Carole Sikes Artist / Writer in Austin, Texas

Former AMOA director DANA FRIIS-HANSEN left Austin a few days ago for a July 4th celebration with family and on to Michigan where he will be director of the GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM (GRAM). It is an impressive art museum with a new building, a permanent collection, and ambitious programming. A farewell party at "the plant" that he and Mark Holzbach own was attended by many friends and well wishers. We had always wanted to see this unique building near Kyle on the Kuykendall Ranch. It was designed by LAKE-FLATO and built with materials acquired from a cement plant that was dismembered. The property can be rented for parties and retreats. There is a fine kitchen and a cozy room with a fireplace plus a two story screened porch, 3 bedrooms and baths and an outdoor, covered swimming pool. Other art news is that ANNETTE CARLOZZI has survived the shake up at the BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART on the University of Texas campus. She remains Deputy Director of Art and Programs under the new di

     My husband Charles and I had our dual website updated, www.sikesart.com . Please check it out. This July blog image (below) is on my side of our website's home page along with one of the series of abstractions that Charles has been creating. To view more of our paintings click on either of our images to get into the other sections.      Charles is a modern man and does not attempt to make me invisible as was the plight for most professional women in the early 20th century and before. Currently in Paris through September 18th there is an exhibition of photographs and furniture designed by Charlotte Perriand. For 10 years during the 1930s, she was a co-creator with the famous architect Le Corbusier but stood in his shadow.  In 1900 in Scotland Charles Rennie Mackintosh married a gifted designer named Margaret Mcdonald. She suffered the same anonymity. As the saying goes, "Behind every great man stands a woman, rolling her eyes."    I was personally affected by readi