The Germantown Series: A Discovery, Michelle East, Michelle East Photography, The Great Hall and Conference Center, Germantown TN

Michelle East, The Germantown Series, City of Germantown

This project, The Germantown Series: A Discovery 

is so much fun to work on!

Not only am I challenging myself to dig into our community and find the most unusual places, my desire is to make the ordinary look extraordinary!  These are places that you may drive by everyday but never notice. My goal is to help you rediscover Germantown. Rediscover the beauty and the passion in this city. Remember why we moved here. Why we continue to live here and raise our family. I want to look beyond the houses and shopping areas.  Dig deeper into the raw natural beauty that the city of Germantown has to offer. So please follow me as we take this journey into Germantown together.

Prints from this series will be available starting next month. Sizes start at 11 x 14 and are printed on professional metallic papers. Your going to love these!

If you happen to see me out photographing, please stop and say hi! I love to talk to the citizens of Germantown and make new friends.  Seems like I learn something new about the area with each new person I meet. Remember, this project is for you. 

Till next time,

http://www.MichelleEastPhotography.com

Goodwindsinc, City of Germantown TN, Michelle East FIne Art

This past week I had the privilege of photographing at Goodwinds, a Germantown favorite for many years. Their specialty is landscaping, flowers, trees and plants. The family that owns the business is lovely. You will not meet a nicer couple.  I got a personal tour around the nursery after hours to do my photography. Above is the result of that photo shoot. 


It was a wonderful experience and I am so grateful to include Goodwinds Landscape and Garden Center into my Germantown project.


On a personal note, I had Goodwinds landscape my backyard several years ago and I have loved the magnolia trees and Japanese maples that I get to look at every day!


From their website:

Good Winds Landscape and Garden Center is both a design/build firm and retail garden center. The garden center is open year round with a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plant material. We have a knowledgeable staff available to answer any horticultural questions as well as designers available by appointment to discuss your garden improvements.  

 Design

Inspiration: We are inspired by our clients, the unique characteristics that each site offers and the beauty of natural elements.

Goal: Our goal is to develop creative solutions that seamlessly unite garden and architecture.

Program: The design program is developed from a collaborative effort between our clients and design staff, leading to respectful and long-lasting relationships.

Approach: The approach is influenced by an appreciation for timeless and classical design.

 Build

Method: Our method of construction is built on principles of excellence, accuracy and precision.

Materials: The choice of material is hand selected from trusted and time tested sources.

Craftsmanship: Our craftsmanship is produced from a rigorous attention to detail in all disciplines of construction that we offer. 

 History

Goodwin’s Greenhouse was established in 1943 by Mr. Goodwin. After many years it has become a historic site and one of the oldest businesses to exist in Germantown,TN. From its inception Goodwin’s has become known not only for its plant material but also for its variety of animals from emus and cockatoos to pot-bellied pigs and peacocks. Eventually Goodwin’s developed a reputation as the “Germantown Zoo.” The memories and childhood stories that have been made as a result of this historic and lively business seem endless and always fun to hear.

However, Goodwin’s memories also contain the highs and lows of any business. Throughout its lifetime it has passed through the hands of several owners, each time not faring well with the change. Without an owner that could breathe new life into it, the old charm of the Greenhouse seemed to be losing its sense of place and slowly grew out of character with the established neighborhood around it.

At its lowest point, Paul Bruns of Germantown,TN. was finishing his Masters of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. Also about this time the greenhouse had become available for purchase. With Paul’s timely study coming to a conclusion, he was poised to purchase the Greenhouse and restore its unique trademark to the city of Germantownand the Memphis area.

Paul purchased the business in 1999 after finishing school and returning to Germantown. After the purchase the name was slightly changed from Goodwin’s to Good Winds. Today the new business is full of life and very much integrated into the community. Though many of the animals are no longer part of Good Winds, the greenhouses have been cleaned up, organized and transformed into a charming year round garden center. A design/build landscape firm is also now a major part of the business.

Today a customer of Good Winds Garden Centercan expect to have a unique experience that will reminisce of the past while giving great hope to the future of this historic Greenhouse and its relationship to the community.

