cocktail paintings.
Join us July 27 at the Art Party celebrating Christopher & his work!

Christopher Oglesby Art Party
Monday, July 27, 5-7pm
Hyde Park Bar & Grill (South Austin location)
4521 West Gate Blvd Austin, TX 78745
512-899-2700
complimentary appetizer buffet, drinks at happy hour prices

This a great opportunity to see in person several of the paintings featured here at prettycoolart.com, and some all-new paintings never before seen will also be featured.

Later in 2015, I will have another show of artwork at the original Hyde Park Bar & Grill location on 4206 Duval Street SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013. Art party announcement will come later this year.

Recent Show at Tornado Gallery – April 2015

I had my first gallery exhibit earlier this year in April at Lubbock’s Tornado Gallery, where I displayed 16 paintings with west Texas themes. The Tornado Gallery exhibit included paintings of musicians and artists featured in the book I authored about west Texas music and art “Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air.” In addition we featured paintings of unique west Texas sights and landscapes.

I have been associated with Tornado Gallery since soon after they opened in 2007 when they hosted my one year anniversary book signing party and West Texas All-Stars Reunion Concert, featuring Lubbock music legends such Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Jay Boy Adams, Bob Livingston of the Lost Gonzo Band, Larry Wellborn of the Crickets and many more local talents.
Tornado Gallery has been the cultural epicenter of Lubbock Texas for over eight years. Owned and operated by Larry Simmons, his wife Heidi, and Tony Greer in the building that once housed Greer Iron Works at the corner of 19th Street and Buddy Holly Avenue. Tony Greer is west Texas’ premiere neon artist and Simmons was a long-time club and music venue operator. They combined their promotional skills, love of art and music, and created an art space in the Greer family ironworks building, adjacent entertainment space known now as Peggie’s Garden, and also housing Sandstorm Glassworks. They helped found the First Friday Art Trail in Lubbock and host the downtown art and farmer’s market.

Visit to Galleries in the Nation’s Capital

I went on vacation with my wife last month to visit family in the Washington DC area, where my aunt is the archivist at a private gallery and my uncle works in the aerospace industry. While in the nation’s capital, I always take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the National Gallery, with my aunt as a consummate tour guide, the Hirschhorn and Freer Galleries, the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Library of Congress. I like to marvel at and take inspiration from the great American and European masters and wonder at the remarkable design and execution of exotic Asian, African and Native American art. I also made an educational visit to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria where I met contemporary artists and discussed their art, studios and shops. I would like initiate a movement in Austin to create a similar non-for-profit co-op to house a similar group of studios & shops for Austin artists.

Hyde Park Bar & Grill Show

Once again, please join us on July 27th for a celebration of Pretty Cool Art by cjo at Hyde Park Bar & Grill in south Austin!

Thank you for your support! – cjo

What is a House Concert? And why YOU should attend one soon

My wife and I host house concerts as part of our continuing effort to encourage appreciation of local live music, beverage, and food. This weekend, we host Texas songwriter Brandon Adams. Many of my paintings, signed prints and signed copies of my book “Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air” will be available for sale at this event.

Unique Intimate Music Performance

A House Concert is an intimate live music performance held in the privacy of the host’s home. Usually, the crowd is smaller than a public music venue, and guests have received private invitations. The audience is seated in a comfortable home environment, rather than a noisy smoky bar or club, and the audience is expected to be seated and pay attention during the performance, as in a seated auditorium. This is a great opportunity for performers to communicate directly and intimately with an audience who will respectfully appreciate the performance.

Cover Charge

Guests are expected to pay a cover charge gratuity, a donation, with the money going directly to the performer. Most “true” house concert presenters do not operate with a profit motive. House concerts are a safe and fun way for a performer to make money for their performance by dealing with an appreciative host and audience rather than worrying about the traditional business hazards of dealing with public live music venues and promoters. Believe it or not, some venues do not have the musicians’ best interests at heart. We LOVE our artists and give them the respect they very much deserve!

Food & Drink

Most house concerts feature food or a meal. Many house concerts are “pot luck” with guests bringing dishes to share but often the host will provide light food and drink. Alcohol is either provided for no cost by the host or guests may BYOB. When the artist is not performing, guests are encouraged to socialize and enjoy themselves as at any other private party.

Oglesby House Concerts

If you love original music by Texans with heart and soul, or if you simply have wanted to see the Oglesby’s living room which has been called the unofficial Lubbock Music Consulate to South Austin, then y’all come over, kick off your shoes, throw ‘em in the corner and enjoy a night of South Austin magic. Feel free to BYOB and to share your favorite potluck dishes!
If you see an event you would like to attend, send me an email for details including address, time, etc.

A feast for the senses with good friends.

Upcoming Oglesby House Concerts:

6/13/2015 Brandon Adams
7/19/2015 Neil Trammell (of the Doodlin Hogwallops from Alpine TX)
8/22/2015 Jenni Dale Lord & Steve Lott

Past Oglesby House Concerts:

7/11/09: Amanda Shires & Rod Picott
9/18/09: Lesley Sawyer with Brian McRae & Aaron Hatmaker
3/6/10: Bob Livingston of the Lost Gonzo Band
3/16/10: SxSW’10: Drew Peterson, MN, & Bradley Smith, Sudan TX
7/3/10: Robin Griffin & Tony Adams
10/15/10: Colin Gilmore with Jon Notarthomas
2/12/11: The Prairie Scholars a.k.a Andy Eppler & Jessica Eppler, with Doctor Skoob
6/18/11: The Doodlin’ Hogwallops (from Alpine TX) with guests from La Tampiquena
11/19/11: Tori Vasquez & Micah Vasquez, with guest Junior Vasquez
4/7/12: Poko Lambro (Anthony Garcia & Violet Lea)
6/23/12: Doctor Skoob aka Doug Haines
11/8/14 John & Maureen Chambers

today’s featured images for sale:

“House Concert VII – Skoob & Epplers’ Gear” 24×28 acrylic on canvas, no frame; “One Bottle To Go” 8×10 acrylic on panel, black frame; “Levelland, B.A. & Lacy Jo” 12×24 acrylic on canvas, black frame; “Prairie Scholars & Butch Hancock” 8×10 acrylic on panel, black frame.