Last weekend I went up to a little blue barn in the middle of the country... okay in Alpharetta, and saw Elizabeth Latta's suite of new paintings. I remember the first time I saw them at her studio, expecting decent paintings, but actually finding myself bowled over by a few. It was a pleasant surprise.


Me as an Angel Showing Luna Rossa Where to Get the Golden Fleece, oil on linen, 2007


Me as an Angel Showing Luna Rossa Where to Get the Golden Fleece (detail)


Elizabeth explains her Superbowl 42 painting; Luna Rossa and the Syndicate Rush to Spain, oil on linen, 2007


Luna Rossa detail; High Museum curator Carol Thompson liked the work.

Sometimes the figure is overworked:


The Mediterranean as a Merman and Bach as a Butterfly Help Luna Rossa Beat BMW Oracle, oil on linen, 2007

But sometimes she pulls off a compelling and confident gesture that conveys the movement of an entire body:


Birth of James Spithill (detail), oil on linen, 2007


Untitled work and detail


Louise Shaw and Stan Woodard both made the trek out; Birth of James Spithill


Young Icarus Practicing During Luna Rossa Team Trials, oil on linen, 2007; Untitled work

Plus there was good southern food. I mean, red velvet cake, c'mon...



Later that night I swung by the opening at Young Blood Gallery.



Their new space looks fantastic.



Independent, DIY efforts like these will keep the home fires burning in Atlanta, as they do in any community, whether the gubmint is on board or not.

Elizabeth's work goes back and forth for me. I went to her studio several months ago when she was in the middle of her "Luna Rossa" series and thought that most of them still needed to be thought out a bit more. It looks like she was able to go back in and hone in on more of the details. Prime example of an artist who does better when keeping things more simple.

It's so easy to kill a painting. You have to know when to stop. Or failing that, you have to kill it and keep going until it comes back in a reincarnated life.

Perdue signed HB 291 (creating the GA Arts Alliance) into law on Tuesday.

You didn't hear it from me...

; )

Hey Cinqué!
I hate that we missed this show! We are going to be rollin into town Saturday, think you and Eddie would be up for dinner?