2238 Sunset Road

Germantown, Tn. 38138

Design Studio: (901) 758-1895

Garden Center: (901) 758-1185

Facsimile: (901) 758-1885

Till next time,

City of Germantown TN, New Work, Michelle East FIne Art

Hi All-
It is July 1, 2012 and we have 5 more months of this year. My year has flown by so far- how about yours! I am excited about all of the new and creative projects that I have begun this year.

My favorite and closest to my heart is the Germantown Series. These images will reflect the beauty and loveliness of my city. I hope to capture Germantown in a warm light with reflections of memories made here. Families raising their children and enjoying the park systems. Giving a nod to our rich history of horses and our annual horse show. Residents of Germantown, Tn are truly blessed.


Germantown, TN
Located near the Mississippi River along the historic trails of the Chickasaw Indians, Germantown offers its residents a safe, attractive and energetic community. The City of Germantown, its elected officials and its employees stand ready to provide assistance and quality services to you and are fully committed to making this a great place to live. Many opportunities exist for you to interact with local government and to participate in the civic activities and organizations within the city. Whether you are a long-time resident or new to the area, we believe you will share our sense of pride in our city. 



To learn more about the City of Germantown click here - City of Germantown


I am excited to be partnering with the Great Hall and Conference Center's manager, Chuck Porter to bring this exhibit to the public once it is complete.  My work on the Germantown Series will be displayed at The Great Hall and Conference Center in Germantown off of Germantown Parkway. I will keep you all updated on the progress!

The Great Hall and Conference Center

A sample of my work for the Germantown Series-

Till next time,

Great Times at The Great Hall & Conference Center, Germantown, TN, Michelle East Photography, Event Photography

I am enjoying my new role as Official Photographer of The Great Hall and Conference Center.

 

Love working with the Manager Chuck Porter and his staff.  Here are some pictures from a wedding I photographed over the weekend.  I think the The Great Hall and Conference Center  looks so elegant when dressed for a reception. It is truly an amazing place to have an event!

Here is what the outside of The Great Hall looks like for those of you who have never been.

The Great Hall and Conference Center

For more information or to book your next event, click on the link above! Tell them Michelle sent you!

Till next time,

Examiner.com, Michelle East, Germantown TN, Artist

So happy to announce that I was interviewed for the Examiner.com by Chris Pepple.
Check it out~
http://www.examiner.com/article/local-artist-michelle-east-s-new-collection-turning-heads




Little excerpt from the article~


When Germantown,Tenn., artist Michelle East showcased her work at the Germantown Performing Art Centre this year, visitors took notice. Her travel images, along with works that focus on the heritage and beauty of the Memphis area, caught the attention of people looking for unique art for a home or business setting.


Thank you to my loyal clients who support my work each year. I appreciate you all so much.
You all are the reason I create and reflect on these images so they may speak to you. So you may remember a time when  you rode the downtown trolley or saw a show at the Orpheum. 

Please join me for the opening reception of my art exhibit on Friday, Feb. 17th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Germantown Performing Arts Centre.

I would be extremely grateful to meet you, please introduce yourself if we have not had the pleasure of meeting before. If we are old friends, new friends, family or neighbors, I value your presence at this event.  

The event if free and open to the public. 

Light hors d'oeuvres offered by Zipparo's catering.

See you then,

Michelle East, Award Winning Artist, Begins Ballet Class after 25 year absence?

Hi All-

Yes, you read the title correctly, I started ballet class today after 25 years off!  Ballet Memphis located off of Germantown Parkway and Trinity Road in Cordova, TN has a fabulous ballet program for professional dancers and the rest of us, young or old!   http://www.BalletMemphis.org

Most of you do not know that I danced through out high school, taking ballet, jazz and even a couple of tap classes.  I even had a ballet bar and a mirrored wall in my bedroom! You could say I was serious.  But then I graduated high school, started working and going to college & dance just faded into the distance.

So why now, 25 years later do I feel the desire to start dancing again?

Good question!

The answer is because I think it will make me a better artist.

A new project that I am currently working on involves the expression of dance & music on canvas.  I've been using auditory and visual means to immerse myself into the world of dance in order to translate my feelings of ballet using paint.  In order to feel what the dancers are feeling and to represent authentically and organically via paint & canvas, taking a ballet class was the only option for me.

More to come on this exciting project as it develops! I can't wait to share with you.

But for today, what a wonderful morning it was donning my new black leotard, pink tights and ballet slippers, after 25 years!

Cover of the new Ballet Memphis Program.  Love it!

Till next time,

Michelle East, Visual Artist Living with Glaucoma

Thank you to all of my dear sweet friends, family and clients. The out pouring of support and love you have given me during this time of learning how to live with glaucoma has been overwhelming. I can't thank you enough for your phone calls, emails and texts.


Continued prayer is always appreciated. 


I will try to keep everyone posted through this blog and maybe an occasional newsletter update.  


For an update - today has been hard on my eyes. I've had problems with my vision which I think has to do with the drops that I am taking not the actual glaucoma itself.  


My eyes could barely focus today and I had dizziness.  Tried wearing my glasses and not wearing my glasses.  Neither way helped so I had to stop everything and lay down with my eyes closed for a while.  Did I mention that I don't have time to lay down with my eyes closed during the middle of the day!  :) There's so much that I want to do with my art during the precious few hours that my children are at school. Sorry for the venting, I am feeling a bit frustrated today!


In researching the drug Lumigan that I am taking, I found out that side effects include increased eyelash growth and pigment changes in the iris and surrounding eye area. Then I read the following-

Additional ocular adverse events (reported in 1 to 10% of patients) with bimatoprost ophthalmic solutions included ocular dryness, visual disturbance, ocular burning, foreign body sensation, eye pain, pigmentation of the periocular skin, blepharitis, cataract, superficial punctate keratitis, eyelid erythema, ocular irritation, eyelash darkening, eye discharge, tearing, photophobia, allergic conjunctivitis, asthenopia, increases in iris pigmentation, conjunctival edema, conjunctival hemorrhage, and abnormal hair growth. Intraocular inflammation, reported as iritis was reported in less than 1% of patients.

Systemic adverse events reported in approximately 10% of patients with bimatoprost ophthalmic solutions were infections (primarily colds and upper respiratory tract infections). Other systemic adverse events (reported in 1 to 5% of patients) included headaches, abnormal liver function tests, and asthenia.

Take time to see the roses & look closely at your loved ones.
Memorize their sweet faces. 


Till next time,

Michelle East, Visual Artist Diagnosed with Glaucoma at age 42

Today I sent out a newsletter to my friends, family and clients letting everyone know that I have been diagnosed with glaucoma.  I am 42 years old and never thought that I would be facing glaucoma at this age. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. It comes on gradually and is sometimes called "Silent Thief of Sight".

The damage that glaucoma does to the optic nerve is related to increased pressure from the watery fluid that is naturally present in your eyeball.

Congenital glaucoma often runs in families (is hereditary).

• It is present at birth
• It results from the abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels in the eye

The goal of treatment is to reduce eye pressure. Depending on the type of glaucoma, this is done using medications or surgery. I am using drops LUMIGAN to reduce the fluid pressure in my eyes. It makes my eyes bloodshot and feel funny. Glaucoma is something that I will have to manage for the rest of my life.

I am a visual artist and the diagnosis of Glaucoma has been a shock. Today I have had an outpouring of emails and phone calls from friends and family showering me with positive thoughts and prayers.  Thank you my dear ones.

My new motto is
"Take time to "see" the roses."
because you never know when things you take for granted may not be there anymore.

In the coming months I'll update everyone on my progress and what glaucoma means.  It is all new to me and I am happy to share what I am learning. Our eyesight is so precious and I don't want to loose mine.  I have 3 beautiful children that I have to keep my eyes on!

Till tomorrow,

Michelle East Memphis Artist - New Art Work

"The Dance Triptych"  

Oil on Canvas

$300 set of 3 10x10

Here is a new piece that I have been working on.  "The Dance" inspired by the movement of line and rhythm of music.  If you would like to find out more about this piece or other works of art I have created, please call me at 901.326.6074. I would love to talk with you!

Till next time,

Michelle East Studio and Fountain Art Gallery and Trezevant Manor Art Exhibit and Sale

Fountain Art Gallery and Trezevant present  Art Sale and Exhibition of  19 Memphis Artists Reception July 17, 2011 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. Continued Viewing and Sales  through Labor Day at Trezevant.  Trezevant Manor  177 North Highland Street Memphis, TN 38111 Fountain Art Gallery  3092 Poplar Ave Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38111 901.458-7100 Monday - Saturday 10-5

Would be lovely to see you all there!

Michelle East Artist - Gallery Reception at Fountain Art Gallery Memphis

It would be lovely to see you at the 

Gallery Reception and Wine Tasting!

I will have new work showing and 

look forward to sharing it with you. It is always fun

to see familiar faces of my friends at one of these events so if you have time, please stop by and have a taste of some fabulous wines from Kirby Wines & Liquors who will have their expert wine connoisseur on hand for the evening. You can learn about wine pairing and look at some fabulous art by our Fountain Gallery Artists!

Till next time,

Michelle East Artist Memphis, TN Fountain Art Gallery

Tonight my daughter Kailee and I attended a wonderful art exhibit opening reception at http://www.Memphisbotanicgarden.com. Some of my favorite artists and sweet friends were showing their work which is on display in the Visitors Center Gallery-

July 1-31

Second Nature

by

Norman Soskel

Zoe Nadel

Phyllis Boger

Constance Grayson

Brenda Wiseman

Loved all of their work but Zoe Nadel had some of my favorite pieces at the show. You can check out her work at http://www.galleryzoe.com.

Memphis has such an awesome art community and I am so grateful to be a part of it.  If you would like to see my work along with Zoe Nadel's and Phyllis Boger's, please visit Fountain Art Gallery in Memphis at Chickasaw Oaks Shopping Center.  

More great things to come! Don't forget about the wine tasting August 5th at Fountain Art Gallery!  Free wine and great art- what else do you need on a Friday night!

Till next time,

Michelle East Studio Fine Art at Fountain Art Gallery in Memphis, TN

SOLD!

Taking the Evening Trolley 

Mixed Media

20 x 24

I love this trolley work and it sold today at Fountain Art Gallery.  A big thank you to the new collector of my art work.  May you enjoy your new piece of art for many years! 

To see more of my work http://www.Michelleeaststudio.com. I have some NEW work coming up that I can't wait to show you.... hopefully I'll have it up on line by the end of the week.  I will give you a hint - abstract and acrylic!

Saturday I am hosting an art class for children aged 11-15 at my studio.  We are focusing on an introduction to color, acrylic paint and learning about Rembrandt. (Who had a July birthday!) 

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɛmbrɑnt ˈɦɑrmə(n)soːn vɑn ˈrɛin], 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669) was a Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age.

Having achieved youthful success as a portrait painter, his later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardships. Yet his etchings and paintings were popular throughout his lifetime, his reputation as an artist remained high, and for twenty years he taught many important Dutch painters. Rembrandt's greatest creative triumphs are exemplified especially in his portraits of his contemporaries, self-portraits and illustrations of scenes from the Bible. His self-portraits form a unique and intimate biography, in which the artist surveyed himself without vanity and with the utmost sincerity.

In his paintings and prints he exhibited knowledge of classical iconography, which he molded to fit the requirements of his own experience; thus, the depiction of a biblical scene was informed by Rembrandt's knowledge of the specific text, his assimilation of classical composition, and his observations of Amsterdam's Jewish population. Because of his empathy for the human condition, he has been called "one of the great prophets of civilization."

One of my favorite paintings by Rembrandt-

Night Watch   1640-1642

I will be giving future art lessons in my studio, if you are interested in your child participating, please email me at 

michelleeastfineart@live.com for more information!

Till next time,

Michelle East Memphis Tn Artist visits Navarre Beach, FL

We are back from our trip to Navarre Beach, Fl on the Gulf of Mexico. www.NavarreBeach.com 

What a lovely little area. Not crowded at all. Gorgeous white sand and turquoise water. 

I could have stayed for a month! But alas, reality calls and here I am back in the studio!

Above are images of my family as we had a fun family beach photo session one evening.

I also took some time to paint and set up an easel out at the beach one afternoon. It was so much fun to paint outside and see the reactions of people walking by. I loved the energy!

Wishing you all a beautiful summer full of memories and love with family and friends.

Till next time,